England u20s versus Wales

First topic message reminder :

England have named their team:

u20 side

It's the same side that was supposed to start against Italy. Given the disappointment of having that called off, and the continued use of u20 players at AP sides, I don't think this is surprising.

It's nothing like the strongest side England can put out, but it's still got some good players in it. Slade and Bell are the fourth and fifth choice FHs at this level.

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)

Passes consistently going behind players and needless miss passes cutting down the space out-wide. C'mon boys, these are the basics!

15-6

Walker looks a bit special!

Penalty to England, Wales finally penalised for not rolling away.

15-6 39 Mins

The difference between him and Harrison from last year (was it last year?) is marked. Granted Spencer will probably be scrum half for JWC (if not with Saxons)

Just like tomorrow, only one side is playing the pretty stuff.

HammerofThunor wrote:Since 2008

Robson's passing has been poor at times

Right, I'm guessing I could almost name the side then

Wales hanging in there much better than I would have thought on previous form.

England penalised at the breakdown

15-9 HT

Harrison was two years ago so he has two years on Robson (although he was a lot better at the same time)

It's half time and Evans is furious that a referee could make a bad decision that changes the mood of the game. What?

Like a yellow card for a "tip tackle" in the last minutes of a game that clearly wasn't dangerous, or a tip tackle?

Or a quick lineout with the wrong ball?

Glass houses? Stones?

It was Chris Cook and Dan Robson last year. Both were patchy, but Robson was better than this. He's just chucking it into the midfield at the moment.

miteyironpaw wrote:I loved Ieaun Evans pre-match interview, when pointed out that Wales haven't beaten England in U20's since 1623 or whatever it is he comes back, quick as a flash "Well, it's not about results at this level..."

Genius. Do you guys get taught this stuff at school in Wales? or is it really just coming that naturally?

He seemed to be upset enough about the impact on the result of obvious not-try we scored a few minutes ago.

When's your birthday Mitey?

Wasn't it Quinnell at half time? There are loads of bad decisions in every game and any one of them can turn a game or change the mood. However if there's a TMO they should be used. But from the refs angle (almost directly behind towards England line I think) it would have looked like it was on the line. What it'll mean is he'll send decisions upstairs when he's 'sure' in the future and then people will complain of him bottling the big decisions

Cowan-Dickie's carrying has been very good, but it's all undone by another bloody handling error!

Tom Price is making way for Will Skuse and Barrow moving forward. We've actually got a flanker playing at flanker now.

WTF referee!?! England were moving forward!

Some of the ref decisions seem really bazaar.

HammerofThunor wrote:Wasn't it Quinnell at half time? There are loads of bad decisions in every game and any one of them can turn a game or change the mood. However if there's a TMO they should be used. But from the refs angle (almost directly behind towards England line I think) it would have looked like it was on the line. What it'll mean is he'll send decisions upstairs when he's 'sure' in the future and then people will complain of him bottling the big decisions

Quinnell, I stand corrected. Apologies.

Ref called a maul & the ball wasn't grounded.

They really really can't help themselves talking about England's size. Everything that's good is always due to their size. That's it.

Seriously I think the ref is randomly applying the laws now.

And Mr Commentator, an English rugby player starting out as a footballer really isn't that unusual.

How the hell could he tell it wasn't grounded? The whistle was blown immediately. I think he's got a bet on that he can work his way through all the offences. If he calls a not straight put it I'll know I'm right.

Mitey, I don't doubt Evans would have been complaining as well.

England knock on if the shadow of the Welsh posts again, really frustrating to watch.

I didn't think that you could play advantage from a collapsed scrum?

England penalty

18-9
54 mins

Walker is having a cracking game

Why the long pass! They had plenty of numbahs.

Still a try. Well done Cowan-Dickie. He probably deserves it after his hard work

Third try to England after a long phase of attack with multiple advantage for multiple offences. Game well and truely over.

I've got Sky Go on MY PC, in MY office, I am now watching the game in MY comfy office chair!! I love Sky, I do. Tomorrow, the world! Mwahahahahahah.

Cowan-Dickie barges over and emphatically slams the ball down. I've been really impressed with him in this game.

25-9
57 mins

Just don't try to move house PJ, they suck at that.

Merrick's done that twice now. His Aussie Rules background helping out?

England seem to have warmed up now and are upping the pace.

That'd be the physcial presence of the England team taking it's toll on the fitness of the Welsh - fatigue from all those tackles on physcially bigger lads.

Sorry, couldn't resist, it's all we'll hear tomorrow.

Really well worked try, started from Antony Watson's great run. It looks like they could be about to cut loose here.

30-9
62 mins

(Bell misses an easy conversion)

miteyironpaw wrote:That'd be the physcial presence of the England team taking it's toll on the fitness of the Welsh - fatigue from all those tackles on physcially bigger lads.

Sorry, couldn't resist, it's all we'll hear tomorrow.

I thought that... except, they've only made 20 more tackles than England. They started talking about fatigue when the clock was still in the 50 minute bracket!

Really, why can we not translate these good kids into good top level.

Wales had a good young side for a while and look what they'd be done!

We need to do more with this.

Quality try there. Hoooooj pressure & too many white jerseys.

England camped on the Welsh line and the pressure eventually tells. Spin the ball out wide and Anthony Watson finishes it off.

35-9
70 Min

miteyironpaw wrote:Just don't try to move house PJ, they suck at that.

I saw your post the other day, any good yet?

miteyironpaw wrote:That'd be the physcial presence of the England team taking it's toll on the fitness of the Welsh - fatigue from all those tackles on physcially bigger lads.

Sorry, couldn't resist, it's all we'll hear tomorrow.

In reverse because Wales have some bigger backs? If they get enough ball to dominate, which they should.

This is the first time I hae missed sky sports since I cancelled it. Just not Paying hundreds of pounds a year extra mostly to pay footballers wages.

trebellbobaggins wrote:Really, why can we not translate these good kids into good top level.

Wales had a good young side for a while and look what they'd be done!

We need to do more with this.

Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs, Manu Tuilagi and Courtney Lawes have all come through the England age groups in the last 4-5 years. Give these lads a chance, some of them will break through.

Yeah true, they have to. We are really producing good kids now. Though all I hear is that they are simply bigger and it evens out when the others grow up.

At some point I think eng are going to get the bette of Wales and Ireland in a big way. Just not yet.

Well size or not, there is a big gulf between these two teams. We have been falling off tackles since the start of the match, don't look fit and have made some poor decisions. Fair play to the English boys they have played some very nice rugby. Well done England.

Cumbrian wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:Really, why can we not translate these good kids into good top level.

Wales had a good young side for a while and look what they'd be done!

We need to do more with this.

Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, Tom Croft, Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs, Manu Tuilagi and Courtney Lawes have all come through the England age groups in the last 4-5 years. Give these lads a chance, some of them will break through.

Elliot Daly, Joe Launchberry & Christian Wade @ Wasps are just round the corner & playing first team rugby

England have only really been great at this level since 2008. Our problem is/was that all the experienced players weren't that great. The younger players are coming through and if we can finally get a settled side it'll be easier to bring the odd player in.

trebellbobaggins wrote:Yeah true, they have to. We are really producing good kids now. Though all I hear is that they are simply bigger and it evens out when the others grow up.

At some point I think eng are going to get the bette of Wales and Ireland in a big way. Just not yet.

It's an easy generalisation. They were talking before the game about how big the Welsh front row were too. A number of the tries in this game have come from the quality of the English backs and they certainly aren't massive.

40-9 England
Couple of minutes left to play

offload wrote:Well size or not, there is a big gulf between these two teams. We have been falling off tackles since the start of the match, don't look fit and have made some poor decisions. Fair play to the English boys they have played some very nice rugby. Well done England.

Is there an age restriction on cryotherapy chamber treatment?

So we really are seeing t happen then?

Good, engs cupboard is far from bare, they just need it at the top level.

How do they match the giants Wales hae found? Find some themselves plenty more in eng than Wales generally.

Skuse is doing well at Bath but hasn't had many 1st XV opportunities, he's signed back on for the Academy though, and as mentioned above, I think you have to give these players 3-5 years to come through.

Ultimately though it's down to opportunities of 1st XV rugby.

BigTrevsbigmac wrote:

offload wrote:Well size or not, there is a big gulf between these two teams. We have been falling off tackles since the start of the match, don't look fit and have made some poor decisions. Fair play to the English boys they have played some very nice rugby. Well done England.

Is there an age restriction on cryotherapy chamber treatment?

When did Wales last do it and why are only they using it?