Under 20s

[Puja]

Jeez, Ilione steps the fullback and leaves him diving at air there. A big man shouldn't have footwork like that.

I suspect there was a touch of, "Oh! No! He's stepped me! Never mind!" as well from the fullback there.

Puja

[FKAS]

Jeez, Ilione steps the fullback and leaves him diving at air there. A big man shouldn't have footwork like that.

I suspect there was a touch of, "Oh! No! He's stepped me! Never mind!" as well from the fullback there.

Puja

Yes, there was a bit of let the big man step me I don't want to try and tackle him.

I'd like to see Ilione get a chance in the PRC for Tigers see how he stacks up against slightly more senior opposition. His main issue so far seems to be staying fit.

[Slater582]

According to The Rugby Paper Scotland have already contacted Henry Arundell who qualifies through a grandparent. One of the best performers in the tournament so far.

Personally, I'm disappointed, Bath have more Welsh representation than English

I assume you'd prefer Ewan Richards to be playing for his club though! One of your better players against Bristol.

LI have him listed as a lock on their website. Going to be some height with that England pack as Ilione at 8 is a regular lineout jumper and has played a little bit at lock before. Knight could be the short one of the back five at 6ft3. The rolling maul might be considered the go to weapon on the night. If confidence is short after the Italy result then back to basics and set piece dominance should be the target.

Ilione didn't look so tall, perhaps the shortest in that back row If Ilione, Martin & the Chessum brothers all end up making the grade it'll be interesting to see how Borthwick fits them all in.

[FKAS]

According to The Rugby Paper Scotland have already contacted Henry Arundell who qualifies through a grandparent. One of the best performers in the tournament so far.

Personally, I'm disappointed, Bath have more Welsh representation than English

I assume you'd prefer Ewan Richards to be playing for his club though! One of your better players against Bristol.

LI have him listed as a lock on their website. Going to be some height with that England pack as Ilione at 8 is a regular lineout jumper and has played a little bit at lock before. Knight could be the short one of the back five at 6ft3. The rolling maul might be considered the go to weapon on the night. If confidence is short after the Italy result then back to basics and set piece dominance should be the target.

Ilione didn't look so tall, perhaps the shortest in that back row If Ilione, Martin & the Chessum brothers all end up making the grade it'll be interesting to see how Borthwick fits them all in.

No he didn't, I agree. I'd assumed he was taller from the last time I saw him play, memory must not be great. He stole a lineout still and did the last time I saw him play, must be all in his leap as opposed to his height. The way he plays he could slot in anywhere in the backrow, more likely flank to 8 unless his carrying takes a step up mind. For a big lad he was a menace over the ball.

The Chessum brothers will both be in the row long term I'd have thought, Martin probably stay at 6.

Homegrown pack of;

Whitcombe, Vanes, Heyes
Chessum, Chessum
Martin, Reffell, Ilione

Vanes is getting on well at Nottingham from what I here, an under 20 last summer and played a bit in the PRC during the Autumn.

Be interesting to see if Manz comes through as he was the lock partner with Martin in the academy and is another big in at 6ft9 but has been hampered by injury. Henderson is still on the books though with a bad knee injury, he played Scottish under 20s would have been capped last summer for Scotland but Covid intervened so he's still EQ.

[Mr Mwenda]

According to The Rugby Paper Scotland have already contacted Henry Arundell who qualifies through a grandparent. One of the best performers in the tournament so far.

Bloody vultures.

[FKAS]

According to The Rugby Paper Scotland have already contacted Henry Arundell who qualifies through a grandparent. One of the best performers in the tournament so far.

Bloody vultures.

Sheesh the kid has only just made his Prem debut he's hardly ready to be Hogg's understudy.

[fivepointer]

England U20 v Ireland U20 Sat 7.15pm

15. George Hendy
14. Deago Bailey
13. Jacob Cusick
12. Ethan Grayson
11. Cassius Cleaves
10. Jamie Benson
9. Sam Edwards
1. Fin Baxter
2. John Stewart
3. Tim Hoyt
4. Lewis Chessum
5. Tom Lockett
6. Ewan Richards
7. Toby Knight
8. Emeka Ilione

Replacements

16. Finn Theobald-Thomas (Worcester Warriors, Caps 2)
17. Mark Dormer
18. Mike Summerfield
19. Chandler Cunningham-South
20. Lucas Brooke
21. Nye Thomas
22. Louie Johnson
23. Will Joseph

[Tigersman]

Tigers going from 1 to 5 is something.

[Which Tyler]

Ewan Richards back in will strengthen us significantly - and he'll be on a bit of a high after last weekend.

[fivepointer]

Richards starting is a boost, as is Lockett back at lock. Will Joseph set to feature for first time as are Brooke and Thomas.
Hoyt comes out of the blue to get a start. Stats suggest he's a very big lad.

[FKAS]

Hoyt is a big boy. I think his family have some Fijian roots. I think he's still 18 as well so a young lad to be included at this stage.

This post is 18 months old...



Good to see Grayson and Cusick kept at centre, that combination worked really well last time out.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Nye Thomas!! He’s gooooood! Excellent news!

[FKAS]

Nye Thomas!! He’s gooooood! Excellent news!

What type of scrum half is he?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Nye Thomas!! He’s gooooood! Excellent news!

What type of scrum half is he?

Got an all court game. He's feisty and rapid. Good delivery and speed at the breakdown. He's quite small and slight, but surprisingly powerful.

[FKAS]

Nye Thomas!! He’s gooooood! Excellent news!

What type of scrum half is he?

Got an all court game. He's feisty and rapid. Good delivery and speed at the breakdown. He's quite small and slight, but surprisingly powerful.

Bit Randall esque then. Bench impact.

[fivepointer]

Thomas added some much needed zip when he came on. Joseph did likewise. The back 3 did well, all scoring good tries but we didnt have much control and the forwards didnt really impose themselves.

[Slater582]

Ireland achieved the U20 grand slam in 2019. In 2020 they won the triple crown but Covid meant the last two rounds were never completed. This year they're going for another slam at home to Scotland who are on for the spoon. Must be a bit frustrated Covid has prevented a tilt at a World title.

Although Six Nations results were not always indicative of how a team would perform in the summer. Ireland beat England in 2009, 2010, 2013 & 2016 but England ended up going further in the World Cup. England beat Ireland in the 2012 6N but the result was reversed later in the year. Of course we'll have to wait for 2023 until the global tournament returns.

Still with three undefeated campaigns in the last four they've clearly got some real talent coming through. Aside from the national team looks like the provinces will continue to be competitive in the Heineken.

[Timbo]

Ireland did have a crack at the JWC in 2019 following their grand slam that year. From memory they had one or two key players out injured and lost another couple during the tournament, but overall their results were poor. I remember they beat England in the group- was the game Barbeary got sent off I think. They also lost heavily to Australia and New Zealand and lost a knock out game to England.

Looking back on that England squad and they really underperformed relative to their talent. Weaker England squads than that one have got to JWC finals in the past.

[fivepointer]

England U20 v France U20
15. Henry Arundell (London Irish, Caps 2)
14. Deago Bailey (Bristol Bears, Caps 7)
13. Will Joseph (London Irish, Caps 1)
12. Ethan Grayson (Northampton Saints, Caps 4)
11. Cassius Cleaves (Harlequins, Caps 2)
10. Louie Johnson (Newcastle Falcons, 3 Caps)
9. Nye Thomas (Sale Sharks, Caps 1)
1. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, Caps 6)
2. John Stewart (Bath Rugby, Caps 4)
3. Tim Hoyt (Leicester Tigers, Caps 1)
4. Lewis Chessum (Leicester Tigers, Caps 2)
5. Chandler Cunningham-South (London Irish, Caps 2)
6. Ewan Richards (Bath Rugby, Caps 6)
7. Toby Knight (Saracens, Caps 3)
8. Emeka Ilione (Leicester Tigers, Caps 5) - Captain

Replacements
16. Ollie Fletcher (Newcastle Falcons, Caps 0)
17. Archie McArthur (Wasps, Caps 1)
18. Mikey Summerfield (London Irish, Caps 4)
19. Tom Lockett (Northampton Saints, Caps 2)
20. Lucas Brooke (London Irish, Caps 3)
21. Matty Jones (Gloucester Rugby, Caps 3)
22. Iwan Stephens (Newcastle Falcons, Caps 0)
23. Tom Litchfield (Northampton Saints, Caps 4)

[FKAS]

The rotation continues, Arundell coming back will be a big lift. The half backs like to attack ball in hand so expect the backs to launch some good stuff.

[Tigersman]

Nye Thomas hasn't really settled.

[fivepointer]

Bit of a mess all round. Set piece has been poor and the kicking inaccurate. Conditions arent helping.

[FKAS]

Nye Thomas hasn't really settled.

Miserable night to be a 9. Looks like he wants to play high tempo but it's not the night for it. As you say couldn't settle into it. That being said some of the entries from the French forwards applying the pressure at ruck and maul to Thomas were very much on the edge of being pinged.

[FKAS]

I've heard of dragging him over the line but that's crazy. French replacement backrow has dragged the replacement hooker who's lying on the floor 4m to the tryline.

[fivepointer]

Disappointing finale to a pretty disappointing campaign.

Few players enhanced their reputations last night. I think there is some talent in this squad but they're only fleetingly shown it.