DRAGONS back rowers Taine Basham and Lennon Greggains sit out Wales’ clash with Scotland in the Under-20s Six Nations.
The duo played leading roles in the Rodney Parade region’s Guinness PRO14 loss to Ulster in Newport on Sunday.
Basham, who scored a hat-trick from number eight in Italy, missed Wales’ excellent win against England because he was involved for the Dragons at Edinburgh while Greggains has started the last two rounds at blindside.
However, with their region down to the bare bones in the back row, the duo sit out the clash at Meggetland on Friday (kick-off 7.30pm) with Wales head coach Gareth Williams making four changes to his XV.
Gloucester winger Alex Morgan replaces Tomi Lewis, Jac Price returns at lock and Kemsley Mathias is in at loosehead and Ellis Thomas takes Greggains’ spot.
There are starts for centre Aneurin Owen and scrum-half Dafydd Buckland of the Dragons with their regional teammates hooker Will Griffiths, loosehead Tom Devine and lock Ed Scragg on the bench, along with Bristol Bears tighthead Nick English from Caldicot.
“There are a number of changes in the squad, and this is a reflection of the competition we have leading towards the World Cup,” he said.
“We are very focussed on the challenge of Scotland. They are a good team who will be excited to be at home and they will pose a real threat to us.
“We've been keen to put England behind us despite being proud of the resolve we showed in gaining that result.”
If Wales beat winless Scotland then they could face a title-decider with Grand Slam chasing Ireland, who are five points ahead and entertain France tomorrow.
Wales U20: Ioan Davies (Cardiff Blues), Alex Morgan (Gloucester), Max Llewellyn (Cardiff Blues), Aneurin Owen (Dragons), Dewi Cross (Ospreys), Cai Evans (Ospreys), Dafydd Buckland (Dragons); Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets), Dewi Lake (Ospreys, captain), Ben Warren (Cardiff Blues), Teddy Williams (Cardiff Blues), Jac Price (Scarlets), Ellis Thomas (Llanelli), Jac Morgan (Aberavon / Scarlets), Iestyn Rees (Scarlets).
Replacements: Will Griffiths (Dragons), Tom Devine (Dragons), Nick English (Bristol Bears), Ed Scragg (Dragons), Ioan Rhys Davies (Cardiff Blues), Harri Morgan (Ospreys), Sam Costelow (Leicester Tigers), Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler (Ospreys)
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