England U20 EPS Squad 2017/18

[Mellsblue]

Out of interest and mild boredom, I've just had a look at those who win or are nominated for Junior Player of the Year and, if you're of statistical mind, you might want to avoid it if you have designs on being a top test player.

[Raggs]

Oghre seemed to get every one just a tiny bit too high. But it wasn't shotgun spread. Maybe lack of familiarity.

[Puja]

Joe Simpson was a nominee for World Young Player of the Year.

Because he ran well and made lots of breaks, not because his passes were accurate or swift.

Puja

Good enough to ranked as one of the top three players in the world. I doubt he’d be nominated if he was slinging passes all over the place. Granted, it’s one in the last n years but he must’ve done something right.

You get forgiven an awful lot in the eyes of rugby journalists if you make some eye-catching breaks from 9. It has been a long time and my memory's not what it used to be, but I do remember being very surprised at his nomination and thinking his fly-half probably wouldn't agree!

Puja

[Puja]

Oghre seemed to get every one just a tiny bit too high. But it wasn't shotgun spread. Maybe lack of familiarity.

In fairness to him, a lot of it was either timing or poor lifting, rather than an inaccurate throw. A lot of them were bang on, only for the jumper to not be there.

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

Oghre seemed to get every one just a tiny bit too high. But it wasn't shotgun spread. Maybe lack of familiarity.

In fairness to him, a lot of it was either timing or poor lifting, rather than an inaccurate throw. A lot of them were bang on, only for the jumper to not be there.

Puja

Spoken like a true hooker

Too be fair they were very unfamiliar combos with not a huge amount of prep time. Some malfunction is to be expected between the units.

[Tigersman]

Saw this on twitter
https://www.worldrugby.org/u20/teams/2756

England U20 squad on the JRWC website either it is very wrong or something odd is going on.
1. Sevillie, Trinder
2. Walker, Oghre, Cutting
3. Street, Heyes, Painter,
4. Isiewke!!!!, Scott
5. Lamb, Basham,
6. Earl
7. Curry, Curry
8. Willis,
9. White, Brand
10. Smith!!!!!, Grayson,
11. Ibiotye,
12. Redpath, Hardwick,
13. Dingwall,
14. Loader, Olowofela
15. Parton, Crossdale

Eddie making changes already?

[fivepointer]

Nothing on the RFU site.

Cant see Eddie naming players for SA and within a few days redirecting them to the JWC.

[Tigersman]

Nothing on the RFU site.

Cant see Eddie naming players for SA and within a few days redirecting them to the JWC.

That's what I thought but then again I can't see why JRWC would have them in the squad anyway.

surely if it was going to place hold a team it would be the 6 Nations one?

[Raggs]

Nothing on the RFU site.

Cant see Eddie naming players for SA and within a few days redirecting them to the JWC.

That's what I thought but then again I can't see why JRWC would have them in the squad anyway.

surely if it was going to place hold a team it would be the 6 Nations one?

Yep, that's what I thought at first too, but seeing names that weren't in the 6N made me think otherwise. Be interesting to see what's going on.

[Which Tyler]

Saw this on twitter
https://www.worldrugby.org/u20/teams/2756

England U20 squad on the JRWC website either it is very wrong or something odd is going on.
1. Sevillie, Trinder
2. Walker, Oghre, Cutting
3. Street, Heyes, Painter,
4. Isiewke!!!!, Scott
5. Lamb, Basham,
6. Earl
7. Curry, Curry
8. Willis,
9. White, Brand
10. Smith!!!!!, Grayson,
11. Ibiotye,
12. Redpath, Hardwick,
13. Dingwall,
14. Loader, Olowofela
15. Parton, Crossdale

Eddie making changes already?

I kinda hope that IS the team TBH - and if so, I think we should be expecting to win the thing

[Puja]

Saw this on twitter
https://www.worldrugby.org/u20/teams/2756

England U20 squad on the JRWC website either it is very wrong or something odd is going on.
1. Sevillie, Trinder
2. Walker, Oghre, Cutting
3. Street, Heyes, Painter,
4. Isiewke!!!!, Scott
5. Lamb, Basham,
6. Earl
7. Curry, Curry
8. Willis,
9. White, Brand
10. Smith!!!!!, Grayson,
11. Ibiotye,
12. Redpath, Hardwick,
13. Dingwall,
14. Loader, Olowofela
15. Parton, Crossdale

Eddie making changes already?

I kinda hope that IS the team TBH - and if so, I think we should be expecting to win the thing

Agreed - that team would be slightly cruel to most of the other sides. I'd love to watch it play.

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

That's a hell of a squad if they stick to as named. Proper exciting.

So pleased to see Crossdale in there. That kid deserves a break injury wise.

[twitchy]

While obviously the youngsters will learn a lot at the senior training camps I think real tournament experience at youth levels is invaluable.

I'd be really excited to see what that group of lads could do.

[Bloggs]

When’s the squad announced?

[Raggs]

Ugo saying Smith won't be playing the u20s on his podcast. Not sure if that's his opinion or he knows.

[Timbo]

Ugo saying Smith won't be playing the u20s on his podcast. Not sure if that's his opinion or he knows.

Sounded like it was just an assumption on his part.

[Bloggs]

Marcus Smith and Ben Curry both make the squad!

[Tigersman]

good news is smith and B.Curry are in the U20 squad!!!!

England U20s squad for 2018 World Rugby U20 Championship:
Forwards
Josh Basham (London Irish)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
Beck Cutting (Worcester Warriors)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors)
Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester Rugby)
Ciaran Knight (Gloucester Rugby)
Joel Kpoku (Saracens)
Sam Lewis (Leicester Tigers)
Gabriel Oghre (Wasps)
Ehren Painter (Northampton Saints)
James Scott (Worcester Warriors)
Alex Seville (Gloucester Rugby)
Toby Trinder (Northampton Saints)
Henry Walker (Gloucester Rugby)
Tom Willis (Wasps)
Backs
Rory Brand (London Irish)
Will Butler (Worcester Warriors)
Ali Crossdale (Saracens)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
James Grayson (Northampton Saints)
Tom Hardwick (Leicester Tigers)
Gabriel Ibitoye (Harlequins)
Ben Loader (London Irish)
Jordan Olowofela (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Parton (London Irish)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Ben White (Leicester Tigers)
Unavailable through injury:
Dino Lamb (Harlequins)
Sam Moore (Sale Sharks)
Marcus Street (Exeter Chiefs)

[fivepointer]

Thats a bonus getting Smith and B Curry in the squad. Butler named too. I thought he was going to miss out due to injury.
Earl and Redpath should be there too but this looks a very decent squad.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Shame to be missing Lamb and Street, both would take the starting XV up a notch. But still a decent squad that. So pleased to see Curry there, makes a huge difference to the backrow and side as a whole. We can put out a rather decent XV there.

[Puja]

I'm a little concerned about our forward pack. The backs are superb and the idea of Brand, Smith, Ibitoye, Hardwick, Butler, Crossdale/Loader, Parton brings joy to my heart. However, I'm not sure how convinced I am by our tight five, especially with the loss of Lamb and Street. Hopefully Ted Hill will return to lock rather than carrying on the South Africa experiment at 6.

I'd be happier with Earl there to lead them. I can see the point of Redpath, as Eddie clearly thinks he's a like-for-like Fazlet replacement at 12 and wants to mould him like Giteau, but I can't help but feel Earl may just be holding tackle bags.

Anyone know who is captain?

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Yeah. I know he’s very highly rated, but from what I’ve seen Hill isn’t dynamic enough to play in the back row.

Earl will be missed but Hinkley’s looked good whenever I have seen him. Had Earl been there, we’d have been in an odd position for England where we’d have had three players vying for the 7 shirt (Earl, Hinkley and Curry) and no stand-out options at 6.

As it is, I expect Curry is most likely to play 6 but I think he’s much better at 7.

It’s a shame Sam Moore isn’t there. I know there’s lots of hype around him but I’m waiting for him to justify it.

[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.

The a-team games I saw him in this season he was at 6 or 8.

A back-row of hill, curry, Willis looks very good

[Digby]

Why is Sam Moore listed in the backs? Has there been a change in position?

Edit - I see I should have kept reading and he's simply unavailable

[Puja]

Yeah. I know he’s very highly rated, but from what I’ve seen Hill isn’t dynamic enough to play in the back row.

Earl will be missed but Hinkley’s looked good whenever I have seen him. Had Earl been there, we’d have been in an odd position for England where we’d have had three players vying for the 7 shirt (Earl, Hinkley and Curry) and no stand-out options at 6.

As it is, I expect Curry is most likely to play 6 but I think he’s much better at 7.

It’s a shame Sam Moore isn’t there. I know there’s lots of hype around him but I’m waiting for him to justify it.

Hill looked like Lawes against South Africa - a very good lock doing lock things who happened to pack on the side of the scrum. At least there's synergy and alignment between the age groups and the senior team!

I have been impressed by Hinkley and him and Curry do soften the blow of Earl being missing. I've yet to see the fuss over Moore either, but I'd've loved another chance to get a good look at him.

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.

The a-team games I saw him in this season he was at 6 or 8.

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