U20s vs France

[Epaminondas Pules]

England men U20s team to play France
1. James Whitcombe (Leicester Tigers)
2. Theo Dan (Saracens)
3. Luke Green (London Irish)
4. George Hammond (Harlequins)
5. Ben Donnell (London Irish)
6. JJ Tonks (Northampton Saints)
7. Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs)
8. Rusiate Tuima (Exeter Chiefs)
9. Sam Maunder – captain (Exeter Chiefs)
10. Manu Vunipola (Saracens)
11. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
12. Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby)
13. Connor Doherty (Sale Sharks)
14. Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Bath Rugby)
15. Josh Hodge (Newcastle Falcons)
Replacements
16. Ben Atkins (London Irish)
17. Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints)
18. Harvey Beaton (Saracens)
19. Hugh Tizard (Harlequins)
20. Jack Clement (Gloucester Rugby)
21. Jack Van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)
22. George Barton (Gloucester Rugby)
23. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)

Really nice balance in here selection wise. Quite a few ‘surprise’ selections which is fab. Give them a good test from a squad perspective.

[Digby]

My main hope if Dan drives over for a try is the commentary team (and p/d) avoid leaping into the air exclaiming 'Dan dares'

[Puja]

My main hope if Dan drives over for a try is the commentary team (and p/d) avoid leaping into the air exclaiming 'Dan dares'

If our number 7 scores a late try to finish off a good victory, then we could have "Capstick caps it off". Bonus points if Maunder has gone off at that point and he's been given the captaincy.

That is a very good-looking side. Interested to see Ojomoh in the centres; I've heard a lot, but not seen him play myself. Is it on television at all?

Puja

[fivepointer]

No Barbeary or Martin up front which is a shame. Good back row and back 3 has loads of potential. Game isn't on tv as far as i'm aware.

[Gloskarlos]

It’s on Sky, 8pm Saturday

[Epaminondas Pules]

It’s on Sky, 8pm Saturday

What channel GK?

[Gloskarlos]

Sky sports arena and sky sports main event

[Epaminondas Pules]

You sure mate? My guide is showing footy followed by golf.

[Gloskarlos]

According to these guys.....

https://www.wheresthematch.com/live-rugby-union-on-tv/

It’s where I plan all my viewing

[Epaminondas Pules]

Definitely not showing in the Sky TV guide. I don’t think they normally show the away games.

[Timbo]

Anyone that follows these things, how come there are so few Leicester Tigers coming through the 20’s over the last couple of years? Haven’t they won the academy league three years running and are unbeaten in yonks (not to mention a very good Rugbypass doc series)?

[Raggs]

3 tigers in a squad of 23 isn't a bad representation? Perfect spread would be a bit less than 2 players per club (13 academies). They have 4 in the 32 man squad too, which again is a slight over representation.

There's also the best team vs the best players.

Look at Tigers in the premiership, you'd never think they have so many internationals.

[Puja]

Anyone that follows these things, how come there are so few Leicester Tigers coming through the 20’s over the last couple of years? Haven’t they won the academy league three years running and are unbeaten in yonks (not to mention a very good Rugbypass doc series)?

The academy league is U18s, so this is the first lot of that all-conquering bunch coming through now. As Raggs said, we've got 3 in the 23 and 4 in the overall squad, which is just over average. We'll have more next year, I suspect, these 4 and at least a couple of others.

We've basically started our academy up anew a few years back, and had to cope with the fact that, while we abandoned youth development, Wasps and Saints did not. This is our best representation in the U20s for a while.

Puja

[Raggs]

Wasps may not have abandoned youth, we only spent the minimum and with the move as well have been disrupted. Maybe a little ahead of tigers in terms of time spent with an academy focus though.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Anyone that follows these things, how come there are so few Leicester Tigers coming through the 20’s over the last couple of years? Haven’t they won the academy league three years running and are unbeaten in yonks (not to mention a very good Rugbypass doc series)?

The academy league is U18s, so this is the first lot of that all-conquering bunch coming through now. As Raggs said, we've got 3 in the 23 and 4 in the overall squad, which is just over average. We'll have more next year, I suspect, these 4 and at least a couple of others.

We've basically started our academy up anew a few years back, and had to cope with the fact that, while we abandoned youth development, Wasps and Saints did not. This is our best representation in the U20s for a while.

Puja

This, and that last years squad provided the first major intake from the all conquering U18 side.

[Epaminondas Pules]

England men U20s team to play France
1. James Whitcombe (Leicester Tigers)
2. Theo Dan (Saracens)
3. Luke Green (London Irish)
4. George Hammond (Harlequins)
5. Ben Donnell (London Irish)
6. JJ Tonks (Northampton Saints)
7. Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs)
8. Rusiate Tuima (Exeter Chiefs)
9. Sam Maunder – captain (Exeter Chiefs)
10. Manu Vunipola (Saracens)
11. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
12. Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby)
13. Connor Doherty (Sale Sharks)
14. Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Bath Rugby)
15. Josh Hodge (Newcastle Falcons)
Replacements
16. Ben Atkins (London Irish)
17. Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints)
18. Harvey Beaton (Saracens)
19. Hugh Tizard (Harlequins)
20. Jack Clement (Gloucester Rugby)
21. Jack Van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)
22. George Barton (Gloucester Rugby)
23. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)

Really nice balance in here selection wise. Quite a few ‘surprise’ selections which is fab. Give them a good test from a squad perspective.

Not sure how I missed that, but Iyogum benching at loosehead after only a season of converting from backrow is bloody impressive!!! Dan is a former centre, but converted a few years back.

[Digby]

Did I correctly hear Daniel Brennan is now a prop?

[francoisfou]

Did I correctly hear Daniel Brennan is now a prop?

Wasn’t he a prop in the Toulouse U20s before moving to Montpellier?

[Digby]

Did I correctly hear Daniel Brennan is now a prop?

Wasn’t he a prop in the Toulouse U20s before moving to Montpellier?

He was a slow back row who had to play lock last I knew, and wasn't likely tall enough to be a pro lock

[francoisfou]

Did I correctly hear Daniel Brennan is now a prop?

Wasn’t he a prop in the Toulouse U20s before moving to Montpellier?

He was a slow back row who had to play lock last I knew, and wasn't likely tall enough to be a pro lock

A natural enough progression !!

[Digby]

Wasn’t he a prop in the Toulouse U20s before moving to Montpellier?

He was a slow back row who had to play lock last I knew, and wasn't likely tall enough to be a pro lock

A natural enough progression !!

Worked for Andrew Sheridan

[twitchy]

Is it 8pm uk ko or cet?

[twitchy]

Only links I can find are showing american football.

[Gloskarlos]

Yep, can’t see it on sky despite the listing on ‘where’s the match’

[twitchy]

Links are working now.