2 February 2011, 6:40 pmBy Sportsbeat
Scotland Under-20 coach Peter Wright believes a pre-match trip to a D-Day memorial will inspire his team to victory in their RBS 6 Nations opener against France in Normandy.

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Wright will prepare his side by taking them to Pegasus Bridge to hear the story of Glaswegian Bill Millin, personal piper for Lord Lovat when the 1st Commando Brigade landed on Sword Beach on June 6 1944.
Millin was hailed a hero by British troops after playing a non-stop rendition of ‘Highland Laddie’ as battle raged around him and Wright hopes his players can show a similar attitude on a rugby pitch.

“As a coaching group, we feel it will be really instructive to show these young men the sacrifices made by people of their age in years gone by,” said Wright.

“We wouldn’t be going to France to play rugby if it wasn’t for the bravery they displayed, and it’s only right and proper that we go there to remember them.

“I hope the players find the experience inspirational.”

Wright’s troops head to France hoping to improve on last year’s draw against Les Bleus in Inverness and a disappointing haul of three points and will be led into battle by tighthead George Hunter.

Hunter is joined in the front row by Edinburgh’s Robin Hislop and Melrose hooker Richard Ferguson while the back row consists of No.8 Grant Runciman, Leicester’s Hamish Watson and Bath’s James Tyas.

Behind the scrum, Wright can call upon a promising mix of pace, intelligence and invention. Stuart Hogg, the talented Glasgow Warriors and Hawick full-back gets his chance, with Mike Doneghan and Kerr Gossman completing an enviable back three.

Mark Bennett, the highly-rated Ayr midfielder, will form a centre partnership with Harry Leonard of Boroughmuir, while Craig Jackson (Melrose) and Jamie Stevenson (Westcombe Park) team up at half-back.

15 - Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors/Glasgow Hawks)
14 - Mike Doneghan (Glasgow Warriors/Stirling County)
13 - Mark Bennett (Ayr)
12 - Harry Leonard (Boroughmuir)
11 - Kerr Gossman (Glasgow Warriors/Glasgow Hawks)
10 - Craig Jackson (Melrose)
9 - Jamie Stevenson (Westcombe Park)
1 - Robin Hislop (Edinburgh/Boroughmuir)
2 - Richard Ferguson (Melrose)
3 - George Hunter (Glasgow Warriors/Glasgow Hawks)
4 - Mitchell Todd (Nottingham)
5 - Robert McAlpine 9West of Scotland)
6 - James Tyas (Bath)
7 - Hamish Watson (Leicester Tigers)
8 - Grant Runciman (Melrose)

Replacements:
16 - David Cherry (Team Northumbria)
17 - Colin Phillips (Edinburgh/Stewart’s Melville)
18 - Andy Kirkland (Glasgow Hawks)
19 - Alex Spence (Heriot’s)
20 - Sean Kennedy (Stirling County)
21 - Tom Steven (Glasgow Hawks)
22 - Glen Bryce (Stirling County)

This article was posted on 3-Feb-2011, 22:17 by Hugh Barrow.