Under-20s coach John wants Firhill fortress

SCOTLAND'S under-20 team have made just one change to the side that earned their first away win at this age level as they prepare to face England at the home of Glasgow Warriors, Firhill, on Friday.

Scrum-half Alex Black (Leeds Carnegie) returns to a starting line-up which also sees Caithness scrum-half Kris Hamilton back on the bench.

So far this season's U20 squad have registered two historic achievements, the first in Inverness they battled back from conceding an early score to draw 8-8 with France to become the first U20 side not to lose to Les Bleus. They then bounced back from a 20-12 loss to Wales at Cardiff Arms Park and secured the first away victory for Scotland at this age-grade with a dramatic 16-18 victory over Italy. Head coach Eamon John said: "We make the selection according to the opposition. We wanted to start quickly against Italy which is why we went with Kris (Hamilton] but from an English point of view we need a bit more physicality at the start.

"I hope we get a good support – the support we've had so far has been fantastic and I'm looking forward to playing in front of a big, noisy and patriotic crowd."

Admission to the match is free.

Scotland U20 (team to play England U20 at Firhill on Friday, kick-off 7pm): Tom Brown (Edinburgh Accies); Oliver Grove (Worcester Warriors) , Jonny Kennedy (Sale Sharks), Alex Dunbar (Selkirk), Dougie Fife (Currie); Alex Blair (Edinburgh Accies), Alex Black (Leeds Carnegie); Nicky Little (Hawick), Alun Walker (Currie), Colin Phillips (Stewart's-Melville), Matthew Reid (Heriot's), Robert Harley (West of Scotland), Michael Maltman (Heriot's), Stuart McInally (Watsonians, capt), David Denton (Edinburgh Accies). Subs: Lindsey Gibson (Melrose), George Hunter (Glasgow Hawks), Aaron Hall (Newcastle Falcons), Callum Stidston-Nott (London Scottish), Kris Hamilton (Caithness), Matthew Scott (Currie), James Johnstone (Currie).