Leatherbarrow returns for Scotland U20s

By Mark Stevens
24/2/22

Exeter Chiefs youngster Ollie Leatherbarrow returns to the Scotland Under-20s squad for their Six Nations Championship encounter with France at the DAM Health Stadium tomorrow (8pm).

He is the sole change to Kenny Murray's starting line-up from that which lost to Wales in Round Two.

The all-action No.8 - who is also a student at the University of Exeter - returns to the team after taking an opportunity to be involved in the Chiefs match-day squad for their recent Gallagher Premiership encounter with Gloucester at Sandy Park.

Elsewhere, try-scorer from the match against Wales, Matthew Deehan (Newcastle Falcons) moves to blindside flanker from No.8, with Rhys Tait (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors) once again captaining the side from the openside flank.

The front row remains unchanged from the with loosehead prop Mikey Jones (Heriot’s Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby) and tighthead prop Gregor Scougall (Currie Chieftains) packing down either side of Edinburgh Rugby hooker Paddy Harrison.

The second row is also unchanged for the third consecutive game with the soaring figures of Max Williamson (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors) and Josh Taylor (Ealing Trailfinders) in the boiler house.

The half-back pairing of Murray Redpath (Newcastle University) at scrum-half and Christian Townsend (Ayrshire Bulls/Glasgow Warriors) at stand-off also remains unchanged with the pair set to start their third game together.

GHA’s Andy Stirrat made his first appearance for Scotland U20 against Wales and retains his starting position at inside centre with Duncan Munn (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors) at outside centre.

Robin McClintock from Montpellier showed how powerful his boot can be last time out, starts once again at full-back with Ollie Melville (Newcastle University) and Ross McKnight (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors) lining up on either wings for third successive games.

Head Coach Murray said: “We’re still a bit frustrated from the last game against Wales. We were in the Welsh half a lot in that first half and had numerous opportunities to score, so we just need to execute our plays better in order for us to do that.

“The fact that we’ve only made one change to the team shows that there are positives to take from that game. We know that France will be a physical outfit, but we showed against England that we can match that, and some.

"As we’ve said previously the team didn’t perform for the full-80minutes. If we do that then we will get the result we have been after.”

SCOTLAND UNDER-20s TEAM TO FACE FRANCE UNDER-20s

15. Robin Mc Clintock (Montpellier) (2)
14. Ross McKnight (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors) (5)
13. Duncan Munn (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors) (2)
12. Andy Stirrat (GHA) (1)
11. Ollie Melville (Newcastle University) (6)
10. Christian Townsend (Ayrshire Bulls/Glasgow Warriors) (7)
9. Murray Redpath (Newcastle University) (6)
1. Michael Jones (Heriot’s Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby) (7)
2. Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh Rugby) (6)
3. Gregor Scougall (Currie Chieftains) (2)
4. Josh Taylor (Ealing Trailfinders) (2)
5. Max Williamson (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors) (6)
6. Matthew Deehan (Newcastle Falcons) (2)
7. Rhys Tait (Boroughmuir Bears/Glasgow Warriors, capt) 
8. Ollie Leatherbarrow (Exeter Chiefs) (6)

Replacements  

16. Gregor Hiddleston (GHA) (2)
17. Ali Rogers (Glasgow Hawks) (1)
18. Callum Norrie (Strathallan School) (2)
19. Rudi Brown (Watsonians Rugby/Edinburgh Rugby) (0)
20. Tim Brown (Glasgow Hawks)(0)
21. Jonty Cope (Durham University) (1)
22. Euan Cunningham (Stirling County/Glasgow Warriors) (5)
23. Thomas Glendinning (Glasgow Hawks) (3)