England U 20 v Ireland U20 - Title Decider !

As a Precursor to the main event the following day -


Venue Adams Park

KO. 2005 16th March 2012

Ireland travel to England knowing that if they avoid defeat at Adams Park on Friday they will be crowned RBS Under 20 Six Nations champions and secure a confidence boost ahead of the side’s meeting at the IRB Junior World Championship 2012 in June.
The Irish are the only side with a perfect record in the Six Nations going into the final weekend after England suffered their first Championship defeat under head coach Rob Hunter, 12-8 to France in Vannes on Sunday to end their hopes of back-to-back Grand Slams.

England, who edged Ireland 33-25 in the pool stages of JWC 2011, will successfully defend their Six Nations title if they bounce back from their French disappointment and beat Ireland as they have a far superior point difference, more than double that of their rivals.

Things had started well enough for England at the Stade de la Rabine with a third-minute penalty by Ryan Mills opening the scoring, but Tom Ecochard edged France ahead with two kicks of his own and the hosts were unlucky not to add to these with the Television Match Official twice ruling no try as the French piled on the pressure in the English 22.

France continued on the front foot after the restart but were unable to increase their 6-3 advantage and actually feel behind when England made the  breakthrough with 10 minutes remaining, David Sisi touching down on his Under 20 debut.

Mills missed the conversion and France hit back with two more penalties from the boot of scrum half Ecochard, holding on for victory to lie third in the standings, behind England point differential and looking at best for second place in the Championship.
“We’re absolutely gutted, there was a lot of emotion at the end of the game and we’re really disappointed about the loss. We play the game to win and ultimately we weren’t able to do that against a good, strong French side,” said England captain Chris Walker.

“They dominated the set piece and that cost us, but we’ve got a massive game against Ireland to look forward to – we’re disappointed, but this will make us stronger.”

Very, very, very tough ask for the Ireland team...going on the cricket scoring abilty of the English. It looks a done-deal for England, but the Irish are dogged and that might keep them afloat long enough to maybe steal it.

Could France U20 still win this if they get past Wales?

whocares wrote:Could France U20 still win this if they get past Wales?

It's possible but highly unlikely.

They lost to Ireland who are unbeaten. But England have a huge points difference of around 100 better than France & Ireland.

thanks
well if it means that France would have to put 100 points to Wales, highly unlikely is an understatement !

With Bath out of the LV Cup now, there's a good chance that Heathcote might be selected at fly-half for England. That would make 5 different starting 10's in the 5 games.

There's the usual mismatch up front - just hope none of the Irish boys get seriously hurt! Looks like Ireland for third place unfortunately.

Didn't think Ireland were going to this year's JWC - did they change their mind?

Should see a slightly stronger England side this week, possibly seeing Heathcote at FH, Daly at OC and Vunipola at 8.

I guess Ireland won't have the sort of massive tight 5 who caused England trouble in France.

Actually the side has been announced:

England Under 20 side to play Ireland
15 Anthony Watson (London Irish)
14 Marland Yarde (London Irish)
13 Will Addison (Sale Sharks)
12 Ryan Mills (Gloucester Rugby)
11 Charlie Walker (Harlequins)
10 Tom Heathcote (Bath Rugby)
9 Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby)

1 Alec Hepburn (London Wasps)
2 Koree Britton (Gloucester Rugby)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
4 Tom Price (Leicester Tigers)
5 Dom Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)
6 Matt Kvesic (Worcester Warriors)
7 Chris Walker (Leeds Carnegie) (C)
8 Jack Clifford (Harlequins)

Replacements
16 Nathan Morris (London Wasps)
17 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
18 Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks)
19 George Merrick (Harlequins)
20 David Sisi (London Irish)
21 Ben Spencer (Saracens)
22 Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
23 Ben Ransom (Saracens)

Third OC and fifth FH of the campaign. Good to have a lock on the bench this week. It's the first game Ransom hasn't started, and LCD is given a rest (England's front row are a year ahead, which might explain what happened with the French).

Addison's first start at this age group, and interesting that Spencer is still on the bench - England are either trying to develop Robson or expect Spencer to be unavailable at the JWC (as Tuilagi was last year) because he'll be used by the senior mid-week side in SA.

15 - Shane Layden (Buccaneers/Connacht)
14 - Conor Finn (Buccaneers/Connacht)
13 - Chris Farrell (Dungannon/Ulster)
12 - JJ Hanrahan (UL Bohemians/Munster)
11 - Foster Horan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
10 - Paddy Jackson (Dungannon/Ulster) (capt)
9 - Luke McGrath (UCD/Leinster)
1 - Des Merrey (Clontarf/Leinster)
2 - Niall Scannell (Dolphin/Munster)
3 - Kyle McCall (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
4 - Iain Henderson (Queen's University/Ulster)
5 - Daniel Qualter (Buccaneers/Connacht)
6 - Conor Gilsenan (UCD/Leinster)
7 - Aaron Conneely (Corinthians/Connacht)
8 - Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

Replacements:

16 - James Rael (Garryowen/Munster)
17 - Peter Reilly (Lansdowne/Leinster)
18 - Jake Cawley (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
19 - Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Leinster)
20 - Jordan Coghlan (UCD/Leinster)
21 - Kieron Marmion (Corinthians/Connacht)
22 - Cathal Marsh (Dublin University/Leinster)
23 - Stuart Olding (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

Ireland team

DaveM wrote:Actually the side has been announced:

England Under 20 side to play Ireland
15 Anthony Watson (London Irish)
14 Marland Yarde (London Irish)
13 Will Addison (Sale Sharks)
12 Ryan Mills (Gloucester Rugby)
11 Charlie Walker (Harlequins)
10 Tom Heathcote (Bath Rugby)
9 Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby)

1 Alec Hepburn (London Wasps)
2 Koree Britton (Gloucester Rugby)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
4 Tom Price (Leicester Tigers)
5 Dom Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)
6 Matt Kvesic (Worcester Warriors)
7 Chris Walker (Leeds Carnegie) (C)
8 Jack Clifford (Harlequins)

Replacements
16 Nathan Morris (London Wasps)
17 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
18 Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks)
19 George Merrick (Harlequins)
20 David Sisi (London Irish)
21 Ben Spencer (Saracens)
22 Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
23 Ben Ransom (Saracens)

Third OC and fifth FH of the campaign. Good to have a lock on the bench this week. It's the first game Ransom hasn't started, and LCD is given a rest (England's front row are a year ahead, which might explain what happened with the French).

Addison's first start at this age group, and interesting that Spencer is still on the bench - England are either trying to develop Robson or expect Spencer to be unavailable at the JWC (as Tuilagi was last year) because he'll be used by the senior mid-week side in SA.

I would like to see Merrick in the second row to add a bit more power, maybe to replace Price. I'd have been tempted to start Sisi at no.8 to carry in heavy traffic too.

Who else aside from Ford is missing out from the England side to play the LV final?

Nutely and Elliott though I think Elliott may be injured anyway.

Is this on TV?

Hope the Irish lads can give a good account of themselves. I can see them being beasted up front though.

Hope they can get some ball to the backs though, Hanaran and Farrell are exciting players.

It's on Sky Sports 2 at 8pm.

Cheers, I assume you mean PM though?

Yeah, I did. Fighting jet lag at the moment so I'm not 100% switched on. Thinking of having a nap, because there is a great weekend of rugby that I don't want to miss!

No probs! Have a good one !

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:Who else aside from Ford is missing out from the England side to play the LV final?

Henry Slade and Jack Nowell are both injured too

Slade wouldn't have started this game even if fit - he's one for next season. Nowell would have had several starts in this 6 Nations though.

Anyone got a link to the game?

Check your private messages.

What a try from Anthony Watson!

Thanks a bunch

Nice try by the 17 year old (or is he 18 now)

7-0

Just under 1 and 1/2 minutes gone.

England looked a bit peeved off by last week result!

Cumrian, could you send me that link?

Done mate.

Thanks, appreciate it

Hope the scrum is ok after being pushed over. He seemed to be down for a while.

stupid bit of discipline from England.

7-3
9 Minutes

I think Watson turned 18 recently.

Anyone getting really sick of the whole "simulation" b0lox going on these days, noticed alot with the french (particularly Para) and now appears to be creeping into the Irish game...

Stupid offside after knockon

Hi Folks!

Come on Ireland!!!

Ahhh Paddy!!!

I thought deliberate knock-ons (one handed failed intercepts) were yellow cards?

Ireland really struggling with the ball carrying at the minute.

Nice lineout move for the try

Ah bollix poor defence.

Please can someone send me the link?

Well worked try from Robson, not been that impressed with him so far again. But the work at the scrum and the line he took for the try get some brownie points.

12-3
17 Min

PM for nobbled!

Thank you very much lovely people.

nobbled wrote:Please can someone send me the link?

Get it?

Robson's passing is a bit hit and miss. Not going for the points in interesting. I know this is just a warm up for the JWC but winning is still the aim.

Oops, they lost it

okay never mind

Feic we're being beasted here.

Should have taken the penalty.