JWC - Eng v SA

England make 6 changes to the team:

http://www.rfu.com/News/2012/June/NewsArticles/110612_20s_team_SA.aspx

You'll win this one, we have been disappointing to say the least.

Biltong,your guys have a big advantage of having had a nice rest.I know England have a strong squad but still 9 guys have to back up from a game on friday.

I think England are deserved favourites and I hope they win (I want Ireland to finish 2nd in the group) but it's not a sure thing.

England's team looks pretty strong, Monster Front row! Still surprised not to see Ben Ransom start a game yet, especially considering he seemed to start every game last JWC.

A monster backrow too! Lots of carrying power. Vunipola's a gargantuan 6.

England should take this. Good team. Sadly for us(baby boks), we havent been up to scratch the last few years. Our u/20's always look under coached and bad selections also have a big impact. We have young talent they just dont get selected.

Good luck to both teams though.

the pack is gigantic... its almost as heavy as the ENG first XV!

If the baby boks were bossed up front by IRE I can't see how they will compete here... it was the same last year... at this age group, currently their players aren't developed enough to compete.

That doesn't mean they are inferior however... always thought ENG are sometimes too keen on size at this age. May hurt them in the long run.

Shove it on the thread make it easier to see.

England Under 20 starting XV
15 Tommy Bell (London Wasps)
14 Marland Yarde (London Irish)
13 Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
12 Ryan Mills (Gloucester Rugby)
11 Charlie Walker (Harlequins)
10 Tom Heathcote (Bath Rugby)
9 Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby)

1 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
2 Koree Britton (Gloucester Rugby)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
4 Sam Twomey (Harlequins)
5 Dominic Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)
6 Billy Vunipola (London Wasps)
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 George Merrick (Harlequins)
20 Ben Nutley (Northampton)
21 Ben Spencer (Saracens)
22 Josh Bassett (Bedford Blues)
23 Ben Ransom (Saracens)

bluestonevedder wrote:A monster backrow too! Lots of carrying power. Vunipola's a gargantuan 6.

Vunipola aside it isn't really that big. Jack Clifford is fairly small for a number 8 even at this level and Chris Walker is a classic openside. Compare it to the one against Italy which had Vunipola and Sisi in it, now that WAS a big back-row.

I can't see the fuss about Sisi he's built like Tarzan but plays like Jane.

I'm not sure about that English backline, two 12s in the centres following Addison's iffy positioning vs Ireland doesn't give us much natural speed in the open channels for the wingers to run off.

Cumbrian

The pack weighs in at near 890 kg. That is probably the same weight the senior side put out last saturday. For a Junior team that is massive... esp given they have a couple of slight flankers in there to compete on the floor.

I was talking specifically about the back-row, we've got some big lads in the front five though.

formerly known as Sam wrote:I can't see the fuss about Sisi he's built like Tarzan but plays like Jane.

I'm not sure about that English backline, two 12s in the centres following Addison's iffy positioning vs Ireland doesn't give us much natural speed in the open channels for the wingers to run off.

I've been a bit disappointed by him too, I expected him to pull up trees but he hasn't made that much of an impact at all.

Should be a cracker looking forward to this game!

C'mon England!

England just smashed the Baby Bok scrum.

Tighthead Prop didnt hit, which is weird. Maybe they wanted to wheel and it went wrong?

Jeez, he put some welly on that!

England offside twice now. They'll need to sort that out or this ref is going to ping them all night.

Sisi is a better player than he has shown so far in this competition.

Hmm, serious lack of IQ by BabyBoks there

LondonTiger wrote:Hmm, serious lack of IQ by BabyBoks there

Disrespectful is what it is. I hope they're not taking this England team lightly.

They need a bonus point win to top the pool,it looks like they are going to either come 1st or 3rd in the group,2nd place doesn't interest them.

Saffa hooker having a 'mare throwing in so far!

asoreleftshoulder wrote:They need a bonus point win to top the pool,it looks like they are going to either come 1st or 3rd in the group,2nd place doesn't interest them.

Didnt know that, i retract my previous comment. Still not the best way to build an innings though.

It's to do with the head to head results,that's why I want SA to win by more than 8 but without a bonus point then Ireland top the group by virtue of having beat SA.

Still I think you're right it's a silly way to go about it,if they built up a lead then England would have to chase the game and it might give them a better chance to score a few tries.

Another excellent scrum from England and Heathcote is going for a long ranged shot at goal.

Cowan-Dickie is stuffing the Saffa tighthead with ease at the moment.

England looking very strong in the scrum. The loose-head making mincemeat out of the big Saffer.

Mills keeps putting far too much length on the up-and-unders.

I hope the South African No.8 is quick because he doesn’t look very physical; he’s going to lose a lot of contact situations in this game.

Is it jsut me or does the passing of the U20s look better than the passing of the senior sides?

I think when players become fulltime players for a few years basic skill levels drop because coaches stop coaching it. The focus becomes more on defensive drills and set pieces and then the basics slip. That’s just my theory though.

I was just about to comment that the reffing in this tournament so far has been to a really poor standard but that this ref was doing a very good job, then realised it was Glen Jackson.

Our lineout continues to be useless...

ignore, repeat post

Dont know why that knock on is a relief. The English scrum will be relishing this!

alcoombe wrote:I was just about to comment that the reffing in this tournament so far has been to a really poor standard but that this ref was doing a very good job, then realised it was Glen Jackson.

He is very vocal and gives them enough warning to stay onside, It's a good physical match

The South African tightheads body position in the scrum is terrible. An under 16 loosehead would have him in trouble with that body position.

baby boks are really struggling

Ozzy3213 wrote:The South African tightheads body position in the scrum is terrible. An under 16 loosehead would have him in trouble with that body position.

I was just thinking that. I dont understand how is playing at this level for one of the best scrummaging nations of all time.

I say that and he’s been yanked. Feel sorry for him, must be embarrassing.

Coleman wrote:I say that and he’s been yanked. Feel sorry for him, must be embracing.

I wish the commentator would stop whining, I think it's been a pretty absorbing game!

HAHA. Auto complete on my phone!

Cumbrian wrote:I wish the commentator would stop whining, I think it's been a pretty absorbing game!

It’s a fantastic game of rugby. You don't need 100 points in a game for it to be entertaining.

Lol those things can be dangerous,yeah Cumbrian it's not a tryfest but it's a good contest and there's been some decent passages of play.

Decision making by England has been a bit dodgy at times, I feel they are attacking the short side too much.

Very good half of rugby. Some of the most physical stuff i've seen at any level.

senior sa sides= criticised for not running
baby boks= don't do anything but run