U20s eye first leg of Samoan double

SCOTLAND’s under-20s have the chance to claim the first part of a double win over Samoa this weekend when they take on the SamoanU20s in their final match at the IRB Junior World Championship.

With the senior side playing a Test in Apia tomorrow, the young Scots are in the ninthplace play-off in South Africa.

And they will be dreaming of what might have been as they watch pool opponents Argentina and France contesting higher-place games.

With a little more composure and belief at key moments Scotland could have beaten both of those nations and be competing for a third place for the first time in the competition’s history.

As it stands, however, Los Pumitas face Wales this afternoon for third place, while the young French take on Ireland aiming for fifth spot.

Scotland’s match will decide who finishes in ninth after the Scots defeated Italy comfortably 34-17 to ease away from the potential of dropping out of the elite by finishing in 12th place.

Scotland are without Clermont Auvergne centre Mark Bennett due to a knee injury, but that has opened the door for promising Keith Buchan of Boroughmuir, who still has another year to come at this level.

Coach Peter Wright said: “We had our last training session this morning and the players are looking sharp. They are raring to go.”

(v Samoa under-20 at the University of the Western Cape, 11am BST); S Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh/Heriot’s), JJ Farndale (Edinburgh /Edinburgh Accies), K Buchan (Boroughmuir), Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors/Ayr), T Steven (Glasgow Hawks), H Leonard (captain) (Edinburgh), M McConnell (Glasgow Warriors/Ayr), R Hislop (Edinburgh/ Boroughmuir), G Turner (Edinburgh/Stewart’s Melville), A Allan (Edinburgh/ Lougborough Students), G Graham (Gala), A Redmayne (Dundee HSFP), C Reid (Edinburgh Accies), W Bordill (Sale Sharks), M Eadie (Bristol). Subs: S Cessford (Heriot’s), J Bhatti (Stirling County), G Robertson (Dundee HSFP), A Nagle (Jed-Forest), S Smith (Aberdeen Grammar), M Torrance (Ospreys), T Allan (Western Province), M Crawley (Boroughmuir).