England U20 vs. FranceU20's

Chat about the game vs. France begins on page 4.

15 Ben Howard (Worcester Warriors)
14 Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers)
13 Mark Jennings (Sale Sharks)
12 Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
11 Jack Arnott (Exeter Chiefs)
10 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
9 Alex Day (Northampton Saints)

1 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
2 Nathan Morris (London Wasps)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
4 Elliott Stooke (Gloucester Rugby)
5 Dom Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)
6 Harry Wells (Leicester Tigers)
7 Joel Conlon (Exeter Chiefs)
8 Jack Clifford (Harlequins) (c)

Replacements
16 Danny Herriott (Northampton Saints)
17 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints)
18 Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
19 Tom Jubb (Saracens)
20 David Sisi (London Irish)
21 Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby)
22 Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby)
23 Tom Stephenson (Northampton Saints)

French Team:

15. Wieprecht (Clermont); 14. Lacroix (Albi), 13. Fickou (Toulouse), 12. Dussartre (Racing), 11. Parez (Racing); 10. Mallet (Stade français), 9. Serin (Bordeaux); 7. Camara (Massy), 8. Tauleigne (Bourgoin), 6. Babillot (Castres); 5. Jedraziak (cap., Clermont), 4. Bastien (Agen); 3. Cotet (Perpignan), 2. Ruffenach (Biarritz), 1. Baille (Toulouse).

Remplaçants: 16. Hollet (Perpignan), 17. Custoja (Perpignan), 18. Vartanov (Racing), 19. Cros (Toulouse), 20. Domenech (Narbonne), 21. Vialelle (Castres), 22. Le Bourhis (La Rochelle), 23. Singer (Clermont).


Loosehead Prop:

Luke Cowan-Dickie (6ft 0in & 17st 4lb) 19 (Exeter Chiefs)
Alec Hepburn (6ft 1in & 15st 12lb) 19 (Wasps)

Tighthead Prop:

Kyle Sinckler (6ft 0in & 18st 12lb) 19 (Harlequins)
Scott Wilson (6ft 2in * 18st 10lb) 18 (Newcastle Falcons)

Hooker

Max Crumpton (5ft 11in & 15st 10lb) 19 (Saracens)
Nathan Morris (6ft 0in & 17st 2lb) 19 (Wasps)
Scott Spurling (5ft 10in & 15st 10lb) 19 (Saracens)

Second Row:

Dominic Barrow (6ft 6in & 17st 11lb) 19 (Leeds Carnegie)
Tom Jubb (6ft 6in & 15st 8lb) 19 (Saracens)
Tom Price (6ft 9in & 16st 5lb) 19 (Leicester)
Elliott Stooke (6ft 7in & 18st 1lb) 19 (Gloucester)
Harry Wells (6ft 5in & 17st 4lb) 19 (Leicester)

Blindside Flanker

Ross Moriaty (6ft 3in & 15st 3lb) 18 (Gloucester)

Openside Flanker

Matt Hankin (6ft 0in & 14st 2lb) 19 (Saracens)

No 8:

Jack Clifford (6ft 4in & 15st 10lb) 19 (Harlequins)
David Sisi (6ft 4in & 18st 12lb) 19 (London Irish)

Scrum Half

Calum Braley (5ft 11in & 13st 0lb) 18 (Bristol)
Alex Day (6ft 0in & 13st 9lb) 19 (Northampton)
Nathan Fowles (5ft 10in & 14st 0lb) 19 (Sale)

Flyhalf

Henry Slade (6ft 3in & 13st 7lb) 19 (Exeter)
Ollie Devoto (6ft 0in & 15st 1lb) 19 (Bath)
Will Hooley (5ft 12in & 11st 11lb) 19 (Northampton)

Inside Centre

Sam Hill (6ft 0in & 15st 10lb) 19 (Exeter Chiefs)
Tom Stephenson (6ft 1in & 14st 11lb) (Northampton)

Outside Centre

Mark Jennings (6ft 0in & 14st 6lb) 19 (Sale Sharks)
Harry Sloan

Winger

Jack Arnott (5ft 11in & 11st 4lb) 19 (Exeter)
Ben Howard (6ft 5in & 14st 13lb) 19 (Worcester)
Henry Purdy

Fullback

Tom Collins (5ft 11 & 12st 8lb) 18 (Northampton)
Jack Nowell (5ft 11in & 14st 0lb) 19 (Exeter)
Anthony Watson (6ft 2in & 13st 5lb) 18 (London Irish)

England v Scotland, live on Sky Sports HD
Date: Friday, February 1
Venue: Plymouth Albion RFC
Kick-off: 17:45

Ireland v England
Date: Friday, February 8
Venue: Dubarry Park, Athlone
Kick-off: 18:35

England v France, live on RFU.com
Date: Saturday, February 23
Venue: Sixways, Worcester
Kick-off: 15:00

England v Italy, live Sky Sports HD
Date: Friday, March 8
Venue: Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
Kick-off: 20:05

Wales v England
Date: Friday, March 15
Venue: Parc Eirias, Colwyn Bay
Kick-off: 19:30

Pretty good squad there. Harry Sloan is meant to be a pretty good prospect at Quins, although i'm surprised Charlie Walker, Daryl Marfo, Ollie Lyndsie-Hague aren't selected (held back by the club? Or maybe over 20...)

Anyway here's some of the Quins boys stats for your op:
Kyle Sinckler
DOB 30th Mar 1993
Height 1.83 m (6' 0")
Weight 120 kg (18 st 12 lb)

Jack Clifford
DOB 12th Feb 1993
Height 1.93 m (6' 4")
Weight 100 kg (15 st 10 lb)

Those two TH's are serious potential...a year or two and we wont have worries about Cole getting injured....

yappysnap wrote:Pretty good squad there. Harry Sloan is meant to be a pretty good prospect at Quins, although i'm surprised Charlie Walker, Daryl Marfo, Ollie Lyndsie-Hague aren't selected (held back by the club? Or maybe over 20...)

Anyway here's some of the Quins boys stats for your op:
Kyle Sinckler
DOB 30th Mar 1993
Height 1.83 m (6' 0")
Weight 120 kg (18 st 12 lb)

Jack Clifford
DOB 12th Feb 1993
Height 1.93 m (6' 4")
Weight 100 kg (15 st 10 lb)

Cheers pal, I think that they are all too old for the squad. I was always surprised that OLH and Darryl Marfo didn't get more time for England under age. (Although I believe Marfo was involved in a little strife when he was was younger).

GeordieFalcon wrote:Those two TH's are serious potential...a year or two and we wont have worries about Cole getting injured....

Aye there are some weaker elements to the squad, but there is some really good competition for places too. Tighthead as you say and Fullback come to mind, Nowell vs. Anthony Watson is one to watch out for. Also at inside centre (hallelujah!) with Sam Hill and Tom Stephenson slugging it out for first choice. Both are tough direct runners with decent hands and power, but I think Sam Hill has the start at the moment.

Hopefully Sam can shed some light on the two Tigers second rows but Tom Price looks like a beast from his stats

Interesting breakdown

Exeter - 5
Sarries - 4
Saints - 4
Leicester - 2
Wasp - 2
Glous - 2
LI - 2
Quins - 2
Sale - 2
Bath - 1
Wuss - 1
Bristol - 1
Newcastle - 1
Leeds - 1

Exeter are really making a mark on English rugby...and Sarries development work would seem to be in full flow now...
Sad to see us and Leeds both with only one each in the squad...

Havnt included Purdy or Sloan? Who are they with?

Potential team:

01. Luke Cowan-Dickie
02. Nathan Morris
03. Kyle Sinckler
04. Elliot Stooke
05. Dominic Barrow
06. David Sisi
07. Ross Moriarty
08. Jack Clifford

09. Nathan Fowles
10 Henry Slade

11. Jack Arnott
12. Sam Hill
13. Mark Jennings
14. Ben Howard
15. Jack Nowell or Anthony Watson (really not sure!)

Cumbrian wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Those two TH's are serious potential...a year or two and we wont have worries about Cole getting injured....

Aye there are some weaker elements to the squad, but there is some really good competition for places too. Tighthead as you say and Fullback come to mind, Nowell vs. Anthony Watson is one to watch out for. Also at inside centre (hallelujah!) with Sam Hill and Tom Stephenson slugging it out for first choice. Both are tough direct runners with decent hands and power, but I think Sam Hill has the start at the moment.

That's what'll they'll need to see them into seniors test squad down the road. We aren't lacking any direct runners or crash ball merchants at 12 in senior level, and although its a joy to argue about the merits of players in X,Y or Z position and strenght in depth, it is also a shame to see young up and comers not see time in a position if they have the talent. Most of the seniors aren't 'old hands' either.

At 12 we already have Barritt (direct runner, great defense, bad hands though), 36 (needs experience, but considered the whole package), O Farrell (covers & plays 12 at club level - defensive lump of a lad with a steel boot and average hands), couple that with Bananaman trying to up his game aswell, these lads are going to have to show more than just being great direct runners.

Sorry to be a wet blanket.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Interesting breakdown

Exeter - 5
Sarries - 4
Saints - 4
Leicester - 2
Wasp - 2
Glous - 2
LI - 2
Quins - 2
Sale - 2
Bath - 1
Wuss - 1
Bristol - 1
Newcastle - 1
Leeds - 1

Exeter are really making a mark on English rugby...and Sarries development work would seem to be in full flow now...
Sad to see us and Leeds both with only one each in the squad...

Havnt included Purdy or Sloan? Who are they with?

To be fair Geordie, Joel Hodgson can feel a little hard done by with his time spent in age grade rugby. I think he is too old now, but he has suffered with being up against the likes George Ford and Tom Heathcote. Zach Kibirige WILL be in the squad next year too.

Leeds have supplied loads of under-age players over the last 3-4 years, so I they can be forgiven for having a lean year.

AlastairW wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Those two TH's are serious potential...a year or two and we wont have worries about Cole getting injured....

Aye there are some weaker elements to the squad, but there is some really good competition for places too. Tighthead as you say and Fullback come to mind, Nowell vs. Anthony Watson is one to watch out for. Also at inside centre (hallelujah!) with Sam Hill and Tom Stephenson slugging it out for first choice. Both are tough direct runners with decent hands and power, but I think Sam Hill has the start at the moment.

That's what'll they'll need to see them into seniors test squad down the road. We aren't lacking any direct runners or crash ball merchants at 12 in senior level, and although its a joy to argue about the merits of players in X,Y or Z position and strenght in depth, it is also a shame to see young up and comers not see time in a position if they have the talent. Most of the seniors aren't 'old hands' either.

At 12 we already have Barritt (direct runner, great defense, bad hands though), 36 (needs experience, but considered the whole package), O Farrell (covers & plays 12 at club level - defensive lump of a lad with a steel boot and average hands), couple that with Bananaman trying to up his game aswell, these lads are going to have to show more than just being great direct runners.

Sorry to be a wet blanket.

It's a fair point, but they've got plenty of time on their side. I believe Sam Hill is dual registered with Cornish Pirates, getting good game time (and reviews) which a player his age needs. In a way the challenge is set for players like Hill and Stephenson because they know what they are up against and in theory, should know the areas of their game to work on.

Good looking squad, but very few flankers in there! I'm guessing some of the locks can cover?

Congrats to the 5 Exe lads

I think Harry Wells, Dominic Barrow and David Sisi can cover blindside. I reckon we'll see Moriarty at least covering openside.

Ah Sisi- of course. I like the look of this lad. Big, and uncompromising. Got the physcial attributes of Willem Alberts, and hopefully he can develop into that sort of player!

Excellent THs. Two very exciting SHs in Braley and Fowles.

I'm not sure I always agree with the positions assigned above.

I think Barrow is in as a 6 rather than as a lock, and Sisi is also a 6 who can play 8 rather than a specialist 8. I suspect Moriaty (hiighly rated) will play a lot at openside.

Jennings seems to play mostly at either IC or on the wing. However Purdy can play OC. Collins can play wing or OC and I doubt he'll play FB. However, Bath seem to see Devoto as more of a FB than a FH and I think Howard came on at FB for the senior Worcester wide this weekend. Finally Stephenson (highly rated) has played a lot of rugby at OC.

A 12. Hill 13. Stephenson centre combination is potentially outstanding. I'd also expect to see Nowell and Watson both start in the bigger games, with one of them on the wing.

So:

9. Fowles
10. Slade
11. Arnott
12. Hill
13. Stephenson
14. Watson
15. Nowell

If Slade is the class act I think he is then this would be a very good backline. On the other hand it is rare that the best set of players is on the pitch at the same time.

Incidentally, the u18 league sounds like it a success. Saracens appear to have the best u18 side (Nick Tomkins, a centre being a name to look out for). However they just lost to a very young (even by u18 standards) Leeds side. Plenty of decent sides and decent rugby by all accounts. Check out the Bristol (who have a decent academy) OC, Slowik, in this embedded video - pace and power:

Slowik

DaveM wrote:Excellent THs. Two very exciting SHs in Braley and Fowles.

I'm not sure I always agree with the positions assigned above.

I think Barrow is in as a 6 rather than as a lock, and Sisi is also a 6 who can play 8 rather than a specialist 8. I suspect Moriaty (hiighly rated) will play a lot at openside.

Jennings seems to play mostly at either IC or on the wing. However Purdy can play OC. Collins can play wing or OC and I doubt he'll play FB. However, Bath seem to see Devoto as more of a FB than a FH and I think Howard came on at FB for the senior Worcester wide this weekend. Finally Stephenson (highly rated) has played a lot of rugby at OC.

A 12. Hill 13. Stephenson centre combination is potentially outstanding. I'd also expect to see Nowell and Watson both start in the bigger games, with one of them on the wing.
So:

9. Fowles
10. Slade
11. Arnott
12. Hill
13. Stephenson
14. Watson
15. Nowell

If Slade is the class act I think he is then this would be a very good backline. On the other hand it is rare that the best set of players is on the pitch at the same time.

Jack Nowell has mostly played centre for Exeter A team, wing in his Prem and HC starts, with a handful of full-back appearances for Pirates and one of Chiefs LV games. Adaptability seems to be desirable in these youngsters.

Luke Cowan-Dickie played his first game at hooker for Albion yesterday - potentially a useful LH/hooker on the bench (although he'd probably be 1st choice LH in this squad).

GeordieFalcon wrote:Interesting breakdown

Exeter - 5
Sarries - 4
Saints - 4
Leicester - 2
Wasp - 2
Glous - 2
LI - 2
Quins - 2
Sale - 2
Bath - 1
Wuss - 1
Bristol - 1
Newcastle - 1
Leeds - 1

Exeter are really making a mark on English rugby...and Sarries development work would seem to be in full flow now...
Sad to see us and Leeds both with only one each in the squad...

Havnt included Purdy or Sloan? Who are they with?

Sloan is a Quins boy and dredging up memories Purdy is a Tigers player (may be wrong there!!!)

I always find it odd how every season Quins only have 2-3 players in these squads but can then fill our club side with academy boys every year and have a lot of success in the A league.

Purdy is Tigers, but used to be Quins.

Disgraceful behaviour!! Stealing one of our academy boys!

yappysnap wrote:Disgraceful behaviour!! Stealing one of our academy boys!

It used to be Falcons and Leeds.

DaveM wrote:Excellent THs. Two very exciting SHs in Braley and Fowles.

I'm not sure I always agree with the positions assigned above.

I think Barrow is in as a 6 rather than as a lock, and Sisi is also a 6 who can play 8 rather than a specialist 8. I suspect Moriaty (hiighly rated) will play a lot at openside.

Jennings seems to play mostly at either IC or on the wing. However Purdy can play OC. Collins can play wing or OC and I doubt he'll play FB. However, Bath seem to see Devoto as more of a FB than a FH and I think Howard came on at FB for the senior Worcester wide this weekend. Finally Stephenson (highly rated) has played a lot of rugby at OC.

A 12. Hill 13. Stephenson centre combination is potentially outstanding. I'd also expect to see Nowell and Watson both start in the bigger games, with one of them on the wing.

So:

9. Fowles
10. Slade
11. Arnott
12. Hill
13. Stephenson
14. Watson
15. Nowell

If Slade is the class act I think he is then this would be a very good backline. On the other hand it is rare that the best set of players is on the pitch at the same time.

I'll give you Sisi, but I will say he has played all across the backrow and I was simply assigning him a position.

I think Barrow is a no.6 in the same Lawes way was when he first broke into the Northampton team, he can cover there but will end up in the second row. For Leeds he has played at lock as much as at 6, but for England U20's last year he almost exclusively played at lock. In the games he played in he started all but one game (against Wales) there.

With Jennings I wasn't sure because when you have a guy that plays wing he generally shifts in one to outside centre and there are already two inside centres in the squad in Hill and Stephenson. I still think Stephenson is an inside centre and he has played a number of games there for the Northampton A team this season.

With Ben Howard I knew he can cover both positions but there are already three potential fullbacks in the squad in Collins, Watson and Nowell, so I assumed he'd be considered a wing.

Stephenson can play both IC and OC. I think in the summer for the u18s he played twice at OC and once at IC. With an IC of the class of Hill (although England bizarrely used him as an OC in the JWC last year) I think we may see Stephenson playing OC when Hill is available. No doubt he can play 12 though, although perhaps we'll see more of him there next season when he'll be the senior centre.

From what I've seen Barrow has mainly played 6 this season for Leeds. Personally I hope he does end up a lock because it's one of the very few positions where England aren't producing enough players (7, and perhaps 8 are the others).

I see Collins as more of a wing/OC than a FB. Similar to Purdy.

An bets on which of them will be capped by Scotland in 18 months time?

Bathman_in_London wrote:An bets on which of them will be capped by Scotland in 18 months time?

I know that you're joking, but I reckon there are a number of players that could be tempted away in the future.

Moriarty is the obvious one; his Dad and Uncle represented Wales and although born in England spent a good amount of time living in Swansea.

Scott Wilson is a Borders lad who qualifies for England through his Berwick born mother; I’d be very surprised if the SRU aren’t keeping a quiet eye on him.

I heard David Sisi has been approached by the SRU in the past; he’s certainly played in the Scottish Exiles age grade teams.

It might be my imagination, but I remember reading somewhere that Scott Spurling was Scots qualified too.

There’s probably more, that is just off the top of my head.

I was joking, but I would put money (not much, I'm not much of a gambler!) on the fact that 1 player at least in that squad ends up playing for another country.

I would hope that members of the England management team keep in regular contact with the likes of Sisi, telling him he is on the radar for the future etc so they don't get tempted away. Hopefully Lancaster's previous role as U20's coach means that he understands the conveyor belt system a bit more.

A topic for another thread, but I do hope that a set cut off point for global qualification is agreed. Having U20's in some countries and not others makes a bit of a mockery of the system. I don't buy into the 'its easier to just play for where you live' either. As an example; James Tyas is a Bath academy member, went to school in Brigton and is a Scotland U20's player. Brighton couldnt be much further from Scotland, but he still managed!

A strong squad as always which is great to see. In Luke Cowan-Dickie, Kyle Sinckler and Scott Wilson we have three monsters coming through in the props!

Scotland:

15 Keith Buchan (Boroughmuir);
14 Damian Hoyland (Boroughmuir),
13 Chris Auld (Gala),
12 Mark Bennett (Glasgow/Clermont Auvergne),
11 Rory Hughes (Scotland 7s);
10 Tommy Allan (Western Province),
9 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh);
1 Jamie Bhatti (Stirling County),
2 Russell Anderson (Gala),
3 D’arcy Rae (Ayr),
4 Jonny Gray (Glasgow) capt,
5 Adam Sinclair (Perpignan),
6 Ruaridh Leishman (Stirling County),
7 Will Bordill (Sale),
8 Adam Ashe (Glasgow).

Subs:
16 Calum Black (Edinburgh Accies),
17 Shawn Muir (Hawick),
18 Phil Cringle (Edinburgh),
19 Cameron Turner (Aberdeen Grammar),
20 Tommy Spinks (London Scottish),
21 Ali Price (Bedford),
22 Alex Hagart (Aberdeen Grammar),
23 Robbie Fergusson (Ayr).


England:

15 Anthony Watson (London Irish)
14 Jack Arnott (Exeter Chiefs)
13 Harry Sloan (Harlequins)
12 Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
11 Ben Howard (Worcester Warriors)
10 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
9 Alex Day (Northampton Saints)

1 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
2 Max Crumpton (Saracens)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
4 Elliott Stooke (Gloucester Rugby)
5 Dom Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)
6 Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby)
7 Joel Conlon (Exeter Chiefs)
8 Jack Clifford (c) (Harlequins)

Replacement:
16 Danny Herriott (Northampton Saints)
17 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints)
18 Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
19 Tom Jubb (Saracens)
20 Gus Jones (London Wasps)
21 Nathan Fowles (Sale Sharks)
22 Will Hooley (Northampton Saints)
23 Mark Jennings (Sale Sharks)

Kyle Sinckler (6ft 0in & 18st 12lb) 19 (Harlequins)
Scott Wilson (6ft 2in * 18st 10lb) 18 (Newcastle Falcons)

It's all right. They're about to start their growth spurts...

What the feic are their mothers feeding them??

Bennett, Ashe and Allen are Scotland's stand out players, incidentally.

Jonny Gray is no a bad player either GC ?

3 Plymouth players playing at their home ground (or their second home after Sandy Park), plus two more Exeter players should ensure a decent crowd just from their families.

Looks like Joel Conlon has been called up from the U18's - he's played for Exeter in LV and A League at 6/8 and hasn't looked out of place. 2 inexperienced flankers, though, with Ross Moriarty also making his debut at blindside.

Jack Nowell will have to wait for his first cap after missing last year's 6N and JWC with injury. I think Rob Baxter may have asked for him to be released for the LV game, although U20's has priority - Harry Wells has also been released to Tigers.

Luke Cowan-Dickie has played his last 2 games at hooker (apparently at England's request) but he reverts to LH and, with Sinckler, will be part of a very mobile front row.

Watson will punish any loose infeld kicks with his pace, and Arnott also has gas to spare.

Henry Slade and Sam Hill have played together for Chiefs in LV and A League so have a good understanding at 10/12, although their day jobs are at Albion and Pirates respectively. Sam is good at offloading to runners from deep and is a more than solid tackler.

Looking forward to it - just imagine fans from Pirates, Albion and Chiefs all supporting the same team at Brickfields! Surreal.

Congrats to Exe lads - one third of England U20, even with Jack Nowell withheld!

Hidalgo-Clyne isn't bad either. And if I remember from a few match reports Ferguson from Ayr is decent too.

Knowing Johnny Gray I'm actually surprised he's captain, but then again that's because he's possibly the most awkward lad I've ever met... Very funny playing 7's with him when there were girls on the teams. Couldn't tackle them, or if he did ended up going for the chest...

George Carlin wrote:Kyle Sinckler (6ft 0in & 18st 12lb) 19 (Harlequins)
Scott Wilson (6ft 2in * 18st 10lb) 18 (Newcastle Falcons)

It's all right. They're about to start their growth spurts...

What the feic are their mothers feeding them??

You know sometimes you'll meet a player and they don't look anything like the size or weight that they're meant to be? I saw Sinckler training a while back and in this case those stats are probably a little low...

George Carlin wrote:Bennett, Ashe and Allen are Scotland's stand out players, incidentally.

Quite a few handy players in that Scotland team, Adam Sinclair is another at 2nd row, having a great season so far out in Perpignan, a physical player
who is also very good in the loose, could be a pretty good combination with him and Gray. D'arcy Rae is a really promising tight head from Ayr, big lad and only just turned 18 i think but has been dominating scrums for Ayr this season.
What happened to JJ Kilmartin, he played well in a few warm up games and seemed the biggest threat out wide but isn't even on the bench, injured?

Three seasons ago the core of this Scotland team put thirty points on three different England selects in a month. Will be interesting to see if they are still able to compete against opponents who will have developed hugely in the lintervening three years,

Usually England dominate in the tight at this level and Scotland are easily dispatched, not sure this will happen this time around.

Also think Lineen will have instilled a hard edge in the team, cant wait.

Thanks Maj - damn, now I can place Sinclair.

That Scotland lock combination is huge, actually, for such a pair of youngfellers.

Tommy Allen from Western Province, as on South Africa?

yep Tommy Allan is in the Western Province Academy in South Africa, was previously at London Wasps when he was at school.

yappysnap wrote:Tommy Allen from Western Province, as on South Africa?

Nephew of former Scotland and (back in the days when you could switch) South African hooker, John Allan

Congrats to the Glaws boys, who are also bucking the trend from recent years as they are forwards and not fancy dan backs! Both of whom I have been hugely impressed with so far this season. Stooke looks like being a true enforcer as he's already one of our biggest locks. Moriarty shares an awful lot of similarities with his father and looks to play with real intensity.

Does anyone know if this game is being shown on TV/RFU streaming?

UlstermaninGlasgow wrote:Hidalgo-Clyne isn't bad either.

Our favourite Scots Spaniard needs to develop a defensive game sharpish which will hopefully be easier when he starts to bulk up. Interesting that he's at 9 - never seem him there before - could be good.

HongKongCherry wrote:Congrats to the Glaws boys, who are also bucking the trend from recent years as they are forwards and not fancy dan backs! Both of whom I have been hugely impressed with so far this season. Stooke looks like being a true enforcer as he's already one of our biggest locks. Moriarty shares an awful lot of similarities with his father and looks to play with real intensity.

Does anyone know if this game is being shown on TV/RFU streaming?

It is on SS2 at about 5pm and then the Saxons are on after it at 8pm. With the real events on Saturday and Sunday, I am going to have to do some serious grovelling to my Girlfriend...

Hopefully Sam can shed some light on the two Tigers second rows but Tom Price looks like a beast from his stats

Tom Price looks set to be a lineout merchant of some calibre in a few years time. He's quiet quick due to his ranging stride and his athletic build means he can get up quickly at the lineout with a 6 foot 9 frame meaning he is a hookers dream. Needs to add a stone of bulk to his frame but at 19 there's no rush. He was sent to Clermont on the Tigers exchange scheme last season and made his debut in the first team last Saturday earning good reviews on the offy. Sadly he was stretchered off after 30 mins in a neck brace but thankfully it was just concussion and he should be back in a couple of weeks.

Wells is playing for Tigers this weekend due to our major shortages at lock. He can also play 6 and I thought that's where he might end up a couple of years back. He's got a big work rate in defence, quite athletic but seems to be neither an enforcer nor a lineout merchant. He is quite a big boy already so if his body can take some more muscle he could be a real imposing lock in a year or two.

Purdy joined the academy this season along with Belak and Jones. All three were unattached and Tigers swooped. Purdy scored quite a few for the A team earlier in the season and made his debut in the autumn in the LV Cup.

BTW the back up for Cole is coming along nicely. Balmain will be capped by England inside the next two years.

It's a shame that there's some genuinely talented guys in the Scotland team there but chances are they won't be able to compete because England will be so physically superior to them.

Saying that, they had games against he Scotland club team and Ayr so they will hopefully be better prepared for the physicality.

Cumbrian wrote:

HongKongCherry wrote:Congrats to the Glaws boys, who are also bucking the trend from recent years as they are forwards and not fancy dan backs! Both of whom I have been hugely impressed with so far this season. Stooke looks like being a true enforcer as he's already one of our biggest locks. Moriarty shares an awful lot of similarities with his father and looks to play with real intensity.

Does anyone know if this game is being shown on TV/RFU streaming?

It is on SS2 at about 5pm and then the Saxons are on after it at 8pm. With the real events on Saturday and Sunday, I am going to have to do some serious grovelling to my Girlfriend...

Cheers Cumbrian

I'm going to use up my brownie points for watching all that I'm a strictly X-factor brother on ice!

BTW the back up for Cole is coming along nicely. Balmain will be capped by England inside the next two years..

It'll be interesting to watch Sam with Wilson and Sinkler pushing aswell.

Hopefully Wilson will not have the disadvantage of the three next year and will be playing against premiership teams...

[quote="formerly known as Sam"]

BTW the back up for Cole is coming along nicely. Balmain will be capped by England inside the next two years.

That's a rather bold prediction Sam. Do you think he'll get the game ahead of Cole to be able to force his way in front of Wilson, PDJ, Thomas, Knight to name but a few?