World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa 29 June-19 July

First topic message reminder :

England squad announced today:

Forwards
Joe Bailey (Exeter Chiefs, Newton Abbot RFC, 5 caps)
Finn Carnduff (Leicester Tigers, Market Harborough RFC, 15 caps)
Harvey Cuckson (Bath Rugby, Mold RFC, 2 caps)
Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester Rugby, Bishop Wand School, 11 caps)
Arthur Green (Bath Rugby, Frome RFC, uncapped)
James Halliwell (Bristol Bears, Thornbury RFC, 10 caps)
James Isaacs (Saracens, Hemel Hempstead Camelot RFC, 3 caps)
Kane James (Exeter Chiefs, St Peters RFC, 4 caps)
Junior Kpoku (Racing 92, Saracens Amateurs, 4 caps)
Nathan Michelow (Saracens, Brentwood Rugby, 10 caps)
Cameron Miell (Leicester Tigers, Paul Roos, uncapped)
Jacob Oliver (Newcastle Falcons, Barnard Castle Rugby Club, 5 caps)
Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks, Broadstreet RFC, 14 caps)
Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, Buckingham Rugby Club, 5 caps)
Billy Sela (Bath Rugby, Royal Wootton Bassett RFC, 6 caps)
Olamide Sodeke (Saracens, Blackheath Rugby Club, 4 caps)
Craig Wright (Northampton Saints, Braintree Rugby Club, 5 caps)

Backs
Ollie Allan (Leicester Tigers, Hungerford RFC, uncapped)
Josh Bellamy (Harlequins, Rosslyn Park, 4 caps)
Jack Bracken (Saracens, Barnet Elizabethans RFC, uncapped)
Benjamin Coen (Exeter Chiefs, Teignmouth RFC, uncapped)
Toby Cousins (Northampton Saints, Bugbrooke RFC, 6 caps)
Lucas Friday (Harlequins, Bromley RFC, uncapped)
Angus Hall (Saracens, Sevenoaks Rugby Club, uncapped)
Ioan Jones (Gloucester Rugby, Minchinhampton RFC, 4 caps)
Sean Kerr (Harlequins, Sutton and Epsom Rugby Club, 4 caps)
Ben Redshaw (Newcastle Falcons, West Park Leeds RFC, 5 caps)
Oli Spencer (Newcastle Falcons, Epping Rams Rugby, 5 caps)
Ben Waghorn (Harlequins, Chipstead Rugby Club, 7 caps)
Alex Wills (Sale Sharks, Droitwich Rugby Club, 7 caps)

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/article/mapletoft-confirms-squad-for-world-rugby-u20-championship-2024

Wales already announced:

Forwards
Jordan Morris (Dragons)
Josh Morse (Scarlets)
Ioan Emanuel (Bath Rugby)
Harry Thomas (Scarlets)
Isaac Young (Scarlets)
Will Austin (Sale Sharks)
Kian Hire (Ospreys)
Sam Scott (Bristol)
Jonny Green (Harlequins)
Nick Thomas (Dragons RFC)
Osian Thomas (Leicester Tigers)
Ryan Woodman (Dragons RFC – Capt)
Lucas de la Rua (Cardiff Rugby)
Harry Beddall (Leicester Tigers)
Morgan Morse (Ospreys)
Owen Conquer (Dragons RFC)

Backs
Ieuan Davies (Bath Rugby)
Rhodri Lewis (Opsreys)
Lucca Setaro (Scarlets)
Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby)
Harri Ford (Dragons RFC)
Macs Page (Scarlets)
Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby)
Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby)
Elijah Evans (Cardiff Rugby)
Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Rugby)
Harry Rees-Weldon (Dragons RFC)
Kodie Stone (Cardiff RFC)
Huw Anderson (Dragons RFC)
Matty Young (Cardiff Rugby)

https://www.wru.wales/2024/06/wales-name-u20-world-championship-squad/

Getting the excuses in early there Sam.
On the flip side the team hasn't had chance to play together and be match ready

Slick lineout move for that Irish try in the first minute.

Was a nice move. Helped by some incredibly poor defending from the England forwards

How many penalties is he going to give before he bins one of the Irish props? That is the third or fourth?

Great play from England, when it sticks they look a really good team, it just doesn't happen quite enough.

That is bloody ridiculous, he caught the ball straight from the kick, even if he hadn't the ball was on the floor at the back of the ruck. Really poor refereeing.

The call for Ireland's last penalty was pretty spurious as well. He could be heard telling the English players they took a player past the horizontal and didn't return him safely to the ground, but on replay they clearly just dumped him on his arse from the outset.

That said, if England can tighten up a bit (and keep Kerr on the pitch), they have enough of a power advantage to close this one out.

Unfortunately the England forwards have woken up a bit. Ireland still in it need to tighten up defence

That is about the 7th scrum penalty, why is nobody in the bin?!

Fin Carduff asking the question 'Seriously sir, how many more?'

Bad break of the ball for the poor Irish winger, could be the game here.

8th penalty at the scrum. I just head the ref say that he wasn't going to card them because they have a new front row, it is ridiculous.

Well played England.

Good game Ireland, very dogged in defence.

Difficult day at the office for Ireland overall though, I was worried when they score early on but in truth England dominated large sections of the match and should have won by more.

Carnduff speaks well, he's an exceptional player.

Have to say both England and Ireland have some quality looking players coming through. Will be interesting to see which ones can make the step up to senior rugby

carpet baboon wrote:Have to say both England and Ireland have some quality looking players coming through. Will be interesting to see which ones can make the step up to senior rugby

Ireland no.8 looks exceptional, but I'd probably leave Patreece Bell at Sale if I was the IRFU.

Irish outside backs looked very useful too.

England will be hoping Kpoku's shoulder is OK. No word on whether Billy Sela will available. Ben Redshaw also looked in trouble when he went off early.

Meanwhile, France are 14-0 up over New Zealand after seven minutes.

Rugby Fan wrote:Argentina win 34-24.

That's a poor return for the Baby Boks in a tournament on home soil.

They’ve got unreal depth. It’s good that it has slowed down to give everyone else a chance to catch up…

I haven’t seen it but I read that England u20 had a big scrum. I saw some of it during the u20 6N, it was frightening how much better their scrum was. England look well stocked for a while.

NZ 14-21 France

There have been 5 tries and one yellow card in the first 16 minutes.

Cumbrian wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:Have to say both England and Ireland have some quality looking players coming through. Will be interesting to see which ones can make the step up to senior rugby

Ireland no.8 looks exceptional, but I'd probably leave Patreece Bell at Sale if I was the IRFU.

Irish outside backs looked very useful too.

Gleeson is a special player. Already played for Munster.
I agree with you on bell. Hopefully a late bloomer tho.
Hugh Gavin is rated very highly. I expect him to get a couple of senior appearances next season.

Have to say all your props look very good. Any with a Irish granny?

mikey_dragon wrote:I haven’t seen it but I read that England u20 had a big scrum. I saw some of it during the u20 6N, it was frightening how much better their scrum was. England look well stocked for a while.  

England u20s has always had big packs. What's impressed the most about this batch is how technically good that are as well.

Cumbrian wrote:Carnduff speaks well, he's an exceptional player.  

Right now it can certainly be said that he represents England well. Who was MOTM for England?

Good win for England well done. Hope they go on to win v France.

carpet baboon wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:Have to say both England and Ireland have some quality looking players coming through. Will be interesting to see which ones can make the step up to senior rugby

Ireland no.8 looks exceptional, but I'd probably leave Patreece Bell at Sale if I was the IRFU.

Irish outside backs looked very useful too.

Gleeson is a special player. Already played for Munster.
I agree with you on bell. Hopefully a late bloomer tho.
Hugh Gavin is rated very highly. I expect him to get a couple of senior appearances next season.

Have to say all your props look very good. Any with a Irish granny?

I wouldnt be surprised if Gavin is involved at the next RWC, super player. By then Aki will be 37 and McCloskey and Henshaw will be 34.

Collapse2005 wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:

carpet baboon wrote:Have to say both England and Ireland have some quality looking players coming through. Will be interesting to see which ones can make the step up to senior rugby

Ireland no.8 looks exceptional, but I'd probably leave Patreece Bell at Sale if I was the IRFU.

Irish outside backs looked very useful too.

Gleeson is a special player. Already played for Munster.
I agree with you on bell. Hopefully a late bloomer tho.
Hugh Gavin is rated very highly. I expect him to get a couple of senior appearances next season.

Have to say all your props look very good. Any with a Irish granny?

I wouldnt be surprised if Gavin is involved at the next RWC, super player. By then Aki will be 37 and McCloskey and Henshaw will be 34.

With Gavin, Osborne and I hope Poselthwait we should have some serious competition in the centers in the next few years

England team for the final against France. While Redshaw and Kpoku both got hurt late on against Ireland, they are fit enough to start. Billy Sela must still be injured, as he's not in the 23. Nathan Michelow, who went off early against Ireland, is also out.

15. Ioan Jones
14. Ben Redshaw
13. Ben Waghorn
12. Sean Kerr
11. Alex Wills
10. Ben Coen
9. Ollie Allan

1. Asher Opoku-Fordjour
2. Craig Wright
3. Afolabi Fasogbon
4. Joe Bailey
5. Junior Kpoku
6. Finn Carnduff (c)
7. Henry Pollock
8. Kane James

Replacements
16. James Isaacs
17. Cameron Miell
18. James Halliwell
19. Olamide Sodeke
20. Arthur Green
21. Lucas Friday
22. Josh Bellamy
23. Angus Hall

Still a very strong squad. Really looking forward to this game.

Spain 19-19 Fiji with five to go.

Fiji have a red and yellow card.

Spain had position for the world's easiest drop kick but kept going, and conceded a penalty.

If scores are level, we get extra time.

Rugby Fan wrote:Spain 19-19 Fiji with five to go.

Fiji have a red and yellow card.

Thank god these two are about to save Wales, who have just won one game - against Spain! Are Scotland likely to come up this year?

Rugby Fan wrote:England team for the final against France. While Redshaw and Kpoku both got hurt late on against Ireland, they are fit enough to start. Billy Sela must still be injured, as he's not in the 23. Nathan Michelow, who went off early against Ireland, is also out.

15. Ioan Jones
14. Ben Redshaw
13. Ben Waghorn
12. Sean Kerr
11. Alex Wills
10. Ben Coen
9. Ollie Allan

1. Asher Opoku-Fordjour
2. Craig Wright
3. Afolabi Fasogbon
4. Joe Bailey
5. Junior Kpoku
6. Finn Carnduff (c)
7. Henry Pollock
8. Kane James

Replacements
16. James Isaacs
17. Cameron Miell
18. James Halliwell
19. Olamide Sodeke
20. Arthur Green
21. Lucas Friday
22. Josh Bellamy
23. Angus Hall

I think England are good enough to stop France this year, good luck.

Jones and James are two that will probably switch to Wales in future.

Spain had a kickable penalty but elected to kick for touch. Twice they tried the lineout maul, and twice came up short.

It's now golden point in extra time, which is two 10 minute halves.

A very tense end, as Fiji had a rotating series of yellow cards. Eventually, Spain kicked an enormous penalty touchfinder to the right, and mauled the ball over for a winning try.

Ireland 7-0 NZ after 30 minutes

That should have been a penalty try for Ireland

Ireland 12-0 NZ

It feels like NZ could score soon but Ireland have been holding them out, and have made the most of two opportunities

Collapse2005 wrote:That should have been a penalty try for Ireland

Agreed. It was a high tackle.

This ref is very biased

What's ward been yellowed for?

Another ridiculous decision

Ill be disapointed if we lose this

What the heck has happened? I had the game on in the office until right after the second Ireland try. Thought it would be a good match and close the rest of the way. Unfortunately, I got that completely wrong. Was hoping for an England-Ireland final....

By France’s standards, this a slow start, and by England’s it’s a fast one.

If England can settle a little they should have an edge, but they’ve got to be very careful at the breakdown.

Beautiful offloading from France there - England a bit lucky the try was chalked off for a knock on.

Castro-Ferreira’s breakdown technique is exceptional - so low to the ground, and right on the edge of what the ref will allow

England are have a slight edge in both attack and defence here - but moments of imprecision have cost both sides dearly.

France are a constant threat at the breakdown, but it helps when you are basically allowed to lie on top of the opposition.

England finally put it all together and get a well deserved try. France must also be close to a warning - a long string of blue penalties in the build up.