Under-19s' build-up worries Wright

PETER Wright will tomorrow lead Scotland's most talented teenagers to Dubai, admitting he has no real idea how they will fare in the IRB Under-19 World Championships next month.

The championships, viewed as a showcase of future world stars and televised live on Sky, kick off on 5 April and Scotland face Australia, Wales and Japan in the pool stages. But having lost all four international games in recent weeks Wright accepted that the team's goal of finishing in the top eight - they are seeded tenth - will be tough due to the current gulf in preparation between Scotland's youngsters and the world's leading nations.

"We have a very good squad, very talented lads, and the fact we have no injury problems means we have the best squad available," he said.

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"But there is no doubt that we are under-prepared compared with the teams we face."

Cameron Ferguson captains the side and others tipped for a career in the game are the Edinburgh and Stewart's Melville FP winger David McCall and Graham Hogg, the Hawick centre.

Meanwhile, Scotland under-18s take on France Schools at Heriot's Goldenacre ground tomorrow (1pm) while the Scotland U18s A team face the Boys Clubs of Wales side at Port Talbot.

Scotland U18 (v French Schools at Goldenacre, Edinburgh, tomorrow, 1pm): H Duthie (Harrogate); C Kinloch (Fettes College), P Louden (Edinburgh Academy), S McColl (Dunfermline), M McNaughton; R Jackson (both Robert Gordon's College), R Samson (Stewart's-Melville FP); G Strain (Dalziel), B Ainscough (Ampleforth College), J Stafford (Hillhead/Jordanhill), F McKenzie (Dunfermline, captain), J Brown (Bristol Academy), C Simmonds (Dalziel), A Wukovits (Begles Bordeaux), L Calder (Stewart's-Melville College). Subs: A Dixon (Stewart's-Melville College), F Gillies (Dunbar GS), L Niven (Trinity Academy), S Burton (Dalkeith), F Murray (Hillhead/Jordanhill), K Bryce (Stirling County), M Roxburgh-Heeks (London Irish), J Murray (Edinburgh Academy), R Carnie (Gorseinon), R Guedroudj (George Watson's College), T Bury (Perthshire).