England U18 SA tour squad

[Tigersman]

England suffer with having 13 regular prem clubs really.
We produce the players just how many get left out come post U20's?
My personal feelings is lower the amount of teams in the Prem IMO should be 10, tighten up the restrictions on non EQP signings.
Increase the EQP market density whilst also restricting the Non EQP to top signings in needed positions and you would also make things a lot easier on clubs finances.

In my dream world we would have like 6 regional teams of like 37 man squads. (With a max of 2 non EQP in each team)
and then have a 20 team club competition split into 2 conferences with relegation and promotion between the two.

[Raggs]

I'd like to see a minimum salary for non-eqps. We need a higher quality competition, and let's be honest, 10th choice English players, aren't going to be as good as the better overseas players who can drive standards up.

[Peat]

EW has always had an interesting theory, that with our player base we’ll always be able to put out a solid squad across all positions whilst most other nations will have a decent percent of positions where the options are below the standard required. We therefore look stronger using a cohort condensed into 2 years whereas the senior national teams can smooth ebbs and flows in positions due to picking from a far wider age range. EW did forward this theory after we ripped Ireland u20s a new one but I think it has merit.
There also the point that most other nations have more control over and access to their players and therefore their development.

I always thought that one was a bit self-evident.

And I also think - although this may be less true now - that our kids were getting more professional earlier than their counterparts abroad and that helped smoothed it over.

However... I'd say its also self-evident that we don't develop world class prospects into world class players. In fact, we rather consistently don't.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

England U18s have named their side to face Wales for Tuesday’s second fixture of the U18 International Series in South Africa.

The side were beaten 41-21 by France on Friday in their opening game of the tournament and take on Wales in Stellenberg (14 August, 1.15pm BST, live on S4C).

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/engla ... al-series/

I will take a moment to note that Chunya Munga is an amazing name.

Puja

I bet when he gets knocked down he gets back up again

[Tigersman]

I'd like to see a minimum salary for non-eqps. We need a higher quality competition, and let's be honest, 10th choice English players, aren't going to be as good as the better overseas players who can drive standards up.

The prem is already a high quality competition that isn't the problem.

[Raggs]

I'd like to see a minimum salary for non-eqps. We need a higher quality competition, and let's be honest, 10th choice English players, aren't going to be as good as the better overseas players who can drive standards up.

The prem is already a high quality competition that isn't the problem.

Is it? It's got a lot of high quality players, it's quality in terms of competitiveness, but in terms of individual games, they aren't normally close to the sort of intensity or speed that will prepare a player for international smoothly.

[Tigersman]

I'd like to see a minimum salary for non-eqps. We need a higher quality competition, and let's be honest, 10th choice English players, aren't going to be as good as the better overseas players who can drive standards up.

The prem is already a high quality competition that isn't the problem.

Is it? It's got a lot of high quality players, it's quality in terms of competitiveness, but in terms of individual games, they aren't normally close to the sort of intensity or speed that will prepare a player for international smoothly.

But neither is Super rugby or Pro 14 rugby though.
No competition is.

[Raggs]

The prem is already a high quality competition that isn't the problem.

Is it? It's got a lot of high quality players, it's quality in terms of competitiveness, but in terms of individual games, they aren't normally close to the sort of intensity or speed that will prepare a player for international smoothly.

But neither is Super rugby or Pro 14 rugby though.
No competition is.

Super is around european cup levels, it's better than GP or Pro14. English sides seem to struggle to step up to the Euro cup levels at times.

[Tigersman]

Is it? It's got a lot of high quality players, it's quality in terms of competitiveness, but in terms of individual games, they aren't normally close to the sort of intensity or speed that will prepare a player for international smoothly.

But neither is Super rugby or Pro 14 rugby though.
No competition is.

Super is around european cup levels, it's better than GP or Pro14. English sides seem to struggle to step up to the Euro cup levels at times.

is it?
Maybe the New Zealand derbies are but outside that I would compare them to Prem/Pro14.

[oldbackrow]

Super is around european cup levels, it's better than GP or Pro14. English sides seem to struggle to step up to the Euro cup levels at times.

Is that view based purely on last years performances? Saracens stepped up in both 2017 and 2016 (when there were 5 English teams in the 1/4 finals).

[fivepointer]

Side for final game, against SA, tomorrow.

15. Louis Lynagh - Harlequins (Hampton School)
14. Jack Bates - Bristol Bears (SGS Filton)
13. Lennox Anyanwu - Harlequins (Christ's Hospital)
12. Josh Hallett - Saracens (New Hall School)
11. Tom Roebuck - Sale Sharks (Wirral Grammar)
10. George Barton - Gloucester Rugby (Dean Close School)
9. Raffi Quirke - Sale Sharks (St Ambrose College)
1. James Whitcombe - Leicester Tigers (Woodhouse Grove)
2. Alfie Barbeary - Wasps (Bloxham School)
3. Harvey Beaton - Saracens (Sutton Valence)
4. George Hammond - Harlequins (Whitgift School)
5. George Martin - Leicester Tigers (Brooksby Melton College)
6. Harry Dugmore - Harlequins (Whitgift School)
7. Fin Rossiter - London Irish (Wellington College)
8. Jack Clement - Gloucester Rugby (Cheltenham College)

Replacements

16. Sam Riley - Harlequins (St George's Weybridge)
17. Rowan Mullis - Gloucester Rugby (Hartpury College)
18. Jack Hughes - Northampton Saints (Uppingham School)
19. Chunya Munga - London Irish (Leighton Park School)
20. Archie Smeaton - Yorkshire Carnegie (Hymers College)
21. Callum Pascoe - Northampton Saints (Millfield School)
22. Tom Curtis - Sale Sharks (Sedbergh School)
23. Phil Cokanasiga - London Irish (St Pauls College)
24. Josh Gillespie - Northampton Saints (Millfield School)
25. Will Haydon-Wood - Newcastle Falcons (Sedbergh School)

Based on the little i've seen i'd say thats our best front row and Martin is our best lock. Barton looks a good player at 10 and Roebuck is a big, powerful runner.

[fivepointer]

Tour finished on a low losing 22-41. Not a great return, but the squad is young and should improve over the season.