Updated England u20 squad

Only one changed, Tom Heathcote who has been getting plenty of game time at 10 for Bath replacing the injured Henry Slade.

Of the forwards only Nutley, Kvesic, and Walker have had much 1st team game-time (although Vunipola probably would have done), but then having a decent backrow is obviously very handy. There's a lot more experience of first team rugby in what is an exciting group of backs.

England Under 20 Elite Player Squad 2011/2012
Forwards
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)*
Nick Auterac (Saracens)
Alec Hepburn (London Wasps)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Nathan Morris (London Wasps)
Scott Spurling (Saracens)
Koree Britton (Gloucester Rugby)*
Sam Twomey (Harlequins)*
George Merrick (Harlequins)
Tom Price (Leicester Tigers)
Dom Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)
Ben Nutley (Northampton Saints)
Chris Walker (Leeds Carnegie)
Matt Kvesic (Worcester Warriors)*
Billy Vunipola (London Wasps)
Will Skuse (Bath Rugby)
Jack Clifford (Harlequins)

Backs
Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby)*
Alex Day (Northampton Saints)
Ben Spencer (Saracens)
Tom Heathcote (Bath Rugby)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)*
Ryan Mills (Gloucester Rugby)*
Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
Elliot Daly (London Wasps)*
Jamie Elliott (Northampton Saints)*
Mark Jennings (Sale Sharks)
Marland Yarde (London Irish)*
Charlie Walker (Harlequins)
Will Addison (Sale Sharks)
Ben Ransom (Saracens)*
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)

* Capped by England at U20 level last season

There are a number of names in the forwards I don't know much about, but looks like the first choice backline will be exactly the same as the one that did so well last year, with the added bonus of the excellent Spencer coming in at SH (which was weakest area).

I have a bit of a gripe about the way RFU list the squad - with DR arrangements having become de rigeur, players should be credited with both their academy and their DR team.
For the Exeter lads, Luke C-D and Jack Nowell have been getting game time with Plymouth Albion (as might have the injury-sticken Henry Slade) and Sam Hill with Cornish Pirates, as well as Exeter's A team and LV/Amlin squads.

A lot of Wasps in there even though theyve been struggling financilay the last few years it appears the talent factory there is still in opperation.

Very good looking back options, and like you said, the backrow is good also. Hope they do as well as previous years!

Looks like a fairly experienced England side.

If you haven't heard of Scott Spurling. The link is one of his big highlights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0aSXg2AHB4

beshocked, I think he might be Scots-qualified?! We're coming for him ...

Interesting that Tom Price is in there, he's been part of a Tigers/Clermont player exchange so has been over in France rather than farmed out on loan.

There's some real talent in that backline as well. Heathcote, Ford and Mills are all talented playmakers with some real speed in Yarde, Ransom and Elliot. Having said that, the Spurling lad looks to have some wheels as well.

Daly, Addison, Nowell also pacey. And there's serious competition for the 10 shirt. Maybe a back-line of

Spencer, Ford, Elliot, Addison, Daly, Yarde, Nowell.

Some good players amongst that lot.

Keep an eye out for Dom Barrow, he's been captain of successive age group squads and he's stepped up a year early. He's big, strong and athletic, but he also runs the line-outs. Big things are expected of him.

Looks like they are determined to solve the openside flanker problems... they've got three of them! Ben Nutley, Chris Walker and Matt Kvesic. Although Kvesic will probably spend his time shuffling through all three backrow positions.


The back line looks like it could be pretty fierce too. Curiously they've picked two outside centres (three if you count Jamie Elliot who originally played there too) and only one genuine inside centre (Sam Hill). I'm guessing players like Ryan Mills and Will Addison will be covering the position


My guess at the team would be something like:


01. Luke Cowan-Dickie
02. Scott Spurling
03. Kyle Sinkler
04. Dom Barrow
05. George Merrick
06. Ben Nutley
07. Matt Kvesic
08. Billy Vunipola

09. Ben Spencer
10. George Ford

11. Marland Yarde
12. Sam Hill
13. Elliot Daly
14. Jamie Elliot
15. Ben Ransom

Interesting. I'd say that there are more options at IC than I can remember from an u20 side. Hill is highly rated and has been playing at the Pirates, but as I understand it the best rugby Addison has played this season was at IC for Sale in the AP, and Mills went to last years' tournament as a specialist IC.

Ransom doesn't seem to have kicked on this year so I think Nowell could give him a real run for his money. The other back worth mentioning is Charlie Walker - serious pace and step there.

I agree about Barrow (who has played a bit for Leeds in the Championship), and think the front row is decent (Sinkler looks a serious specimen, Spurling certainly looks like he's got something about him and LCD has been highly rated for some time). Backrow will be strong - I think Chris Walker could force his way in at 7 with Kvesic moving. I'm not sure who the second lock will be - maybe Twomey?

On paper I think this is the best England u20 squad ever. We'll see if they can live up to their potential.