Six Nations: Under-20, Round 4
After their surprise win in Round 3, Scotland, twice roundly beaten, will travel to Donnybrook in hope. Unsurprisingly their side Rios barely changed – just two swaps because of injury.
In the third match, Italy could well surprise Wales. After all they had a good showing in England and ran Ireland close. But their hammering at the hands of the French may well have dented their confidence.
Fixtures, Round 4
France vs England
Wales vs Italy
Ireland vs Scotland
Results, Rounds 1-3
Round 1
England vs Italy, 27-17
France vs Ireland, 34-24
Wales vs Scotland: 36-3
Round 2
Ireland vs Italy, 38-34
England vs Wales, 37-12
France vs Scotland, 69-19
Round 3
France vs Italy, 78-12
Wales vs Ireland, 41-38
Scotland vs England, 24-17
France vs England at Stade de la Méditérranée, Béziers on Friday, 9 March 2018 (kick-off 20.00 GMT)
This could be a great contest. France have the Grand Slam in their sights, but, while England may have lost to Scotland whom France hammered, England have the playing strength to make life tough for the home side.
The match will be played in Béziers where the final of World Rugby's Under-20 Championship final will be played in June.
France have made nine changes to the starting team from the one that played Italy. The captain, Killian Geraci, is back at lock while last time's captain, Dan Brennan goes to the bench. There are only three back on the bench this week.
England have done much the same as France – nine changes to the starting team with last round's captain, Will Butler, on the bench.
Teams
France: 15 Clément Laporte, 14 Pierre Boudehent, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Arthur Vincent, 11 Iban Etcheverry, 10 Romain N’Tamack, 9 Jules Gimbert, 8 Maxence Lemardelet, 7 Cameron Woki, 6 Antonin Berruyer, 5 Killian Geraci (captain), 4 Thomas Lavault, 3 Demba Bamba, 2 Lucas Peyresblanques, 1 Ugo Boniface
Replacements: 16 Guillaume Marchand, 17 Hassane Kolingar, 18 Daniel Brennan, 19 Pierre-Henry Azagoh, 20 Baptiste Heguy, 21 Enzo Hardy, 22 Louis Carbonel, 23 Maxime Marty
England: 15 James Grayson, 14 Gabriel Ibitoye, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Jordan Olowofela, 10 Tom Hardwick, 9 Ben White, 8 Sam Moore, 7 Ben Earl (captain), 6 Josh Basham, 5 Sam Lewis, 4 Dino Lamb, 3 Marcus Street, 2 Henry Walker, 1 Toby Trinder
Replacements: 16 Gabriel Oghre, 17 Alex Seville, 18 Ehren Painter, 19 James Scott, 20 Ted Hill, 21 Rory Brand, 22 Will Butler, 23 Tom Seabrook
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Sean Gallagher (Ireland), John Carvill (Ireland)
Television match official: Ollie Hodges (Ireland)
Assessor: Giovanni Romano (Italy)
Citing commissioner: Stefano Marrama (Italy)
Wales vs Italy at Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay on Friday, 9 March 2018 (kick-off 19.15).
Three Welsh players will earn their first caps if they get off the bench and onto the field – Jordan Walters. Alun Lawrence and Lennon Greggains.
Wales: 15 Cai Evans, 14 Joe Goodchild, 13 Corey Baldwin, 12 Callum Carson, 11 Tommy Rogers, 10 Ben Jones, 9 Harri Morgan, 8 Taine Basham, 7 Will Jones (captain), 6 James Botham, 5 Max Williams, 4 Owen Lloyd, 3 Kemsley Mathias, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Rhys Carre
Replacements: 16 Iestyn Harris, 17 Jordan Walters, 18 Rhys Henry, 19 Alun Lawrence, 20 Lennon Greggains, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Max Llewellyn, 23 Rio Dyer
Italy: 15 Michelangelo Biondelli, 14 Alessandro Forcucci, 13 Andrea De Masi, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Albert Einstein Batista, 10 Antonio Rizzi, 9 Nicolò Casilio, 8 Antoine Kouassi Koffi, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Davide Ruggeri, 5 Edoardo Iachizzi, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Michele Mancini Parri, 2 Matteo Luccardi, 1 Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16 Samuele Ngeng, 17 Guido Romano, 18 Matteo Nocera, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Enrico Ghigo, 21 Luca Crosato, 22 Filippo did Marco, 23 Alessandro Fusco
Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: tba (Scotland)
Television match official: Andrew Cymene (Scotland)
Assessor: Gabriele Villari (Italy)
Ireland vs Scotland at Donnybrook on Friday 9 March (kick-off 19.15)
Unlike other teams, Scotland have made just two changes to their starting team. Both changes are due to injuries. Fraser Strachan comes into centre in the place of Callum McLelland and Rory Darge comes up off the bench to flank in the place of Guy Graham. Mark New replaces Strachan on the bench and Connor Boyle comes onto the bench in Darge's place
Teams
Ireland: 15 Michael Silvester, 14 Angus Kernohan, 13 Tommy O'Brien (captain), 12 Angus Curtis, 11 Mark Keane, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Hugh O'Sullivan, 8 Jack O'Sullivan, 7 Matthew Agnew, 6 Joe Dunleavy, 5 Jack Dunne, 4 Matthew Dalton, 3 Tom O'Toole, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 1 James French
Replacements: 16 tba, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Jack Aungier, 19 Charlie Ryan, 20 Ronan Foley, 21 Jonny Stewart, 22 Conor Dean, 23 James Hume
Scotland: 15 Paddy Dewhirst, 14 Rory McMichael, 13 Stafford McDowell, 12 Fraser Strachan, 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Charlie Chapman, 8 Devante Onojaife, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Martin Hughes, 5 Jamie Hodgson, 4 Ewan Johnson, 3 Finlay Richardson, 2 Robbie Smith (captain), 1 Shaun Gunn
Replacements: 16 Bradley Clements, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Murphy Walker, 19 Marshall Sykes, 20 Connor Boyle, 21 Kaleem Barreto, 22 Mark New, 23 Logan Trotter
Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)
Assistant referees: Cyril Lafond, Arnaud Blondel (France)
Television match official: Philippe Bonhoure (France)
Citing commissioner: Alberto Recaldini (Italy)
