England U20s Six Nations

Squad has been named for the Italy game.  


15 Ben Redshaw (Newcastle Falcons)
14 Toby Cousins (Northampton Saints) *
13 Ben Waghorn (Harlequins) *
12 Sean Kerr (Harlequins)
11 Alex Wills (Sale Sharks) *

10 Rory Taylor (Gloucester Rugby)
9 Archie McParland (Northampton Saints)

1 Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks) *
2 Craig Wright (Northampton Saints) *
3 Billy Sela (Bath Rugby)
4 Olamide Sodeke (Saracens)
5 Junior Kpoku (Racing 92)
6 Finn Carnduff (c) (Leicester Tigers) *
7 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints)
8 Zach Carr (Harlequins) *


Replacements

16 Jacob Oliver (Newcastle Falcons)
17 Scott Kirk (Bath Rugby)
18 James Halliwell (Bristol Bears) *
19 Joe Bailey (Exeter Chiefs) *
20 Nathan Michelow (Saracens) *
21 Ben Douglas (Newcastle Falcons)
22 Josh Bellamy (Harlequins)
23 Ollie Spencer (Newcastle)

Some good players, the two starting props are beasts for this level, both exceptional in the loose.  There are quite a few other recognisable names in there (and ones I'm not too familiar with).  To be honest we could do with another strong generation.  The last couple of tournaments the performances have been pretty underwhelming.

Interesting seeing the younger ( and apparently even larger) Kpoku in the mix

Fordjour at LH....England get their wish?

lostinwales wrote:Interesting seeing the younger ( and apparently even larger) Kpoku in the mix

And would be unavailable for the senior side. We're currently helping train him up ahead of his France debut!

Geordie wrote:Fordjour at LH....England get their wish?

Or it's a way of getting our two best props on the pitch for more of the game? Being able to play both sides is normally an extremely useful skill for those that can do it to a good standard. Helped Thomas du Toit get into the Boks squad and win a world cup medal, probably helped him get a chunky contract at Bath (who've used him on both sides this season).

No 7&1/2 wrote:

lostinwales wrote:Interesting seeing the younger ( and apparently even larger) Kpoku in the mix

And would be unavailable for the senior side. We're currently helping train him up ahead of his France debut!

Or using the time to try to convince to come back across to become eligible in the future.

Just seems odd Sam, for me if you're going to go with the foreign based restriction carry it through. Or more sensibly gte rid!

The Kpoku's are French speakers and the twins, for whatever reasons, were not getting anywhere in their careers in the UK. It may be that Junior just wanted to be close to the rest of the family for now.

He's only 18, 2.03m and 119kg according to Racing.

Listened to an interview earlier. He's not ruling out playing for France.

If he has any luck in his career Pollock is going to be huge

No 7&1/2 wrote:Just seems odd Sam, for me if you're going to go with the foreign based restriction carry it through. Or more sensibly gte rid!

Getting rid of it for the senior side is completely moronic. The RFU would lose access outside of international windows to any foreign based players and it would be open season on the best English talent causing significant wage inflation for the Prem clubs who as such would have to risk financial damage or accept weaker overall squads in order to afford to keep what talent they have.

A decision that means less prep time for the national side and a weaker domestic competition. Yay.

It is odd to have Kpoku in the side but obviously there's a hope he'll come back to the UK at some point.

lostinwales wrote:If he has any luck in his career Pollock is going to be huge

Quality player with a lot of potential. The combination of him and Carnduff on the flanks worked well.

Pollack was excellent and has pace of a centre and step of a fly half!

I was so impressed with Henry Pollock when he got 30 minutes off the bench against Tigers for his Prem debut. He was just constantly popping up where Saints needed him and being a pain. Clearly got very good technique in contact too. Plus the standout pace for a back row. Reminded me of Jack Clifford but with a bit more power in the tight exchanges to be developed.

Hopefully he stays fit and keeps developing. With players of Pollock's talent that can often be the line between success and failure, frustratingly. Hinckley came through just after the Curry's and I honestly thought he was the best talent of the lot. Due to injury he barely played, is now without a club amid rumours of getting a taste for delicious nose clams.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Just seems odd Sam, for me if you're going to go with the foreign based restriction carry it through. Or more sensibly gte rid!

Getting rid of it for the senior side is completely moronic. The RFU would lose access outside of international windows to any foreign based players and it would be open season on the best English talent causing significant wage inflation for the Prem clubs who as such would have to risk financial damage or accept weaker overall squads in order to afford to keep what talent they have.

A decision that means less prep time for the national side and a weaker domestic competition. Yay.

It is odd to have Kpoku in the side but obviously there's a hope he'll come back to the UK at some point.

It'll have to happen sooner or later.

Shameless copying

England U20

15 Ioan Jones (Gloucester Rugby) * 14 Toby Cousins (Northampton Saints) * 13 Ben Redshaw (Newcastle Falcons) * 12 Ollie Spencer (Newcastle Falcons) * 11 Alex Wills (Sale Sharks) * 10 Rory Taylor (Gloucester Rugby) * 9 Archie McParland (Northampton Saints) 1 Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks) * 2 Craig Wright (Northampton Saints) * 3 Billy Sela (Bath Rugby) * 4 Olamide Sodeke (Saracens) * 5 Junior Kpoku (Racing 92) * 6 Finn Carnduff (c) (Leicester Tigers) * 7 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints) * 8 Nathan Michelow (Saracens) *

Replacements

16 Jacob Oliver (Newcastle Falcons) * 17 Scott Kirk (Bath Rugby) * 18 James Halliwell (Bristol Bears) * 19 Joe Bailey (Exeter Chiefs) * 20 Kane James (Exeter Chiefs) 21 Ben Douglas (Newcastle Falcons) * 22 Josh Bellamy (Harlequins) * 23 George Makepeace-Cubitt (Rams RFC)

Wales U20

15 Huw Anderson (Dragons) 14 Harry Rees-Weldon (Dragons RFC) 13 Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby) 12 Harri Ackerman (Dragons RFC – Capt) 11 Walker Price (Dragons RFC) 10 Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby) 9 Ieuan Davies (Bath Rugby); 1 Freddie Chapman (Ospreys) 2 Harry Thomas (Scarlets) 3 Patrick Nelson (RGC)* 4 Jonny Green (Harlequins) 5 Osian Thomas (Leicester Tigers) 6 Lucas de la Rua (Cardiff Rugby) 7 Harry Beddall (Leicester Tigers) 8 Morgan Morse (Ospreys) Replacements

16 Evan Wood (Cardiff Met) 17 Jordan Morris (Dragons) 18 Sam Scott (Midlands Central) 19 Nick Thomas (Dragons) 20 Owen Conquer (Ebbw Vale) 21 Rhodri Lewis (Ospreys) 22 Harri Ford (RGC) 23 Macs Page (Scarlets) *Uncapped

Didn't Freddie Chapman used to play for you guys?

Osian Thomas moved to lock from back-row this week, I would have kept him at blindside but Wales are obsessed with fetchers at every level. I think England could probably win this with a bit to spare, I haven't seen anything to suggest that the Wales U20s have got their house in order. Opoku-Fordjour and Kpoku up front worry me.

mikey_dragon wrote:Didn't Freddie Chapman used to play for you guys?

Osian Thomas moved to lock from back-row this week, I would have kept him at blindside but Wales are obsessed with fetchers at every level. I think England could probably win this with a bit to spare, I haven't seen anything to suggest that the Wales U20s have got their house in order. Opoku-Fordjour and Kpoku up front worry me.

To be honest I from last week I say Sodeke is better than Kpoku but both of them are huge

Should be a fun U20s this afternoon. My afternoon is clear so should be able to relax with an adult beverage or two, put my feet up, and watch the young'uns.

From somebody in the city, I'd expect the ball to be very greasy, it has rained on and off for much of the day, but clearish now.

Three knockons in three minutes, could be a long night this...

Ooooft! A couple of naughty looking scrums from England there...

Cumbrian wrote:Ooooft!  A couple of naughty looking scrums from England there...

Yeah hopefully tomorrow's go as well.

A couple of loopy passes for that try.

doctor_grey wrote:A couple of loopy passes for that try.

It is all a little inaccurate at the moment, feels like England could cut loose if they can click.

"I'm not mad, I'm disappointed' Cold referee, really cold!

That's my boy, Archie!

This could be a massacre if Wales don't start getting their hands on the ball.

England pack demolishing Wales.

Free kick? They just destroyed the Welsh pack, odd take.

Cumbrian wrote:Free kick?  They just destroyed the Welsh pack,  odd take.

Tbf. Going backwards isn't against the law.

Cumbrian wrote:Free kick?  They just destroyed the Welsh pack,  odd take.

Tbf. Going backwards isn't against the law. Need the 8 to keep better control and just continue forward.

Good that they scored, but ref has been somewhat generous to the Welsh scrum in that passage of play. England smashed them twice and got no reward.

Very poor from England that, the clearance was very pedestrian and they've gifted Wales a way back into the game that they really shouldn't have.

There’s some good players up front for England. Wales’ scrum is embarrassingly bad though.

Henry Pollock is not too bad in a pinch.

I think it is good that Wales reminded England that they are still there, they need to guard against complacency.

Pollock has the markings of an exceptional player, but I hate to say it... Is he big enough? I only say it because I remember Alex Gray. He looked amazing at this level, but didn't have the physicality to make it at senior level. Pollock is only young though, so should naturally put on timber.

I know they are young lads but there is no control from England. They look like gym droid heads with rugby shirts on rather than rugby players. Our scrum half is all over the place bless him. They need less time in the gym and more sessions on ruck control, phase play and handling. Scrum looks sharp though with no penalties which is odd especially as the Welsh front row has been lifted and popped out of scrum. This is a very young and green squad by the looks which means there's plenty of room to get better.

Pollock is the new Arundell

Against the head with 7 vs 8. Not good for Wales

Just how many scrum penalties does the Welsh scrum have to give away before they get a warning?

Or penalties in general? It must be three to one at this point and England are the only ones with the yellow card.

Ioan Jones? I think maybe we’ll take him next year…

For crying out loud! That was three separate penalties conceded in the 22, but still no whisper of a warning.

Properly useless by the English winger, but yet another penalty and still no warning...

Has Pollock taken a load of ultimate orange?

Looks like she finally gave a scrum pen.

Hard work

RiscaGame wrote:Has Pollock taken a load of ultimate orange?

Do you think he knew he was on the big screen?

Cumbrian wrote:

RiscaGame wrote:Has Pollock taken a load of ultimate orange?

Do you think he knew he was on the big screen?

Methinks the lad might be a wee bit wired at times.

England were sloppy tonight, Wales too obviously. If England played to their potential and the ref wasn't favourable to Wales that could have been 100 points put on them. Dick Whiffin and Howley not good enough but it's jobs for the boyo's again.