Wales U20s 'swinging the bat' in Six Nations

Wales have valiantly 'swung the bat' against Under-20s Six Nations title contenders but attempt to avoid a third successive sob story when hosting Scotland on Friday.

Richard Whiffin's side could easily have been looking for part three of a Grand Slam against the Scots at Cardiff Arms Park (19:15 GMT).

However, they were left to rue missed opportunities when edged out late on by both England and France.

The senior side would love to be in tight encounters and head coach Whiffin is encouraged by performances, even if he lamented having to do a "cut and paste" interview after Saturday's 34-24 defeat by Les Bleuets.

"These boys are learning and developing. They are going toe-to-toe with the top teams and swinging the bat," he said.

"They were in that for the whole game, they don't have scar tissue and are not afraid to play these teams, they haven't got fear."

Wales, who had a Tom Bowen try chalked off in the closing stages against France that would have earned a shot at victory or at least a pair of deserved bonuses, have no margin for error on Friday.

They face a Scotland side who have also impressed by winning 36-10 in Italy and then pushing England hard when beaten 33-17 in Edinburgh.

The last four meetings between the sides in the Six Nations have been won by the home team.

Last year the four-try Scots won 27-12 in Edinburgh when indisciplined Wales were given a 20-minute red card and a permanent dismissal.

Whiffin makes two changes up front with loose-head prop Dylan James and number eight Evan Minto, who started every game of last year's tournament, promoted from the bench.

There are also a pair of enforced switches in the backs with debuts for centre Bailey Cutts and wing Dylan Scott due to injuries to Osian Darwin-Lewis and Evan Morris against the French.

Prop Yestyn Cook, lock Oscar Rees and centre Luc Anfield could also win first caps as replacements.

Scotland make a change at open-side flanker with Glasgow Hawks' Harvey Preston promoted to the XV to replace the injured Jack Utterson.

Lock Archie Appleby and back-row forward Jack Marshall could make debuts from the bench, which featured six forwards and two backs.

Wales U20s: Cummings (Cardiff); Scott (Cardiff Met); Cutts (Cardiff), Emanuel (Cardiff, co-capt), Bowen (Cardiff); Leggatt-Jones (Scarlets), S Davies (Cardiff); D James (Ospreys), Howe (Cardiff), Pritchard (Scarlets), L Evans (Exeter), O Williams (Bristol), Gwynne (Gloucester, co-capt), C James (Gloucester), Minto (Dragons).

Replacements: Talamai (Dragons), Tuckley (Dragons), Cook (Scarlets), Rees (Gloucester), Ridgway (Bath), Woodyatt (Gloucester), Lucas (Cardiff), Anfield (Bath University).

Scotland U20: Widdowson (Edinburgh); Moncrieff (Edinburgh), Waugh (Glasgow Hawks), Wolfenden (Edinburgh, capt), McHaffie (Edinburgh); Dalziel (Melrose), MacArthur (Edinburgh); Stewart (Edinburgh), Roberts (Glasgow), Blyth-Lafferty (Edinburgh), Lindsay (Edinburgh), Blackett (Cardiff Met), Byrd (Edinburgh), Preston (Glasgow Hawks), Purvis (Glasgow).

Replacements: McAughtrie (Ayr), McKenna (Glasgow), Rennie (Glasgow), Appleby (Northampton), Ronnie (Watsonians), Marshall (Saracens), McKenzie (Watsonians), Jessop (Heriot's).

Referee: George Selwood (England)