England Saxons vs USA Eagles

[TRF_Olyy]

England Saxons vs USA Eagles
Churchill Cup
June 4th - 5:00pm
Franklins Gardens​

England Saxons:
15 Mike Brown, 14 Topsy Ojo, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Rory Clegg, 9 Micky Young, 1 Matt Mullan, 2 Joe Gray, 3 Matt Stevens, 4 Mouritz Botha, 5 David Attwood, 6 James Gaskell, 7 Tom Johnson, 8 Jordan Crane (c)

Replacements: 16 David Paice, 17 Kieran Brookes, 18 Graham Kitchener, 19 James Gibson, 20 Paul Hodgson, 21 Alex Goode, 22 Charlie Sharples.



USA Eagles:
15 Mike Palefau (Utah Warriors)
14 Mile Pulu (San Francisco Golden Gate)
13 Tai Enosa (Belmont Shore)
12 Junior Sifa (Nottingham RFC)
11 Colin Hawley (Olympic Club)
10 Troy Hall (New York Athletic Club)
9 Mike Petri (New York Athletic Club, captain)
1 Eric Fry (Las Vegas Blackjacks)
2 Phil Thiel (Life University)
3 Will Johnson (London Irish)
4 John van der Giessen (Utah Warriors)
5 Scott LaValla (Stade Francais)
6 Pat Danahy (Life University)
7 Danny LaPrevotte (San Francisco Golden Gate)
8 JJ Gagiano (Univ. of Cape Town)

Reserves:
16 Chris Biller (San Francisco Golden Gate), 17 Shawn Pittman (London Welsh), 18 Louis Stanfill (Mogliano), 19 Inaki Basauri (L' Aquila), 20 Tim Usasz (Nottingham RFC), 21 Roland Suniula (Boston Rugby), 22 Andrew Suniula (Chicago Griffins)

 

[Teh Mite]

What a crappy England team that is.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Why are England hosting this? Surely it would be better to put it somewhere where it'll attract new fans and grow the sport.

 

[Teh Mite]

Why are England hosting this? Surely it would be better to put it somewhere where it'll attract new fans and grow the sport.

It's always in England on WC years.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Be a good game to watch. Be interesting to see what the US put out.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

What a crappy England team that is.

I dunno, I think it's a decent enough Saxons squad

It's an actual Saxons squad as well, made up of young players and players on the fringe of the England squad, rather than in recent years where it's been full of players past their best making up the numbers

 

[Teh Mite]

Doesn't change the fact it's a very weak side. Also, do we really need that many South Africans playing for England? We're already full of Kiwis.

 

[iWin]

I'm interested as to which parts you think are weak. I'm seeing people all over that squad that should be challenging for a world cup spot.
One area I'd pick up on is Botha in and Gaskell on the flank, but apart from that it looks pretty solid, and like Olyy said, a proper development squad.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I agree Botha shouldn't be there
Whats-his-face that's in charge of the Saxons (Lancaster?) said that him (like Fourie and Hartley) played more rugby (amateur and pro) in England than in their home countries so that's alright, but I'd rather Fourie and Botha not be in the England set up (don't mind Hartley because he moved here when he was 12 or something, instead of 20+ like the other two)

 

[King_D'Arcy]

hahaha Twelvetrees! English rugby players have funny names. Wigglesworth!


I agree with cmac. I think having it in England (even in a WC year) is a waste of a good opportunity to raise interest in the sport elsewhere.

 

[Teh Mite]

I agree Botha shouldn't be there
Whats-his-face that's in charge of the Saxons (Lancaster?) said that him (like Fourie and Hartley) played more rugby (amateur and pro) in England than in their home countries so that's alright, but I'd rather Fourie and Botha not be in the England set up (don't mind Hartley because he moved here when he was 12 or something, instead of 20+ like the other two)

At least Hartley & Stevens have some sort of heritage connection (I.E. Parentage) with England rather then just having lived here for a few years. Botha, Fourie, Hape (and Flutey? I read something about him having an English mother, but that was probably ********) shouldn't actually be eligible, regardless how long they lived here.

hahaha Twelvetrees! English rugby players have funny names. Wigglesworth!


I agree with cmac. I think having it in England (even in a WC year) is a waste of a good opportunity to raise interest in the sport elsewhere.

Maybe, but them be the way it is.

On the plus side, there's half a chance the crowd will be bigger then just a dozen O'Yanks. Especially at just a tenner a ticket.


Also means I get a day on the beer and have an excuse.

 

[Peat]

I may well bowl up to a few games, depending.

Its in England because we need it here for our WC preparations, as some of those players are on the cusp of going. Simple.

I don't like Gaskell at 6, Johnson at 7, no real 7 on the pitch, Jordan Crane, Rory Clegg... and South Africans.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Should've had Carl Fearns in there instead of Gaskell, especially if they're not using Gaskell at lock

Better 6, can play 7 to a good standard as well, as well as 8

Gaskell has been average all season, at best, don't understand his inclusion - could understand if he was in at lock (though even then there are better locks not in there) but there are loads better backrowers around


Ah well, at least there's one Sale Shark in there

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Is this Clegg guy any good, I'd have Farrell in there.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Farrell's with the U20s at the JWC
I'd rather have Freddie Burns at 10
Haven't really seen a lot of Clegg, but looking forward to seeing what he can do

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Farrell's under 20. Jesus he'll have about a thousand England caps when he retires. Already better than Flood IMO.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Not 20 until late September,
Ridiculous, isn't it?

 

[Teh Mite]

Farrell's under 20. Jesus he'll have about a thousand England caps when he retires. Already better than Flood IMO.

England capping a player while they're young. There's a novelty.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

The last one was probably Wilkinson and he only got them a world cup so it's probably best not to do it.

 

[Teh Mite]

Additional:

England capping someone English. There's a novelty.