Ben off to pursue his 7’s career
[url=http://[www.worcesternews.co.uk]]Ben Howard[/url]


[www.worcesternews.co.uk]

And Max Stelling too.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/04/2018 22:31 by Eternal optimist.

In squad for Hong Kong 7s. ..

SGGS

Good luck to Ben.
Didn't get the lucky breaks he deserved.
Being understudy to Mr Reliable ( CP), didn't help.

He clearly had at an early age a good skill set to get England recognition and although 7’s is a different animal to 15’s, to be on the fringe of the annual circuit is not shabby. Everyone lauded Francois for instance when he did the same.

I don’t think he took his chances when they arose like some of the other Academy players did. Moving from Wing to FB as he progressed, although probably necessary, did not help him either IMO.

Shame really as he had all the attributes to be a very good fullback. As you say FF, just never capitalised on his chances. There was always a mistake, dropped ball, etc that let him down.

2013 England U20 team that faced Wales:

Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby); Anthony Watson (London Irish), Tom Stephenson (Northampton Saints), Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs); Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby); Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Nathan Morris (London Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Elliott Stooke (Gloucester Rugby), Dominic Barrow (Leeds Carnegie), Harry Wells (Leicester Tigers), David Sisi (London Irish), Jack Clifford (Harlequins).

Replacements:. Max Crumpton (Saracens), Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints), Danny Herriott (Northampton Saints), Tom Jubb (Saracens), Gus Jones (London Wasps), Alex Day (Northampton Saints), Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers), Ben Howard (Worcester Warriors).

Most players have done well in the premiership, but not all.

Quote:

Fiver
2013 England U20 team that faced Wales:
Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby); Anthony Watson (London Irish), Tom Stephenson (Northampton Saints), Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs); Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby); Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Nathan Morris (London Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Elliott Stooke (Gloucester Rugby), Dominic Barrow (Leeds Carnegie), Harry Wells (Leicester Tigers), David Sisi (London Irish), Jack Clifford (Harlequins).

Replacements:. Max Crumpton (Saracens), Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints), Danny Herriott (Northampton Saints), Tom Jubb (Saracens), Gus Jones (London Wasps), Alex Day (Northampton Saints), Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers), Ben Howard (Worcester Warriors).

Most players have done well in the premiership, but not all.

Interesting, out of 23 of those. 2 now play in championship, 1 in Top 14, 1 in Pro14, 3 in National 1, 1 in varsity colours. Remaining 14 currently play in premiership (Howard and Stephenson may be leaving.

Same match, 1 year later:

England Under-20: Howard Packman (Northampton Saints); Zach Kibirige, (Newcastle Falcons), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Harry Sloan (Harlequins), Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers); Billy Burns (Gloucester Rugby), Henry Taylor (Loughborough University); Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints), Harry Thacker (Leicester Tigers), Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons), Maro Itoje (Saracens, capt), Tom Ellis (Bath Rugby), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby), Joel Conlon (Exeter Chiefs), Gus Jones (London Wasps).

Replacements: Tom Woolstencroft (Bath Rugby), Alex Lundberg (London Wasps), Paul Hill (Leeds Carnegie), Jonny Hill (Gloucester Rugby), Hayden Stringer (Saracens), Stuart Townsend (Exeter Chiefs), Sam Olver (Northampton Saints), Aaron Morris (Bedford Blues).

Doesn't seem to have the quality of 2013, bar a couple of names (Mr Itoje).

Ross Moriarty who now plays for Wales.

Harry Thacker and Henry Purdy are also comparable IMHO

Not nearly the same level as Moriarty and Itoje.

I'd go with around 9(ish) starting XV premiership club players from 2013 against 3 from 2014. What a difference a year makes.

Quote:

Fiver
Same match, 1 year later:
England Under-20: Howard Packman (Northampton Saints); Zach Kibirige, (Newcastle Falcons), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Harry Sloan (Harlequins), Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers); Billy Burns (Gloucester Rugby), Henry Taylor (Loughborough University); Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints), Harry Thacker (Leicester Tigers), Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons), Maro Itoje (Saracens, capt), Tom Ellis (Bath Rugby), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby), Joel Conlon (Exeter Chiefs), Gus Jones (London Wasps).

Replacements: Tom Woolstencroft (Bath Rugby), Alex Lundberg (London Wasps), Paul Hill (Leeds Carnegie), Jonny Hill (Gloucester Rugby), Hayden Stringer (Saracens), Stuart Townsend (Exeter Chiefs), Sam Olver (Northampton Saints), Aaron Morris (Bedford Blues).

Doesn't seem to have the quality of 2013, bar a couple of names (Mr Itoje).

Not the same quality, but 20/23 are still registered with Premiership clubs. Although you can rightly argue that less are first team regulars - plus only 3 full international (inc. 1 Welsh). 7 england players from the 2013 vintage.

Ben scored twice in the Hong Kong 7s.

Not a great tournament for the team but it seems to be quite an inexperienced squad.

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