Famous five start for Under-20s

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs will provide a third of the England Under-20s starting XV for their opening Six Nations clash with Scotland on Friday night.

Jack Arnott, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Sam Hill (pictured right), Henry Slade and debutant Joel Conlon (pictured above) will all start for Rob Hunter's reigning champions at Plymouth's Brickfields ground (5.45pm).

Back-row forward Conlon, who was only recently drafted into the squad, is one of four players set to make their first start. The others are wing Ben Howard, centre Harry Sloan and fellow flanker Ross Moriarty.

Hunter said: “We’re all very excited about getting the competition underway, the lads have worked hard and we’re looking forward to see them perform in the white jersey.

“It’s great to have some local boys playing at Plymouth, I’m sure that they can’t wait to get out there. We know that Scotland are well coached, well organised and highly motivated and it’ll be a tough game.”

Plymouth-born Arnott added: “I’m really looking forward to playing in front of a home crowd – I’ve got some family coming down and I’m sure it’ll be a great occasion. We’re expecting a tough, physical game from Scotland but at the moment we’re just concentrating on ourselves.”

England Under-20 starting XV to play Scotland

15 Anthony Watson (London Irish)
14 Jack Arnott (Exeter Chiefs)
13 Harry Sloan (Harlequins)
12 Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
11 Ben Howard (Worcester Warriors)
10 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
9 Alex Day (Northampton Saints)
1 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
2 Max Crumpton (Saracens)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
4 Elliott Stooke (Gloucester Rugby)
5 Dom Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)
6 Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby)
7 Joel Conlon (Exeter Chiefs)
8 Jack Clifford (Harlequins, capt)

Replacements

16 Danny Herriott (Northampton Saints)
17 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints)
18 Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
19 Tom Jubb (Saracens)
20 Gus Jones (London Wasps)
21 Nathan Fowles (Sale Sharks)
22 Will Hooley (Northampton Saints)
23 Mark Jennings (Sale Sharks)