RugbyRebels

We blew at least 3 tries tonight and should have won more comfortably. Even so, our set piece was good, we defended very well and did score some very nice tries. Thought all the forwards did well. I'm seeing why Kpoku was brought in, and Hill and Willis were excellent.

Tigersman wrote:Olowofela has been the surprised of the tournament for me.

He has been very useful. I've actually been very surprised by Joel Kpoku - first time I saw him was against South Africa in the warm-up and he looked like a useless lump. He's really shown some very good technique to go with his size this tournament and has become valuable enough that I was willing England to take him off to protect him.

Puja

I'm still not sold on Kpoku currently, but he has improved as it's gone on.

That Georgian 13 ay slow ay 'e!!!! Wow.

Puja wrote:

Tigersman wrote:Olowofela has been the surprised of the tournament for me.

He has been very useful. I've actually been very surprised by Joel Kpoku - first time I saw him was against South Africa in the warm-up and he looked like a useless lump. He's really shown some very good technique to go with his size this tournament and has become valuable enough that I was willing England to take him off to protect him.

Puja

He looked unfit against the South Africans to me. His first few involvement were impactful, but then faded badly. Every game now he’s looking better and fitter. He’d never played u20’s before this tournament.

Thought Joe Hayes has looked really good so far too.

Just seen the late, head high shoulder charge the AB 12 got away with a yellow card for against Wales. Pretty nasty.

England U20s
15. Tom Parton (London Irish)
14. Gabriel Ibitoye (Harlequins)
13. Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
12. Tom Hardwick (Leicester Tigers)
11. Jordan Olowofela (Leicester Tigers)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
9. Ben White (Leicester Tigers)
1. Alex Seville (Gloucester Rugby)
2. Henry Walker (Gloucester Rugby)
3. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
4. Joel Kpoku (Saracens)
5. James Scott (Worcester Warriors)
6. Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors)
7. Ben Curry - captain (Sale Sharks)
8. Josh Basham (London Irish)

Replacements
16. Gabriel Oghre (Wasps)
17. Ciaran Knight (Gloucester Rugby)
18. Ehren Painter (Northampton Saints)
19. Tom Willis (Wasps Rugby)
20. Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester Rugby)
21. Rory Brand (London Irish)
22. James Grayson (Northampton Saints)
23. Will Butler (Worcester Warriors)

6pm kick off live on ITV4

Surprised Butler misses out to Hardwick. Couple of very tight calls in the pack at 3 and 8.

fivepointer wrote:6pm kick off live on ITV4

Cheers, 5P

Out of the team selected
Dingwall
Hardwick
Smith
Heyes
Kpoku
Scott
Hill
Basham
Willis
Hinkley
Still have another year.

fivepointer wrote:6pm kick off live on ITV4

Surprised Butler misses out to Hardwick. Couple of very tight calls in the pack at 3 and 8.

I'm more surprised Butler's missing out to Dingwall, who I've not been impressed by at all. He keeps putting passes behind people, which I guess does mean he's already integrated into how the seniors play.

Puja

Dirty late hit on smith already.

Ibitoye got a bit more size to him or will he be destined to be the new Wade at international level?

What a horrible ground with the running track making the crowd remote. Zero atmosphere!

Missing Trinder at Loosehead

Funny yellow, looked like he was asking the ref throughout if he was okay to come through and didn't see the ref indicate that he wasn't

SA rather panicked at the end there and rushed their chance

Puja wrote:

fivepointer wrote:6pm kick off live on ITV4

Surprised Butler misses out to Hardwick. Couple of very tight calls in the pack at 3 and 8.

I'm more surprised Butler's missing out to Dingwall, who I've not been impressed by at all. He keeps putting passes behind people, which I guess does mean he's already integrated into how the seniors play.

Puja

Top class defence is why. That and he’s obviously the best educated member of the squad

Got away with that. SA should have won but they missed too many kicks.
Brilliant first quarter but thereafter we went off the boil and couldnt contain their maul and pick and go game. Penalties nearly did for us.
Another final is still quite an achievement.

Epic

Mellsblue wrote:

Puja wrote:

fivepointer wrote:6pm kick off live on ITV4

Surprised Butler misses out to Hardwick. Couple of very tight calls in the pack at 3 and 8.

I'm more surprised Butler's missing out to Dingwall, who I've not been impressed by at all. He keeps putting passes behind people, which I guess does mean he's already integrated into how the seniors play.

Puja

Top class defence is why. That and he’s obviously the best educated member of the squad

His dad and family went out to watch- they will have been rightly proud.

Well done to the lads.

Mellsblue wrote:

Puja wrote:

fivepointer wrote:6pm kick off live on ITV4

Surprised Butler misses out to Hardwick. Couple of very tight calls in the pack at 3 and 8.

I'm more surprised Butler's missing out to Dingwall, who I've not been impressed by at all. He keeps putting passes behind people, which I guess does mean he's already integrated into how the seniors play.

Puja

Top class defence is why. That and he’s obviously the best educated member of the squad

He did have a great game. Rather unlike the ref, who made some very average decisions. Curry won three times more turnovers than he was given and was penalised twice for nonsense offences. Half of SA's tries should've been stopped three-four phases prior if he'd been given his due.

Overall, a great win against a very physical Boks side. Looking forward to the final.

Puja

Banquo wrote:Epic

A small victory