England U20 EPS Squad 2017/18

[Warrior85]

quote="Warrior85"]Fairly certain warriors see Hill as a back-row and a very good one!! I'd be really surprised to see him at lock in the future.f

The a-team games I saw him in this season he was at 6 or 8.[/quote]
Surprised to hear that - I'm used to him being a very effective lock from last season. The only game I've seen him play back row was vs South Africa, where he was very good, but looked like a lock. What's his mobility and dynamism looked like from 6/8 in the A-league?

Puja[/quote]

I've only really seen him play as a back-row (Have not seen him play all that much to be honest, just a handful of games). All discussions on our forum for next season have Hill as covering back-row. This is the f8rst time I've ever really seen him discussed as a lock.

I'm not really to knowledgeable on the intricacies and differences of all of the different forward roles. But Hill fits my own criteria for a 6, big tackler and carries hard. Gets round the park well and gives another option at the lineout.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Hill is pretty dynamic who I think could be equally adept at lock or backrow. His schools rugby was ostensibly at lock, but that’s mostly down to size. At A league and U18s league he’s mixed between lock and backrow. He’s a hell of a prospect either way.

[Tigersman]

England U20s
15. Tom Parton (London Irish)
14. Ali Crossdale (Saracens)
13. Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
12. Tom Hardwick (Leicester Tigers)
11. Jordan Olowofela (Leicester Tigers)
10. James Grayson (Northampton Saints)
9. Ben White (Leicester Tigers)
1. Toby Trinder (Northampton Saints)
2. Henry Walker (Gloucester Rugby)
3. Ehren Painter (Northampton Saints)
4. Joel Kpoku (Saracens)
5. James Scott (Worcester Warriors)
6. Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors)
7. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks) – captain
8. Josh Basham (London Irish)

Replacements:
16. Beck Cutting (Worcester Warriors)
17. Alex Seville (Gloucester Rugby)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
19. Sam Lewis (Leicester Tigers)
20. Tom Willis (Wasps)
21. Rory Brand (London Irish)
22. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
23. Gabriel Ibitoye (Harlequins)

England U20 fixtures:

England v Argentina
Wednesday 30 May, 5.30 KO BST – highlights on ITV Sport 00:00
Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitié, Narbonne

[fivepointer]

Such a boost having Ben Curry in the side. Nice to have Smith and Ibitoye to come off the bench.

[Puja]

That is a strikingly talented squad that we have this year. Plus our no 8's my new favourite - I've never seen him play, but I approve of someone whose surname is an imperative for his job role.

How many minutes do we expect Crossdale to survive before getting injured this JWC?

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

That is a strikingly talented squad that we have this year. Plus our no 8's my new favourite - I've never seen him play, but I approve of someone whose surname is an imperative for his job role.

How many minutes do we expect Crossdale to survive before getting injured this JWC?

Puja

Really hope he gets a proper run injury free. Such a talented lad who has had a horrible run.

[Banquo]

Glad to see Fraser Dingwall starting, his dad will be chuffed, if comflicted!

[Epaminondas Pules]

Glad to see Fraser Dingwall starting, his dad will be chuffed, if comflicted!

He’s a good player too. All depends how he fairs once he graduates from this level into first team rugby, or not. The Scots are pretty good at bringing talent home to scottish club rugby, as they should be. He’s certainly got something about him though.

[Tigersman]

From what I've seen of him he should go to Scotland, we have better options coming through IMO.

[Mellsblue]

England U20s
15. Tom Parton (London Irish)
14. Ali Crossdale (Saracens)
13. Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
12. Tom Hardwick (Leicester Tigers)
11. Jordan Olowofela (Leicester Tigers)
10. James Grayson (Northampton Saints)
9. Ben White (Leicester Tigers)
1. Toby Trinder (Northampton Saints)
2. Henry Walker (Gloucester Rugby)
3. Ehren Painter (Northampton Saints)
4. Joel Kpoku (Saracens)
5. James Scott (Worcester Warriors)
6. Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors)
7. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks) – captain
8. Josh Basham (London Irish)

Replacements:
16. Beck Cutting (Worcester Warriors)
17. Alex Seville (Gloucester Rugby)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
19. Sam Lewis (Leicester Tigers)
20. Tom Willis (Wasps)
21. Rory Brand (London Irish)
22. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
23. Gabriel Ibitoye (Harlequins)

England U20 fixtures:

England v Argentina
Wednesday 30 May, 5.30 KO BST – highlights on ITV Sport 00:00
Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitié, Narbonne

Do you know which channel number ITV Sport is on Sky?

[Tigersman]

England U20s
15. Tom Parton (London Irish)
14. Ali Crossdale (Saracens)
13. Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
12. Tom Hardwick (Leicester Tigers)
11. Jordan Olowofela (Leicester Tigers)
10. James Grayson (Northampton Saints)
9. Ben White (Leicester Tigers)
1. Toby Trinder (Northampton Saints)
2. Henry Walker (Gloucester Rugby)
3. Ehren Painter (Northampton Saints)
4. Joel Kpoku (Saracens)
5. James Scott (Worcester Warriors)
6. Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors)
7. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks) – captain
8. Josh Basham (London Irish)

Replacements:
16. Beck Cutting (Worcester Warriors)
17. Alex Seville (Gloucester Rugby)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
19. Sam Lewis (Leicester Tigers)
20. Tom Willis (Wasps)
21. Rory Brand (London Irish)
22. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
23. Gabriel Ibitoye (Harlequins)

England U20 fixtures:

England v Argentina
Wednesday 30 May, 5.30 KO BST – highlights on ITV Sport 00:00
Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitié, Narbonne

Do you know which channel number ITV Sport is on Sky?

No idea.

It's streaming live on World rugby website though I believe.

[Which Tyler]

Do you know which channel number ITV Sport is on Sky?

No idea.

It's streaming live on World rugby website though I believe.

Since when did ITV have a dedicated sports channel?

From previous years; World Rugby geo-block their stream for countries with a broadcaster; so if ITV are showing it off-free-to-air, we'll need to pretend to be foreign in order to watch.

ETA: https://www.worldrugby.org/u20/video
ETA2: ITV Sport would be what's normally known as ITV4 - which makes sense

[Mellsblue]

Do you know which channel number ITV Sport is on Sky?

No idea.

It's streaming live on World rugby website though I believe.

ETA2: ITV Sport would be what's normally known as ITV4 - which makes sense

Cheers

[twitchy]

Kicking off now.

[Tigersman]

Argentines look up for this.

[Tigersman]

White makes a good break to set up the initial break and then screws it by kicking for no reason.

Damn English 9's

[Tigersman]

Why is our lineouts sooooo bad can't remember the last time it was good at U20's level.

[Tigersman]

Crossdale injured

[Mellsblue]

I know it shouldn’t, but that made me lol.

[fivepointer]

Crossdale cannot buy any luck, can he? Trinder off early too.
Good if a little uneven performance. Bit scrappy at times but 5 tries is a decent return.
Curry outstanding up front, Olowofela the pick of the backs, though i liked the play of Grayson.

[Tigersman]

After that SA i was very worried but whilst still rusty we looked alot better.

[fivepointer]

Italy beat Scotland 27-26. They are much improved at this level. We play them on Sunday.

[Puja]

Italy beat Scotland 27-26. They are much improved at this level. We play them on Sunday.

We'll need to manage our players better this year than we did last, when we played Mercer every single minute and then were surprised when he had no gas left for the final. With all due respect to both Italy and Scotland, neither of them should endanger this England squad (yes I know, Scotland beat us in the U20s 6N, but that was with us heavily rotating and picking 4 U18s), so I'd hope to see another mixed team, with the likes of Curry, Hill, Walker, and Painter all rested and also the likes of Smith, Brand, Hinckley, Willis, Loader, Lewis, and Butler given a chance to stake their claims. Then we can pick the 1st XV for Scotland and bring our subs on early to keep key people fresh for the semis.

Puja

[Peej]

Ah, Narbonne. Fond memories of U17 rugby tour there, and played in that stadium. A game which ran to 96 minutes so that the local ref could give them a kickable penalty for the win, and which then saw us being booed from the field and having punches thrown instead of handshakes offered in the tunnel afterwards.

They take their rugby seriously in SW France, and like it played a particular way.

[Puja]

Anyone know when the team for Sunday is being announced?

Puja