Archie starts against Scots

Rob Lloyd News

Archie Hughes will again start at scrum-half as Wales U20s look to bounce back from their opening defeat to Ireland when they take on Scotland at Scotstoun Stadium on Friday night (19:15, S4C).

Hughes enjoyed an impressive game in the No. 9 jersey against the Irish and is one of four Scarlets selected in the match-day 23 for the round two clash.

Prop Tom Pritchard and back-rower Luca Giannini both drop to the bench to join scrum-half Harri Williams as head coach Byron Hayward tinkers with his squad.

“There were lots of positives to take out of the Ireland game, there’s no doubt about that,” said Hayward. “I think we showed how much potential this side has, particularly in the first half. The boys are disappointed because it is a game we could have won, I’m not saying we should have, but we could have.”

Scotland lost 41-36 in a high scoring clash against England in round one which indicates Friday’s match could see plenty of free-flowing rugby.

“Scotland are obviously a very good side. We are under no illusions; it is going to be a very difficult challenge,” added Hayward. There has been talk that they have not won a game for some time and that is going to have to change at some point, I just hope it isn’t against us.

“They played with a lot of width (against England) and that is something we have got to fix in our defence because we were narrow at times last week and Scotland would have seen that. We simply can’t give them too many chances to play around us.”

Wales U20s v Scotland, Scotstoun Stadium, Fri 10 February: KO 7.15pm

15 Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby); 14 Llien Morgan (Ospreys), 13 Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby), 12 Harri Ackerman (Newport), 11 Oli Andrew (Dragons); 10 Dan Edwards (Ospreys), 9 Archie Hughes (Scarlets); 1 Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (Dragons), 2 Sam Scarfe (Dragons), 3 Ellis Fackrell (Ospreys), 4 Liam Edwards (Ospreys), 5 Ryan Woodman (Dragons – capt), 6 Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby), 7 Morgan Morse (Ospreys), 8 Huw Davies (Sale Sharks).

Replacements: 16 Lewis Lloyd (Ospreys), 17 Freddie Chapman (Ospreys), 18 Tom Pritchard (Scarlets), 19 Owain Evans (RGC), 20 Luca Giannini (Scarlets), 21 Harri Williams (Scarlets), 22 Harrison James (Cardiff Rugby), 23 Tom Florence (Ospreys).