France U20 vs. England U20

15) Ben Ransom (Saracens)
14) Anthony Watson (London Irish)
13) Charlie Walker (Harlequins)
12) Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
11) Marland Yarde (London Irish)
10) Ryan Mills (Gloucester Rugby)
9) Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby)

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

Replacements:

16) Nathan Morris (London Wasps)
17) Alec Hepburn (London Wasps)
18) Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks)
19) David Sisi (London Irish)
20) Will Skuse (Bath Rugby)
21) Ben Spencer (Saracens)
22) Tommy Bell (Sale Sharks)
23) Will Addison (Sale Sharks)


It's a strong team, a big and mobile front five and that's a really scavaging backrow!


Good to see Addison and Sisi involved. I've heard good things about Ross Harrison too.

It is a pretty good side. Who are they missing? Just Ford?

Also Henry Slade the Chiefs 10.

Great to see Sisi in there. really think this kid has a massive future and could be the long term answer for the England at No 8.

Slade is injured, I believe

Should hammer France.

Asbo

How good is he? I hear really good things about him and people saying that he will be better than Ford will.

Ozzy3213 wrote:Asbo

How good is he? I hear really good things about him and people saying that he will be better than Ford will.

Pete, not sure about that - he's good, but still too early for me at any rate to be able to tell whether he'll make it or not. Sam Hill and Luke C-D should both get higher at international level, and probably Jack Nowell too (also currently injured)

Heathcote is missing too, going head to head with Ford in the Low Value Cup.

A bit harsh on Leeds that those two are released, while Tommy Bell (on loan from Sharks) is bench sitting in France just as The Championship starts meaning business.

Yes, that's 3 out of the running for Saturday game against Pirates, 2 of whom would probably have figured in the squad maybe all 3. Can't see the U20s losing but it's never a foregone conclusion.

aitchw wrote:Yes, that's 3 out of the running for Saturday game against Pirates, 2 of whom would probably have figured in the squad maybe all 3. Can't see the U20s losing but it's never a foregone conclusion.

Sam Hill balances it a bit, but I'm not sure if he'd even make the bench for Pirates.

HammerofThunor wrote:It is a pretty good side. Who are they missing? Just Ford?

It's arguable really because of the depth that has developed at this level. There are a number of guys who have been playing in the tournament who are missing; the aforementioned Ford and Heathcote plus Elliot Daly and Scott Spurling.

But I wouldn’t be surprised to see some additions for the JWC such as Billy Vunipola, Ben Nutley, Jamie Elliott and Sam Twomey.

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Slade too, but I must admit I’ve never seen him play.

Forgot about Daly and Vunipola (Wasps kind of need everyone they can get their hands on at the moment).

Game 4, and the fourth FH England have started with this season. To get the full set we just need to start with Heathcote against Ireland.

Missing from the matchday squad this week are: Ford, Heathcote, Daly, Elliot, Nowell, Merrick, Vunipola, Nutley and Twoney. Hodgson is being ignored so I'm not counting him, and Slade is probably only involved because of the call ups and wouldn't feature this week even if fit (next year he'll be very prominant).

Sisi is there to cover second row, where-as really he is an 8. The man is enormous.

So in this age-group we have Sisi, Vunipola (starting regularly for Wasps at present) and Clifford (who's impressed me in the games I've seen). One year up we have Gray and Jackson Wray, and then Fearns just ahead of that. No 8 is another example of a position that has been a problem for England, but which won't be for much longer.

I was impressed with the front row against walesu20, will be interesting to see how they go against a french front row. Cowan dickie in particular but all 3 look big and mobile, modern forwards.

in the backs im looking forward to seeing all the back 3 players but anthony watson looks an extremely exciting prospect, his step and acceleration mean he can scythe through a defense in a moments notice.

Charlie walker also caught my eye last time out, former sprinter tells you how quick he is.

My main concern with this squad is that the scrum fell to pieces after changes were made in the Wales game. I believe England have a specialist scrum coach at u20 level, and so hopefully he's been working on the reserve front row.

England got beat 12-8.

I didn't see it, but from what I heard England were physically dominated by a massive French front five.

http://www.rfu.com/News/2012/March/NewsArticles/100312_eng_fra_u20_report.aspx

Disappointing, but England should still be able to win the tournament by beating the Irish next weekend.