England u20 24/25 Season

[Captainhaircut]

Was initially annoyed I was missing this due to taking the kids to a concert. Turns out it was a blessing.

Hopefully this is a kick up the arse- maybe some players believing the hype a bit?

Saying that, you add Redshaw, Sela, McParland and Friday in and it looks a lot better. Particularly if Davies comes in at 10 and he is in fact as good as everyone says.

[Which Tyler]

I agree with all that. Had they played to their best as a team, our players should have won comfortably.

Really didn't need to play their best - par, or even sub-par would have been enough.

We were complacent.
We played the entire match as if it was won in the first 10 minutes; as if we expected both teams to play that way, where a single runner into 2 tacklers can make headway because they won the contact mentally before it ever happened.
Wales played the game as if the scoreboard actually counted for something; dug in, adapted, and took their chances.

England, the ref and the comm.s deserve every little bit of criticism that's been coming to them; but I feel Wales deserve a lot more credit than they're generally getting.
They out-thought and out-played a better team, making themselves the better team on the day.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Its quite incredible that the ref got the appointment. Plainly he was inadequate.

This level of rugby deserves good officiating. Its not just kids having a lark. This is serious, full on stuff that needs to be properly managed.

Sadly it’s a common theme in age grade rugby. It’s not just a testing ground for inexperienced players. It has got better but last night was rank dangerous to player welfare!

[Epaminondas Pules]

I agree with all that. Had they played to their best as a team, our players should have won comfortably.

Really didn't need to play their best - par, or even sub-par would have been enough.

We were complacent.
We played the entire match as if it was won in the first 10 minutes; as if we expected both teams to play that way, where a single runner into 2 tacklers can make headway because they won the contact mentally before it ever happened.
Wales played the game as if the scoreboard actually counted for something; dug in, adapted, and took their chances.

England, the ref and the comm.s deserve every little bit of criticism that's been coming to them; but I feel Wales deserve a lot more credit than they're generally getting.
They out-thought and out-played a better team, making themselves the better team on the day.

This! Especially the last sentence!

It should be a proper kick up the arse for the squad and especially the coaches. It was a very complacent performance. Sloppy is the best word I can find that’s not an expletive!

There is no easy game in the JWC pool so we’re going to have to improve greatly! That said we may well not see Polly for the tournament, which is a huge loss in the backrow and attrition will play a big part. McParland may not be fit in time either.

And shit me we have to play a better 10! Having a Friday, Davies, Lilley, Hall 9, 10, 12, 13 would make a huge difference to the back play! Add in Bracken, Redshaw and Pearson and that’s a proper backline. It may seem odd to think a single player makes such a difference but this backline needs a 10 that can put people into good positions.

[Oakboy]

I agree with all that. Had they played to their best as a team, our players should have won comfortably.

Really didn't need to play their best - par, or even sub-par would have been enough.

We were complacent.
We played the entire match as if it was won in the first 10 minutes; as if we expected both teams to play that way, where a single runner into 2 tacklers can make headway because they won the contact mentally before it ever happened.
Wales played the game as if the scoreboard actually counted for something; dug in, adapted, and took their chances.

England, the ref and the comm.s deserve every little bit of criticism that's been coming to them; but I feel Wales deserve a lot more credit than they're generally getting.
They out-thought and out-played a better team, making themselves the better team on the day.

Spot-on. We were comprehensively out-coached. I suppose, if our management is realistic and sufficiently skilled in communication, that it will be a valuable lesson learned. There were comments that most (all?) of the players had never lost in an England shirt. It was apparent that the players did not know how to apply themselves with full concentration all the time. They lost the micro-scenarios constantly and got progressively more individualistic when togetherness was vital.

I don't think you can necessarily blame on-field leadership if the situation was a new experience. Watching on TV, you can't assess the character of the players as well as when you are there. We have plenty who lead by example but do we have talkers and motivators on the pitch?

Conversely, as you say, Wales simply milked every encounter and grew in the game - a classic example of the team being greater than the sum of its parts. Add on the home crowd and the underdog motivation and they were never going to lose momentum once they got hold of the game.

I'd imagine that there will be some fun piss-taking back at clubs from the Welsh guys. The English lads will just have to swallow it.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Friday is out of the JWC. Done his ACL

[fivepointer]

Will McParland be fit?

Our 3 group games are Scotland on 29 June, SA on 4 July and Australia on 9 July.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Will McParland be fit?

Our 3 group games are Scotland on 29 June, SA on 4 July and Australia on 9 July.

He had shoulder surgery on the 7th Feb, but depends what he’s done to it.

[Epaminondas Pules]

U19 team vs France:

Team to play France (current club & U20 caps)
15. Conor Byrne (Harlequins)
14. Noah Caluori (Saracens)
13. Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs, 4 caps)
12. Rhys Beeckmans (Newcastle Falcons)
11. Tyler Offiah (Bath Rugby, 1 cap)
10. Ollie Davies (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
9. Asa Stewart-Harris (Saracens)
1. Oli Scola (Northampton Saints, 4 caps)
2. George Knowles (Gloucester Rugby)
3. Sonny Tonga’uiha (Northampton Saints)
4. Luke Griffiths (CA Brive)
5. Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (Northampton Saints, 4 caps)
6. Patrick Hogg (Newcastle Falcons)
7. Seb Kelly (Sale Sharks)
8. Connor Treacey (Bath Rugby, 3 caps)

Replacements
16. Jimmy Staples (Harlequins)
17. Josh Mann (Exeter Chiefs)
18. Ollie Streeter (Harlequins)
19. Charlie Barker (Saracens)
20. Ethan Surrey (Bristol Bears)
21. Olly Allport (Gloucester Rugby)
22. Charlie Bemand (Leicester Tigers)
23. James Linegar (Bath Rugby)
24. Sam Winters (Bath Rugby)
25. Sean Sharp (Harlequins)
26. Kieran Hill (Bristol Bears)

[Stom]

Saw Tonga'uiha there and thought...it's only 10 more years until the Mulipola twins...

lol.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Saw Tonga'uiha there and thought...it's only 10 more years until the Mulipola twins...

lol.

Maybe even less. They’ll be 11 this year I think.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Team to play Scotland (current club & U20 caps)
15. Conor Byrne (Harlequins)
14. Noah Caluori (Saracens)
13. Rhys Beeckmans (Newcastle Falcons)
12. Will Knight (Gloucester Rugby)
11. Sam Winters (Bath Rugby)
10. Ollie Davies (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
9. Jonny Weimann (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
1. Josh Mann (Exeter Chiefs)
2. Jimmy Staples (Harlequins,)
3. Ollie Streeter (Harlequins)
4. Ethan Surrey (Bristol Bears)
5. Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (Northampton Saints, 4 caps)
6. Elliot Williams (Harlequins)
7. Patrick Hogg (Newcastle Falcons)
8. Connor Treacey (c) (Bath Rugby, 3 caps)

Replacements
16. George Knowles (Gloucester Rugby)
17. Jamie Miller (Harlequins)
18. Jack Lightbown (Sale Sharks)
19. Luke Griffiths (CA Brive)
20. Olly Allport (Gloucester Rugby)
21. George Marsh (Leicester Tigers)
22. Asa Stewart-Harris (Saracens)
23. Oscar Talbot (Leicester Tigers)
24. James Pater (Northampton Saints)
25. Tyler Offiah (Bath Rugby, 1 cap)

[fivepointer]

We lost 14-40 to France.

A few U18s in this selection. Do think Will Knight is a player worth keeping an eye on.

[FKAS]

Did France name a stronger team in terms of age or experience or do they just have a stronger batch of youngsters at this age?

[Epaminondas Pules]

We lost 14-40 to France.

A few U18s in this selection. Do think Will Knight is a player worth keeping an eye on.

In that backline I'd favour Sam Winters and Ollie Davies as the prime talent. Pater, from the U18s (Northampton fullback) is one to watch too. Knight is a decent player. Can play anywhere 12 outwards. Quite a rangy runner. He's got talent that's for sure. Got a good bit of development in him yet.

[Slater582]

England Under-19 won 54-12 this afternoon. Sounds like the difference in quality was more in the backs than forwards.

We lost 14-40 to France.

A few U18s in this selection. Do think Will Knight is a player worth keeping an eye on.

In that backline I'd favour Sam Winters and Ollie Davies as the prime talent. Pater, from the U18s (Northampton fullback) is one to watch too. Knight is a decent player. Can play anywhere 12 outwards. Quite a rangy runner. He's got talent that's for sure. Got a good bit of development in him yet.

Knight and Winters had good performances against Scotland. The other wing Caluori and Talbot off the bench also played well according to Offside Line.