England U18's tour to Australia

England won the opening match of the tour down under against Australia Academy U19's 19-9. From what I've heard and read, the England U18's aren't quite at the same level of recent age grade sides, so this has got to be viewed as a decent win.

http://www.rfu.com/News/2011/August/News%20Articles/210811_EngU18_Win.aspx

The Side for the first game was:

15 Jack Nowell (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs)
14 Marcus Webber (Manchester Grammar & Leeds Carnegie),
13 Sam Jones (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs)
12 Sam Hill (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs),
11 Jack Arnott (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs)

10 Henry Slade (Plymouth College & Exeter Chiefs)
9 James Lightfoot-Brown (St Paul’s Catholic College & London Irish)

1 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Truro College & Exeter Rugby)
2 Scott Spruling (Harrow & Saracens)
3 Danny Herriott (Moulton College & Northampton Saints)
4 Tom Price (Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth 1st & Leicester Tigers)
5 Dominic Barrow (Prince Henry’s Grammar & Leeds Carnegie)
6 David Sisi (St Paul’s Catholic College & London Irish)
7 Matt Hankin (Haileybury College & Saracens)
8 Jack Clifford (RGS Guildford & Harlequins)

Replacements

16 Max Crumpton (Oaklands College & Saracens)
17 Kyle Sinckler (Epsom College & Harlequins)
18 George Sandford (St Paul’s Catholic College & London Irish)
19 Tom Jubb (Oaklands College & Saracens)
20 Joe Buckle (Bryanston & Bath Rugby)
21 Alex Day (St Joseph’s College & Northampton Saints)
22 Will Robinson (Twyford College & London Wasps)
23 Tom Stephenson (Moulton College & Northampton Saints)


Looking at that, you'd think Exeter have got a bit of a golden generation of players coming through. Throw in the some of the slightly older players like Dave Ewers and Ben Moon and Exeter could have a really strong nucleus for years to come.

Also, what is it about Harlequin's and no.8's? Nick Easter, Tom Guest, Chris York, Joe Trayfoot and this lad here. They've all represented England at some level!

Nice one Truro, they know how to bring them on

They won the second match of the series more convincingly by 27-0, but it was against the Australia academy A team.

http://www.rfu.com/News/2011/August/News%20Articles/230811_EngU18_AusA_MR.aspx


The team:

15 Jack Nowell (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs)
14 Oliver Rosillo (Harrogate Grammar & Leeds Carnegie)
13 Tom Stephenson (Moulton College & Northampton Saints)
12 Sam Hill (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs)
11 Zach Kibirige (Yarm School & Newcastle Falcons)
10 Will Robinson (Twyford College & London Wasps)
9 Alex Day (St Joseph’s College & Northampton Saints)
1 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs)
2 Max Crumpton (Oaklands College & Saracens)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Epsom College & Harlequins)
4 Tom Jubb (Oaklands College & Saracens)
5 George Sandford (St Paul’s Catholic College & London Irish)
6 Dominic Barrow (Prince Henry’s Grammar & Leeds Carnegie), captain
7 Joe Buckle (Bryanston & Bath Rugby)
8 David Sisi (St Paul’s Catholic College & London Irish)

Replacements

16 Scott Spurling (Harrow School & Saracens)
17 Danny Herriott (Moulton College & Northampton Saints)
18 Jack Clifford (RGS Guildford & Harlequins)
19 Matt Hankin (Haileybury College & Saracens)
20 Sam Jones (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs) (unused)
21 James Lightfoot-Brown (St Paul’s Catholic College & London Irish)
22 Henry Slade (Plymouth College & Exeter Chiefs)
23 Marcus Webber (Manchester Grammar & Leeds Carnegie)

Looks like I called the decline a bit too early! England U18's walloped their Australian counterparts 15-46 in Sydney this morning. That's a seriously good win and quite a statement to those of us who thought they might be on the wane. They finish the three match tour unbeaten.

http://www.rfu.com/News/2011/August/News%20Articles/270811_engu18_aus_report.aspx


Team:
15 Jack Nowell (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs)
14 Marcus Webber (Manchester Grammar & Leeds Carnegie)
13 Sam Jones (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs)
12 Sam Hill (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs)
11 Jack Arnott (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs)
10 Henry Slade (Plymouth College & Exeter Chiefs)
9 James Lightfoot-Brown (St Paul’s Catholic College & London Irish)
1 Danny Herriott (Moulton College & Northampton Saints)
2 Scott Spurling (Harrow School & Saracens)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Epsom College & Harlequins)
4 Tom Price (Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth 1st & Leicester Tigers)
5 Dominic Barrow (Prince Henry’s Grammar & Leeds Carnegie) (captain)
6 Joe Buckle (Bryanston & Bath Rugby)
7 Matt Hankin (Haileybury College & Saracens)
8 David Sisi (St Paul’s Catholic College & London Irish)

Replacements (all used)
16 Max Crumpton (Oaklands College & Saracens) for 2 (53mins)
17 Tom Jubb (Oaklands College & Saracens) for 6 (56)
18 George Sandford (St Paul’s Catholic College & London Irish) for 4 (35)
19 Tom Stephenson (Moulton College & Northampton Saints) for 13 (68)
20 Alex Day (St Joseph’s College & Northampton Saints) for 9 (40)
21 Oliver Rosillo (Harrogate Grammar & Leeds Carnegie) for 11 (60)
22 Will Robinson (Twyford College & London Wasps) for 10 (60)
23 Zach Kibirge (Yarm School & Newcastle Falcons) for 14 (68)

Well for an England u18 side to go to Australia and essentially thrash their counterparts is very impressive and bodes well for the future. The side had some difficulties against the home nations in the spring, but it looks like they've really developed as individuals and as a team. They started out by out-muscling a bigger Australian u19 side, and then by al accounts played some excellent running rugby in their next two games.

I haven't checked how many changes were made between the earlier games and this tour but in a way it isn't surprising that some England age-group sides take time to gell. The system produces so many players that the coahces need time to identify the better players and combinations, and the players need time to get used to each other. I saw a link of the u16s from 4 years ago, and there were lots of different names compared to this year's excellent u20s side.

In terms of players to look out for Sisi and Barrow have a huge amount of potential (the former as a potentially outstanding no.8), and I think there is loads of ability in the backs. Probably of most interest is Sam Hill, who played all three games at 12 and got a decent write-up in the report of the final game. If there's one thing English rugby needs more of it's decent ICs, so I'll be following him with interest.