WORCESTER Warriors pair James Scott and Kai Owen have been named in the England under 20s squad for Friday’s match against South Africa (7.30pm).

Lock Scott will start the game at Coventry’s Butts Park Arena with loosehead prop Owen named as a replacement.

The duo were England regulars during this season’s U20s Six Nations and this match against the Junior Springboks will be a chance for them to nail down places in the squads for the World Rugby U20s Championship in Argentina in June.

Centre Ollie Lawrence will play no part in the tournament due to his ankle injury which required surgery.

Flanker Ted Hill, who captained England U20s against France, is not available to face South Africa as he will be required for Warriors’ Gallagher Premiership clash with Gloucester at Sixways on Sunday (3pm).

It is the second-successive year that England have played the Junior Springboks ahead of the World Rugby U20 Championship having taken them on at Sixways last May.

Head coach Steve Bates said: "This is an opportunity for these players to stake a claim for a spot in our squad for the World Rugby U20s Championship and that is how we are approaching the game.

"It is very timely in terms of when the squad for the Championship gets picked, and for some it could be a very important fixture to get a place on the plane to Argentina.”

England U20s: Hodge; Powell, Spink, Doherty, Morris; Vunipola, Warr; O Adkins, Barbeary, Street, J Kpoku, Scott, Willis (c), Christie, Tuima.

Replacements: Owen, B Atkins, Petch, Jon Kpoku, Moore-Aiono, Fox, Haydon Wood, Reeves.