Scotland U18s look to keep winning run going in final

Scotland under-18 are being challenged to "finish off the job" when they face their Italian counterparts in the final of the FIRA/AER Tier 1 competition in Lalouberre, near Tarbes today.

The young Scots have scored 22 tries in their two victories to date in the competition and their target is to make it three from three today, while preserving an unbeaten record against Italy at this age-level.

Head coach Grant McKelvey said: "We believe this is our best XV that's based on all the performances over the piece. All credit to the players and our medical team. We have been able to choose from a squad of 25, with only Rory Hughes (knee) not available for selection.

"Italian age-grade sides play a very similar game to their senior colleagues and the areas we can exploit and the challenges they will pose against us are really the same as you would expect from the Italian national team. They are big, physical men and their game is built around their desire to dominate the setpiece.

"We are here to finish off the job. Our target is to win three games from three over here."

Scotland Under-18s (v Italy under-18 at Lalouberre near Tarbes today, kick off 1pm BST): S Hidalgo Clyne (Merchiston Castle School), J Farndale (Edinburgh Academy), R Fergusson (Ayr), C Auld (Dumfries/Austin Friars School, captain), M Lamb (Stirling County), T Allan (London Wasps/RGS High Wycombe), A Glashan (Edinburgh Academy); J Bhatti (Stirling County), R Anderson (Langholm), C Maguire (Newcastle Falcons), C Templeton (Dumfries), A Barnett (GHA/Mearns Castle School), A Henderson (Strathallan), W Bordill (Sale Sharks/Sandbach School), D Kennedy (Wilmslow). Subs: A Ashe (Stirling County), R Wilson (Boroughmuir/Dunbar GS), C Hutton (Stirling County), A Sinclair (Stirling County/Loretto), S Graham (Hawick PSA), S Steele (Dumfries/Merchiston Castle School), C Venus (Leicester Tigers/Leicester College), J Matthews (Leeds Carnegie/Prince Henry's Otley), K Buchan (Strathallan), J Welsh (Selkirk).