Mackenzie Martin has been drafted into the Wales U20 starting line-up for Friday’s clash with Scotland.

Despite defeat to Ireland on the opening weekend, Byron Hayward’s men will travel to Scotstoun with plenty of positivity after an encouraging display in Colwyn Bay.

Academy back row Martin, who made his U20 debut last summer, has been handed the number six jersey as Hayward makes a total of four changes to the starting XV.

Blue and Blacks full back Cameron Winnett retains his place in the backline, as Martin’s introduction to the back row sees captain Ryan Woodman move to the second row.

Cardiff academy playmaker Harrison James is named on the bench and joins his club team-mates in the matchday squad, having made his Six Nations Championship debut as a replacement last week.

Oli Andrew, Morgan Morse and former Cardiff age grade prop Ellis Fackrell are the other new faces in the Wales line-up.

Head coach Hayward said: “There were lots of positives to take out of the game, there’s no doubt about that. I think we showed how much potential this side has, particularly in the first half.

“The boys are disappointed because it is a game we could have won, I’m not saying we should have, but we could have.

“We probably should have had more points with the entries we had in their 22 in the first half and that is something we have been working on. It has been a big priority for us that when we work hard to get close to the try-line we make sure we tighten our game up.”

“Scotland are obviously a very good side. We are under no illusions; it is going to be a very difficult challenge. There has been talk that they have not won a game for some time and that is going to have to change at some point, I just hope it isn’t against us.

“They played with a lot of width [against England] and that is something we have got to fix in our defence because we were narrow at times last week and Scotland would have seen that. We simply can’t give them too many chances to play around us.

“Playing at home in front of 2,500 Welsh people gives you a big lift – it will be the other way round this week. Some of our boys experienced Test match level for the first time last week so this Friday is now a different kind of challenge for them.”

Wales U20 v Scotland, Scotstoun Stadium, Fri 10 February: KO 7.15pm
15 Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby)
14 Llien Morgan (Ospreys)
13 Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby)
12 Harri Ackerman (Dragons)
11 Oli Andrew (Dragons)
10 Dan Edwards (Ospreys)
09 Archie Hughes (Scarlets);
1 Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths (Dragons)
2 Sam Scarfe (Dragons)
3 Ellis Fackrell (Ospreys)
4 Liam Edwards (Ospreys)
5 Ryan Woodman (Dragons – capt)
6 Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby)
7 Morgan Morse (Ospreys)
8 Huw Davies (Sale Sharks)

Replacements:
16 Lewis Lloyd (Ospreys)
17 Freddie Chapman (Ospreys)
18 Tom Pritchard (Scarlets)
19 Owain Evans (RGC)
20 Luca Giannini (Scarlets)
21 Harri Williams (Scarlets)
22 Harrison James (Cardiff Rugby)
23 Tom Florence (Ospreys)