England U20 vs Bath

[Scrumhead]

True. Although the last minute changes can’t have helped.

[pjm1]

I was at this game after being able to snag a couple of last minute tickets for my son and I for the total sum of £20. We spent more on food while we were there! I was driving as well, so totally sober throughout. Had a lovely spot on the East 22, standing right up against the barrier. Awesome to see the game.

Our forwards were good in the first half - very clearly overpowering the Scottish players both individually and in terms of cohesion. However, it fell apart quite badly in the latter part of the 2nd half and although it never felt likely that Scotland would come all the way back, it was a wake-up call for our boys going forward.

Pollack was good but not great, I thought. Carnduff was another level for me - involved in so much. Michelow seemed useful and was a nice pairing across our flanks. And we have some serious units up front! Couldn't believe the size of a our props given they are U20.

Edited to add: the weather wasn't terrible, but may have looked it on screen. It was a smeary rain - very fine and absolutely will have made the ball greasy (which was clear in terms of handling errors in the first half). My son remarked that it was the kind of weather he likes to play rugby in (although as a #8 any excuse to get other people slipping around!) Cleared at half time though, at least from where I was standing.

[Banquo]

I was at this game after being able to snag a couple of last minute tickets for my son and I for the total sum of £20. We spent more on food while we were there! I was driving as well, so totally sober throughout. Had a lovely spot on the East 22, standing right up against the barrier. Awesome to see the game.

Our forwards were good in the first half - very clearly overpowering the Scottish players both individually and in terms of cohesion. However, it fell apart quite badly in the latter part of the 2nd half and although it never felt likely that Scotland would come all the way back, it was a wake-up call for our boys going forward.

Pollack was good but not great, I thought. Carnduff was another level for me - involved in so much. Michelow seemed useful and was a nice pairing across our flanks. And we have some serious units up front! Couldn't believe the size of a our props given they are U20.

Edited to add: the weather wasn't terrible, but may have looked it on screen. It was a smeary rain - very fine and absolutely will have made the ball greasy (which was clear in terms of handling errors in the first half). My son remarked that it was the kind of weather he likes to play rugby in (although as a #8 any excuse to get other people slipping around!) Cleared at half time though, at least from where I was standing.

On Pollock, he's only just 19, so think he needs some careful nurturing.

[Slater582]

We have so many THPs coming through in 3-5 years time!

Sure do! And a raft of hookers coming through especially in the next lot. Loose head is not too shabby either. Some players starting to make waves in the prem having taken time to grow (in every way) post leaving school.

One thing that really stands out in the more recent grads and those coming through is their technique. Quite astoundingly good. Lads like Sela who have ironing board flat backs. It’s something that’s impressed me with Haffar. Hi might go backwards at times (as you’d expect with his age and experience) but maintains his shape really well.

Lock prospects are mighty fine too in current grads and next pups. Backrow prospects non too shabby either. Maybe No8 a bit weaker.

We’re going to have a hell of a pack in a few years time!

Good to hear some hookers are showing potential, what with Jamie George & LCD being 30+

Jibulu from last seasons U20 squad has looked promising for Quins and the starter this year Craig Wright from Northampton has been solid. Obviously Tuipulotu for the U18 team is an outstanding prospect. Anyone else to watch out for?

Be nice in a few years if Barbeary choosing eight turned out to be the best solution

[FKAS]

Archie Vanes at Tigers a former under 20 international looked to be coming good, scoring a hat trick away Vs Stade Francais and generally being excellent, unfortunately injury hampered any additional progress.

Jibulu looks like one that could be in the next round of A Team games should any more happen this season. Be interesting to see him Vs Riley play out at Quins.

[Epaminondas Pules]

We have so many THPs coming through in 3-5 years time!

Sure do! And a raft of hookers coming through especially in the next lot. Loose head is not too shabby either. Some players starting to make waves in the prem having taken time to grow (in every way) post leaving school.

One thing that really stands out in the more recent grads and those coming through is their technique. Quite astoundingly good. Lads like Sela who have ironing board flat backs. It’s something that’s impressed me with Haffar. Hi might go backwards at times (as you’d expect with his age and experience) but maintains his shape really well.

Lock prospects are mighty fine too in current grads and next pups. Backrow prospects non too shabby either. Maybe No8 a bit weaker.

We’re going to have a hell of a pack in a few years time!

Good to hear some hookers are showing potential, what with Jamie George & LCD being 30+

Jibulu from last seasons U20 squad has looked promising for Quins and the starter this year Craig Wright from Northampton has been solid. Obviously Tuipulotu for the U18 team is an outstanding prospect. Anyone else to watch out for?

Be nice in a few years if Barbeary choosing eight turned out to be the best solution

From the 18s there's Tuipolotu obviously, but also Jimmy Staples (Quins), Tom Davis (Sale) and Alfie Longstaff (Newcastle) who really stand out. All four look like they could go a long way. It is a bumper year for hookers! Tuipolotu and Staples can both play backrow too.

[fivepointer]

[Mr Mwenda]

Bugger, I preferred the first few minutes of this one.

[Oakboy]

Irish backs so much better than ours. Several times one long pass has neutered our narrow defence system.

[Mr Mwenda]

I guess "they practice beforehand, which ruins the fun".

[Mr Mwenda]

Weird not to take the 3 on 76 minutes, lineout had been wobbling...

[Mr Mwenda]

Bollocks, fair result but what a weird situation at the end.

[Margin_Walker]

Bollocks, fair result but what a weird situation at the end.

That's probably a fair result, but that last phase was complete rubbish. Advantage for what looked for all the world like a fair contest in the air. Plays on for almost 2 minutes and 25 metres up field before calling it back.

[Galfon]

Credit to Ire for gaining possession off their own restart with less than 2 mins to play. Eng will be gutted for not securing it, but overall fairy nuff.

[Timbo]

Carnduff and the Sarries lock very impressive. Missed Craig Wright. Ireland probably a slightly better team but a draw on the night fair. Both teams will think they have played better previously.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Really odd game. Our alignment was all over the place. Ireland exploited it well in attack. They’re big pack did nothing really and again we showed that technique beats size.

If the backs actually sort themselves out we’ll bury someone.

[p/d]

Really odd game. Our alignment was all over the place. Ireland exploited it well in attack. They’re big pack did nothing really and again we showed that technique beats size.

If the backs actually sort themselves out we’ll bury someone.

You going to copy and paste that at 6.30?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Really odd game. Our alignment was all over the place. Ireland exploited it well in attack. They’re big pack did nothing really and again we showed that technique beats size.

If the backs actually sort themselves out we’ll bury someone.

You going to copy and paste that at 6.30?

Some of it probably transferable

[fivepointer]

Team for tomorrows game (8pm KO) in France.

15 Ioan Jones (Gloucester Rugby, Minchinhampton RFC, 3 caps)
14 Toby Cousins (Northampton Saints, Bugbrooke RFC, 5 caps)
13 Ben Waghorn (Harlequins, Chipstead Rugby Club, 6 caps)
12 Sean Kerr (Harlequins, Effingham and Leatherhead RFC, 3 caps)
11 Ben Redshaw (Newcastle Falcons, West Park Leeds RFC, 4 caps)
10 George Makepeace-Cubitt (Rams RFC, Reading Abbey RFC, 3 caps)
9 Archie McParland (Northampton Saints, Ruthin RFC, 3 caps)
1 Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks, Broadstreet RFC, 13 caps)
2 James Isaacs (Saracens, Hemel Hempstead Camelot RFC, 1 cap)
3 Billy Sela (Bath Rugby, Royal Wootton Bassett RFC, 4 caps)
4 Joe Bailey (Exeter Chiefs, Newton Abbot Rugby Club, 4 caps)
5 Junior Kpoku (Racing 92, Saracens Amateurs, 3 caps)
6 Finn Carnduff (c) (Leicester Tigers, Market Harborough RFC, 14 caps)
7 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, Banbury RFC, 4 caps)
8 Nathan Michelow (Saracens, Coopers Company and Coborn School, 9 caps)

REPLACEMENTS
16 Jacob Oliver (Newcastle Falcons, Barnard Castle Rugby Club, 4 caps)
17 Scott Kirk (Bath Rugby, Michaelhouse College, 4 caps)
18 James Halliwell (Bristol Bears, Thornbury Broncos Rugby Club, 8 caps)
19 Olamide Sodeke (Saracens, Blackheath Rugby, 3 caps)
20 Kane James (Exeter Chiefs, St Peters RFC, 3 caps)
21 Ben Douglas (Newcastle Falcons, Northern Football Club, 3 caps)
22 Josh Bellamy (Harlequins, Rosslyn Park, 3 caps)
23 Oli Spencer (Newcastle Falcons, Epping Rams Rugby, 3 caps)

[Oakboy]

I'll watch that in preference to the club game. Pleased to see Jones back at 15.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Tuilagi is in the French team to take in England. I’m not seeing what the hype is as of yet other than his name and size. Seems he does the most mundane things and the commentators do a bit of sex wee!

[Which Tyler]

Tuilagi is in the French team to take in England. I’m not seeing what the hype is as of yet other than his name and size. Seems he does the most mundane things and the commentators do a bit of sex wee!

Shouldn't be getting hyped up at full international level yet - but at age grade, he was men against boys last year. He's played a(nother) full season with the big boys since then, including a handful of full caps (where he didn't look lost at sea). He's a very big boy (which REALLY helps at age grade) but he's also shown that there's more than that to him.

[Banquo]

Great result

[Danno]

Hell of a crowd for it. Jealous of francoisfou sometimes (actually most of the time).

Tuilagi is going to be a fucking terror.

Can we start trying to keep the Kpoku lineage this side of the channel please

[Margin_Walker]

That was a brilliant performance.

Both to get back in the game when they were behind and find a way to keep the pressure right on for the second half. Lots of talent and experience in that French team and we managed to not let them settle.

Very much won up front.