England U20 EPS Squad 2017/18

[Oakboy]

Our lads ran a bit hot and cold but did look very good at times.

The centres were fine, but it was in the forwards we really dominated. Heyes is a big unit at THp and was replaced by Painter who looked even bigger! Sam Lewis caught my eye, doing plenty of useful things.

It was hard to believe that Wales had scored first, looking back at the end. In a way, it was all about mistakes. We forced more of them and made less. We were a better team unit. Their good individuals affected the game less than ours.

There was a worrying number of injuries. Can anybody offer an opinion on whether that pitch may have contributed? The commentators mentioned it but not in any knowledgable or useful way.

[Oakboy]

Anyone know if Redpath feels English or if he's more of a Moriarty type?

Thought Ibitoye looked very good, although the try the commentators were enthusing about owed a lot to some very unenthusiastic tackling. He has put on a hell of a lot of bulk though - he was a lanky young thing last year with legs that might snap in a high breeze, but appears to have found the gym and hit it hard in the last 6 months. Hopefully that's not to his long-term detriment.

Puja

Ibitoye’s not tall enough to have ever been described as ‘lanky’, but you’re right, he’s definitely put on some bulk.

I’m expecting him to be increasingly involved with the first team at Quins. However, he’s only 5’10” on a good day so his height is likely to be a factor in pushing for senior England honours I think.

The defending for his try was poor, but he’s got loads of potential for sure.

I've not seen him before. Whatever the background to his physicality, he looked supremely confident in its application. He looked certain that he could break through tackles and he knew he would not be caught. I'd guess that whoever supervises his training has achieved a good physical and mental balance. Long-term, though, as Puja mentions, let's hope he's done nothing too major, too quickly.

[fivepointer]

Our lads ran a bit hot and cold but did look very good at times.

The centres were fine, but it was in the forwards we really dominated. Heyes is a big unit at THp and was replaced by Painter who looked even bigger! Sam Lewis caught my eye, doing plenty of useful things.

It was hard to believe that Wales had scored first, looking back at the end. In a way, it was all about mistakes. We forced more of them and made less. We were a better team unit. Their good individuals affected the game less than ours.

There was a worrying number of injuries. Can anybody offer an opinion on whether that pitch may have contributed? The commentators mentioned it but not in any knowledgable or useful way.

It was Dewi Morris after all. How that guy still has a contract with Sky.....

Dont think you can blame the pitch for the injuries.

[Puja]

Anyone know if Redpath feels English or if he's more of a Moriarty type?

Thought Ibitoye looked very good, although the try the commentators were enthusing about owed a lot to some very unenthusiastic tackling. He has put on a hell of a lot of bulk though - he was a lanky young thing last year with legs that might snap in a high breeze, but appears to have found the gym and hit it hard in the last 6 months. Hopefully that's not to his long-term detriment.

Puja

Ibitoye’s not tall enough to have ever been described as ‘lanky’, but you’re right, he’s definitely put on some bulk.

I’m expecting him to be increasingly involved with the first team at Quins. However, he’s only 5’10” on a good day so his height is likely to be a factor in pushing for senior England honours I think.

The defending for his try was poor, but he’s got loads of potential for sure.

I've not seen him before. Whatever the background to his physicality, he looked supremely confident in its application. He looked certain that he could break through tackles and he knew he would not be caught. I'd guess that whoever supervises his training has achieved a good physical and mental balance. Long-term, though, as Puja mentions, let's hope he's done nothing too major, too quickly.

If you've not seen anything of him before, this try from last year deserves a look:



ETA. And this one, come to think of it:



Puja

[fivepointer]

England U20s team to face Scotland

15. Jordan Olowofela, 14. Tom Seabrook, 13. Ollie Lawrence, 12. Will Butler - capt, 11. Cadan Murley, 10. Tom Hardwick, 9. Rory Brand, 1. Alex Seville, 2. Gabriel Oghre, 3. Ehren Painter, 4. Ted Hill, 5. Sam Lewis, 6. Josh Basham, 7. Aaron Hinkley, 8. Sam Moore.

Replacements:

16. Beck Cutting, 17. Toby Trinder, 18. Joe Heyes, 19. James Scott, 20. Sean Reffell, 21. Ben White, 22. James Grayson, 23. Fraser Dingwall.

Quite a few changes with a some lads brought in from outside the original squad.
Not on tv and no mention on the RFU site of any streaming on Friday night.

[Tigersman]

England U20’s lose.

[Banquo]

England U20’s lose.

doh!

[Buggaluggs]

Wales U20 won with a BP and Ireland got two losing BPs so it should be pretty close.

[Puja]

Well, it's a price to be paid for heavy rotation, letting a load of players get Prem experience, and playing a few U18s. It'll be good in the long run.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Bit of a turn up considering previous results.

Reaction from Steve Bates - "Disappointing because we created a lot of opportunities and didn't finish enough in the first half, we had the wind at our backs and we didn't capitalise on it and didn't turn that territorial advantage into points.

"I think they have to understand that in international rugby you have to take opportunities and look after the ball, we made too many mistakes, maybe lost our cool a little bit and forced the game a little bit more than we should have. For a lot of these guys that would have been the first time they have been in that position but they will learn from that and the real test is to pick themselves up for France."

[fivepointer]

team for France (Fri 8pm)
Not on tv, or streamed as far as i know.

15.James Grayson (Northampton Saints)
14.Gabriel Ibitoye (Harlequins)
13.Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
12.Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks)
11. Jordan Olowofela (Leicester Tigers)
10.Tom Hardwick (Leicester Tigers)
9.Ben White (Leicester Tigers)
1.Toby Trinder (Northampton Saints)
2.Henry Walker (Gloucester Rugby)
3.Marcus Street (Exeter Chiefs)
4.Dino Lamb (Harlequins)
5.Sam Lewis (Leicester Tigers)
6.Josh Basham (London Irish)
7.Ben Earl (capt) (Saracens)
8.Sam Moore (Sale Sharks)

Replacements

16: Gabriel Oghre (Wasps)
17: Alex Seville (Gloucester Rugby)
18: Ehren Painter (Northampton Saints)
19: James Scott (Worcester Warriors)
20: Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors)
21: Rory Brand (London Irish)
22: Will Butler (Worcester Warriors)
23: Tom Seabrook (Gloucester Rugby)

[Puja]

Much stronger team this weekend. Should be a good game - crying shame it's not on television somewhere.

Puja

[twitchy]

Surely there has to be a stream some where?

[Tigersman]

Surely there has to be a stream some where?

Can't find out. It's shocking how it isn't really.

[Raggs]

There is one in French check planet rugby forum u20s thread

[Puja]

https://www.stream4free.live/france-4

Puja

[Puja]

Currently winning 3-13. Good try made by break from Ben Earl and finished in the corner by Redpath. We're doing *lots* of little attacking chips against the French rush and they're mostly not working.

Haven't been able to get our hands on the ball or get out of our 22 for the past 15 minutes though and the ref seems to have a problem with everything we do. What's the opposite of deja vu? I feel like I'm watching the seniors a day early.

Puja

[Puja]

I was wrong - this England team can ruck properly (although they are cheating and playing two flankers, which I think goes against the spirit of the game). Great attack, we start looking dangerous, get into the 22, and then Hardwick does another chip over the top that the French full-back gathers with no great difficulty.

Puja

[Stom]

That double red card was stupid as feck and dangerous as hell.

Our 10 looks about 42...

[fivepointer]

Logged in just in time to see the double red. Good on the ref for not bottling it.

Thats a good win for our lads. France have been very impressive so far and winning over there is never easy.

[Puja]

Logged in just in time to see the double red. Good on the ref for not bottling it.

It basically made up for the rest of his match.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Worth noting that Italy had a very significant result last night, beating Wales 18-7. I think thats the first time they have won away.
Ireland beat Scotland 30-25
We're on 15 pts with France. They have a pts difference in excess of 100, we have 44.
We have to beat Ireland and France lose to Wales for us to take the title.

[twitchy]

How did sam moore look at 8?

[Puja]

How did sam moore look at 8?

I only saw the second half, but didn't make a massive impression. Mind, no-one did - it was a bitty game in terrible conditions with a terrible ref, and the majority of the half was spent with France attacking the edge of the 22 fruitlessly before knocking on or giving away a penalty for England to kick to touch and then lose the lineout and get mauled back to the 22 whereupon the cycle restarted.

Puja

[twitchy]

How did sam moore look at 8?

I only saw the second half, but didn't make a massive impression. Mind, no-one did - it was a bitty game in terrible conditions with a terrible ref, and the majority of the half was spent with France attacking the edge of the 22 fruitlessly before knocking on or giving away a penalty for England to kick to touch and then lose the lineout and get mauled back to the 22 whereupon the cycle restarted.

Puja

Sounds like a typical age grade game.