England U20 Squad - The rise of the Steroid Guzzling Gym Monkey Oppressors mk5

[Peat]

Second half about to start I reckon.

 

[Peat]

Try number 7, about 15 to go.

edit: Sorry, try 8.

 

[Peat]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj_7OZLk8bw

Highlights for those who haven't seen.

 

[Darwin]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj_7OZLk8bw

Highlights for those who haven't seen.

Thanks for that Peat. Hard to tell how the forwards went from those highlights - they did seem to be getting quick ball from the breakdown, in the few breakdowns I saw though. Did England dominate up front as well as in the backs?

The England backline did make it look easy. It really helps that Ford looks like he plays reasonably flat in the backline, and has plenty of runners coming off him. It was very simple stuff from the England backs - draw the opposition player, then pass it to your support player who is running into a gap. Simple, but rarely executed well (at any level). The cohesion that they have gained by playing together quite a bit was very apparent in a few of their backline moves. Yarde certainly looks to have plenty of pace, and looks like he will benefit from the expansive game England were playing.

 

[Peat]

Thanks for that Peat. Hard to tell how the forwards went from those highlights - they did seem to be getting quick ball from the breakdown, in the few breakdowns I saw though. Did England dominate up front as well as in the backs?

The England backline did make it look easy. It really helps that Ford looks like he plays reasonably flat in the backline, and has plenty of runners coming off him. It was very simple stuff from the England backs - draw the opposition player, then pass it to your support player who is running into a gap. Simple, but rarely executed well (at any level). The cohesion that they have gained by playing together quite a bit was very apparent in a few of their backline moves. Yarde certainly looks to have plenty of pace, and looks like he will benefit from the expansive game England were playing.

Yes, but not to the same degree. When Scotland had the ball, they were assured in possession, but England generally had more of the ball and some of the forwards went on some big rumbles not shown here (particularly the tighthead Sinckler).

 

[Darwin]

Yes, but not to the same degree. When Scotland had the ball, they were assured in possession, but England generally had more of the ball and some of the forwards went on some big rumbles not shown here (particularly the tighthead Sinckler).

Cheers. The England tight-head did look like he had a fair bit of size!

 

[Peat]

England U20 squad for Italy

Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Alec Hepburn (London Wasps)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks)

Nathan Morris (London Wasps)
Scott Spurling (Saracens)

George Merrick (Harlequins)
Tom Price (Leicester Tigers)
Dom Barrow (Leeds Carnegie) - replacing Matt Kvesic
Elliot Stooke (Gloucester Rugby)

Chris Walker (Leeds Carnegie)
Will Skuse (Bath Rugby)
Jack Clifford (Harlequins)


Ben Spencer (Saracens) - replacing Ryan Mills
Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby)
Alex Day (Northampton Saints)

Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) - replacing Tom Heathcote

Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs) - replacing Elliott Daly

Charlie Walker (Harlequins)
Jack Arnott (Exeter Chiefs)
Josh Bassett (Bedford Blues) - replacing Marland Yarde

Ben Ransom (Saracens)
Tommy Bell (Sale Sharks) - replacing George Ford
Anthony Watson (London Irish)

 

[Darwin]

England U20 squad for Italy

Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Alec Hepburn (London Wasps)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks)

Nathan Morris (London Wasps)
Scott Spurling (Saracens)

George Merrick (Harlequins)
Tom Price (Leicester Tigers)
Dom Barrow (Leeds Carnegie) - replacing Matt Kvesic
Elliot Stooke (Gloucester Rugby)

Chris Walker (Leeds Carnegie)
Will Skuse (Bath Rugby)
Jack Clifford (Harlequins)


Ben Spencer (Saracens) - replacing Ryan Mills
Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby)
Alex Day (Northampton Saints)

Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) - replacing Tom Heathcote

Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs) - replacing Elliott Daly

Charlie Walker (Harlequins)
Jack Arnott (Exeter Chiefs)
Josh Bassett (Bedford Blues) - replacing Marland Yarde

Ben Ransom (Saracens)
Tommy Bell (Sale Sharks) - replacing George Ford
Anthony Watson (London Irish)

A lot of changes - is this simple to give other players a chance (given it is expected to be an easy game) or have the likes of Kvesic, Yarde, Ford etc been called back to their clubs (or both)?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Have a feeling that they'll have been called back - Last week it was LV= Cup games, and most teams will put out a weakened side for that, but it's back to Aviva Premiership this weekend so they'll want everyone there.

Surprised that Ford has been called back though, as Flood has been released from England and I'd have thought getting 60+ mins in this would be better than 10+ from the bench for Tigers.
However I'm happy to see Tommy Bell in the mix

 

[Peat]

Players returning to club duty, very surprised that Spencer hasn't gone as well

 

[Peat]

England Under 20 starting XV to play Italy
15) Ben Ransom (Saracens)
14) Anthony Watson (London Irish)
13) Charlie Walker (Harlequins)
12) Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
11) Josh Bassett (Bedford Blues)
10) Tommy Bell (Leeds Carnegie)
9) Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby)

1) Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
2) Scott Spurling (Saracens)
3) Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
4) Tom Price (Leicester Tigers)
5) George Merrick (Harlequins)
6) Dominic Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)
7) Chris Walker (C) (Leeds Carnegie)
8) Jack Clifford (Harlequins)

Replacements:
16) Nathan Morris (London Wasps)
17) Alec Hepburn (London Wasps)
18) Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks)
19) Elliot Stooke (Gloucester Rugby)
20) Will Skuse (Bath Rugby)
21) Ben Spencer (Saracens)
22) Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
23) Jack Arnott (Exeter Chiefs)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Pfft, Tommy Bell is Sale

 

[Peat]

Postponed

 

[Peat]

Minimal changes from the postponed game

England Under 20 starting XV v Wales

1) Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
2) Koree Britton (Gloucester Rugby)
3) Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
4) Tom Price (Leicester Tigers)
5) George Merrick (Harlequins)
6) Dom Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)
7) Chris Walker (C) (Leeds Carnegie)
8) Jack Clifford (Harlequins)

9) Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby)
10) Tommy Bell (Sale Sharks)
11) Josh Bassett (Bedford Blues)
12) Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
13) Charlie Walker (Harlequins)
14) Anthony Watson (London Irish)
15) Ben Ransom (Saracens)

Replacements:
16) Scott Spurling (Saracens)
17) Alec Hepburn (London Wasps)
18) Nick Auterac (Saracens)
19) Elliot Stooke (Gloucester Rugby)
20) Will Skuse (Bath Rugby)
21) Alex Day (Northampton Saints)
22) Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
23) Marland Yarde (London Irish)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Tommy Bell is back as Sale Sharksn then

Shame that Will Addison isn't involved, either at 12 or 14.

 

[HowieLO6]

While I'm not surprised that Kvesic and Daly aren't involved, such is their importance to their respective clubs, its a shame not to see Ford getting a look-in. Unless, of course, he's expected to get some game time for the Tigers?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

With Flood back with England he'll, presumably, be involved with the Tigers this weekend.

 

[Peat]

While I'm not surprised that Kvesic and Daly aren't involved, such is their importance to their respective clubs, its a shame not to see Ford getting a look-in. Unless, of course, he's expected to get some game time for the Tigers?

Starting for Tiggers. Doesn't get more involved than that

 

[gingergenius]

Walker, Watson and Ransom looked class tonight. That's the kind of result we used to see against Wales!

 

[TRF_Olyy]

England U20s went down 12 - 8 to France.