Scotland are today expected to announce their line-up to face Wales in the second round of the IRB Junior World Championship in Nantes.
The match is to be played tomorrow but coaches opted to delay naming their side by 24 hours, a decision which has allowed for a degree of speculation over their plans.
Indeed, the only certainty is that full-back Ruairidh Young will not be among those selected since the talented Edinburgh Accies back having suffered a fracture in his leg while playing against Argentina on Wednesday.
"It's a big blow losing Ruairidh," said Andy Miller, the team manager, who has drafted in Blair Hutchison as a replacement, although the former Melrose player, now at Loughborough University, is a centre. The two players more likely to be considered at full-back are wingers JJ Kilmartin of Bath, who has been on loan to Cornish Pirates, and Damien Hoyland, who has played at full-back for Boroughmuir.
Young's absence is exacerbated by Scotland's 44-13 defeat by Argentina in the opening round. "The good thing is that we have four days to turn things around," said Miller.
He is aware what his side are up against, Scotland having lost 42-17 to Wales during the RBS 6 Nations under-20 championship. It was the Wales' biggest winning margin in the competition and means there is bound to be greater confidence in the Welsh camp. Scotland, meanwhile, will have also one eye on next Thursday's final pool match against Samoa, with a win still capable to putting a sheen on their final placing.
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