England U20 2018/19 squads

[twitchy]

Very strong line up. The bench is even stacked. Can some one inform me on alex coles as he seems to have gone under may radar.

[Puja]

That is a frankly ridiculous team. We've got an okay crop this year!

Is it on television at all?

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

It's crazy that Redpath and Lawrence are already talked about for the senior squad but don't even start for the U20s. Didn't realise Murley was that young either.

Redpath is not long back from his injury so makes sense. Dingwall vs Lawrence is a tough call.

By Christ that backrow is good!!

[Epaminondas Pules]

Very strong line up. The bench is even stacked. Can some one inform me on alex coles as he seems to have gone under may radar.

He’s a cracking young player. Really dynamic. Played U16 and U18 for England. One to watch for sure, but then I could say that about the whole 23!! This year is a hell of a crop!

[Epaminondas Pules]

Love that side, though it is a tough ask going to Cork. Remember it is six nations and we fully target the summer whilst using this as a test bed.

I’m more than a little moist seeing Street and Heyes battle for tighthead. Two superb talents and both lovely lads.

[fivepointer]

Alex Shaw on twitter -
"Objectively: Most experienced (at senior club level) group England have had for an U20 Six Nations game.
Subjectively: Reckon nine future internationals in the 23, minimum"

9 might be a stretch but there's no denying this is a seriously talented group of players.

[Scrumhead]

I’m assuming he’s not including Hill (who is already an international). I’d take a guess at the other 9 being (in no particular order):

Street, Kpoku, Willis, Smith, Redpath, Dingwall, Lawrence, Heyes and maybe Murley?

[Puja]

Alex Shaw on twitter -
"Objectively: Most experienced (at senior club level) group England have had for an U20 Six Nations game.
Subjectively: Reckon nine future internationals in the 23, minimum"

9 might be a stretch but there's no denying this is a seriously talented group of players.

I'd say there's 9 there (if we're including Hill). Possibly more if we're counting the inevitable Celtic poaches.

Puja

[twitchy]

I’m more than a little moist seeing Street and Heyes battle for tighthead. Two superb talents and both lovely lads.

Ehren Painter also (or maybe too old)?

[old-n-slo-2nd-row]

Is it on television at all?

I can only see it listed as on RTE 2

[Tigersman]

I wouldn't be surprised if he is thinking of.
Heyes
Kpoku
Hill
Smith
Redpath
Dingwall
Lawrance
Slieghtholme
Tuima

[Timbo]

Massively loaded team is that. Am I right in saying that Luke James still qualifies and obviously can’t get a look in with those centre options?

[Puja]

Massively loaded team is that. Am I right in saying that Luke James still qualifies and obviously can’t get a look in with those centre options?

He is qualified, but was left out of the 6N squad due to Sale commitments. Debateable whether he'd make it in anyway though.

Is it too early to discuss our inevitable RWC 2023 victory?

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

I’m more than a little moist seeing Street and Heyes battle for tighthead. Two superb talents and both lovely lads.

Ehren Painter also (or maybe too old)?

Too old

[Puja]

Score is 3-14 after 28 minutes. Bloody typical - my stream crashed during our two tries and has been fine while we've scored no points.

We've looked good in places, although our midfield defence is porous as anything. And, as I type this, we ignore an Irish runner and he waltzes through for a 40m break that leads to a try.

Puja

[Puja]

20-24 at half-time. We're not supporting our runners well and Ireland are very quick at the breakdown (and not really showing much interest in rolling away which the ref is letting them get away with), which is slowing us down and losing us possession. Added to that some iffy defence and we're letting Ireland stay in this.

Moment of the game so far has to be the Irish 12 in space deciding to step back against the grain in the hope of catching the defence unawares, only to run into Ted Hill. He didn't go very far.

Puja

[Puja]

Ireland win 35-27 and definitely deserved it. Their number eight was immense, their defence was excellent, and they took advantage of us being uncohesive and shoddy. We have a lot of great players, but that was not a great team. Perhaps they were a bit full of themselves and believed some of their own press.

Hopefully, that's the kick up the arse that they needed and we'll see better performances from here on out.

Puja

[Tigersman]

Trouble is I bet that Irish team prob had a 2 weeks more training together at the least.

[Raggs]

Fairly sure I heard commentary state they'd already played 2 games together.

[Peat]

Fairly sure I heard commentary state they'd already played 2 games together.

Kinda - Ireland U20 play vs Munster and Leinster academies, but its never the full cohesive side. Beats nothing, but not the full deal either.

[fivepointer]

Disappointing. Ireland are usually strong at this level but we put out a very capable looking side choc a bloc with good players. They'll get better, i'm sure.

[Raggs]

Fairly sure I heard commentary state they'd already played 2 games together.

Kinda - Ireland U20 play vs Munster and Leinster academies, but its never the full cohesive side. Beats nothing, but not the full deal either.

What sort of lineup? 75% of them? And do they train together in the weeks leading up? That's quite a lot in my mind.

Their 8 was a real beast as well.

[fivepointer]

England U20s for France
Saturday 9 February, KO 12.05 GMT – live on Sky Sports

15. Josh Hodge (Newcastle Falcons), 14. Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints), 13. Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors), 12. Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks), 11. Arron Reed (Sale Sharks), 10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins), 9. Sam Maunder (Exeter Chiefs), 1. Olly Adkins (Gloucester), 2. Nic Dolly (Sale Sharks), 3. Marcus Street (Exeter Chiefs), 4. Joel Kpoku (Saracens), 5. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), 6. Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors), 7. Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester), 8. Tom Willis (Wasps)

Replacements:

16. Ben Atkins (London Irish), 17. Kai Owen (Worcester Warriors), 18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), 19. James Scott (Worcester Warriors), 20. Rusiate Tuima (Exeter Chiefs), 21. Ollie Fox (Yorkshire Carnegie), 22. Tom Hardwick (Leicester Tigers), 23. Tom de Glanville (Bath Rugby).

[TheNomad]

It's a hell of a good crop this - but the Irish result doesn't bode that well, particularly given the opposition here

[twitchy]

The french have a brilliant team this year. Hope the lads can step up.