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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:03:05:15:38:08 by Kath..

England U18 make sweeping changes for Calvisano trip


Ten changes made to the starting line-up against Italy
Fletcher eager to test young players in new environment




England U18 head coach John Fletcher has made 10 changes to his starting line-up for Sunday's game against Italy in Calvisano.

England extended their winning run at this level to 14 internationals with last month's 33-16 victory against France at Newbury.

But Fletcher is eager to give as much game time as possible to everyone in the group before games against Wales (Swansea, March 28), Ireland (Llandovery, April 2) and Scotland (Llandovery, April 7).

Five changes in the backline see new wings in Chris Elder (RGS High Wycombe & London Wasps) and Mark Jennings (Lymm HS & Sale Sharks), a new centre pairing in Jamie Elliott (Bedford & Northampton Saints) and Tommy Bell (Bacup and Rawtenstall GS & Sale Sharks), and Dan Robson (Hartpury Coll & Gloucester Rugby) taking over at scrum half.

Five more changes in the forwards see a new front row of Nick Auterac (Oaklands College & Saracens), Nathan Moris (Sedbergh & Newcastle Falcons) and Kyle Sinckler (Epsom Coll & Harlequins), with Billy Vunipola (Harrow & London Wasps) and Sam Northcote-Green (Dulwich Coll & London Wasps) on the flanks.

Fletcher said: "I'm delighted with the work we've been doing and looking forward to the game. It's a good opportunity for the players who haven’t started an Under 18 international this season.

"England sides have found Italy a tough place to play this season and these players are looking forward to improving on their last performance against France.

"It's our first away game and playing in different countries and environments is an important part of developing players."


England U18 v Italy

15 Ben Ransom (Tonbridge & Saracens)
14 Chris Elder (RGS High Wycombe & London Wasps)
13 Jamie Elliott (Bedford & Northampton Saints)
12 Tommy Bell (Bacup and Rawtenstall GS & Sale Sharks)
11 Mark Jennings (Lymm HS & Sale Sharks)
10 George Ford (Rishworth & Leicester Tigers, Captain)
9 Dan Robson (Hartpury Coll & Gloucester Rugby)
1 Nick Auterac (Oaklands College & Saracens)
2 Nathan Moris (Sedbergh & Newcastle Falcons)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Epsom Coll & Harlequins)
4 George Merrick (Whitgift & Harlequins)
5 Dominic Barrow (Prince Henry's GS Otley & Leeds Carnegie)
6 Billy Vunipola (Harrow & London Wasps)
7 Sam Northcote-Green (Dulwich Coll & London Wasps)
8 Matt Kvesic (Worcester Sixth Form Coll & Worcester Warriors)

Replacements
16 Koree Britton (Ivybridge Coll & Exeter Chiefs)
17 Anthony Brennan (Twyford CofE & London Wasps)
18 Will Skuse (Bryanston & Bath Rugby)
19 Will Spencer (St Paul's Catholic & London Irish)
20 Charlie Gordon (Wellington College and London Wasps)
21 Ryan Mills (Hartpury Coll & Gloucester)
22 Elliot Daly (Whitgift & London Wasps)


England Under 18 fixtures 2009/10

December 13: England U18 30 Australia Schools 28
February 21: England U18 33 France 16
March 7: Italy U18 v England U18 (Calvisano 2.30pm)
March 28: Wales U18 v England U18 (Swansea)
April 2: England U18 v Ireland (Llandovery 4pm)
April 7: England U18 v Scotland (Llandovery 2pm)

Britton and Vunipola clinch England U18 win
Saturday March 6, 2010
Issued by Simon Mills

Italy U18 12 England U18 28

Late tries from replacement hooker Koree Britton and flanker Billy Vunipola secured victory for England's Under 18s in a tight contest in Italy today.

Britton (Ivybridge Coll & Exeter Chiefs) and Vunipola (Harrow & London Wasps) struck in the last 10 minutes of the game in Calvisano to extend England's winning run at this level to 15 internationals since the summer of 2007.

England had a perfect start when scrum half Dan Robson (Hartpury Coll & Gloucester Rugby) struck in the second minute from a quickly-taken penalty after a dynamic opening spell.

Flanker Sam Northcote-Green (Dulwich Coll & London Wasps) added a second 20 minutes later and captain George Ford (Rishworth & Leicester Tigers) converted all four tries.

But England lost control of the middle of the game against a rugged Azzurri side intent on kicking long for territory and contesting the contact areas aggressively.

Ruscano fly half Ippolito Menniti kicked two first half penalties and indiscretions after the interval meant Italy were still in the game at 14-12 down with 20 minutes remaining.

"Credit to Italy, they stuck at it, played with a lot of fire, tackled hard and made us work hard at the breakdown," said head coach John Fletcher, who made 10 changes to the starting line-up following last month's 33-16 win over France.

"We created a lot of opportunities in the first half but only scored twice. We were inconsistent and lacked a bit of precision, and you could argue we left six or seven tries out there.

"But overall I'm very pleased because you have to learn by playing in difficult environments against sides who use different tactics. We kept playing the way we wanted to and kept on pressing, then took two chances towards the end."



England U18: Ben Ransom (Tonbridge & Saracens); Chris Elder (RGS High Wycombe & London Wasps), Jamie Elliott (Bedford & Northampton Saints), Tommy Bell (Bacup and Rawtenstall GS & Sale Sharks), Mark Jennings (Lymm HS & Sale Sharks); George Ford (Rishworth & Leicester Tigers, Captain), Dan Robson (Hartpury Coll & Gloucester Rugby); Nick Auterac (Oaklands College & Saracens), Nathan Moris (Sedbergh & Newcastle Falcons), Kyle Sinckler (Epsom Coll & Harlequins), George Merrick (Whitgift & Harlequins), Dominic Barrow (Prince Henry's GS Otley & Leeds Carnegie), Billy Vunipola (Harrow & London Wasps), Sam Northcote-Green (Dulwich Coll & London Wasps), Matt Kvesic (Worcester Sixth Form Coll & Worcester Warriors).

Replacements: Koree Britton (Ivybridge Coll & Exeter Chiefs) for Moris 48, Anthony Brennan (Twyford CofE & London Wasps) for Sinckler 36, Will Skuse (Bryanston & Bath Rugby) for Northcote-Green 48, Will Spencer (St Paul's Catholic & London Irish) for Merrick 65, Charlie Gordon (Wellington College and London Wasps) for Robson 57, Ryan Mills (Hartpury Coll & Gloucester) for Bell 50, Elliot Daly (Whitgift & London Wasps) for Elder 52.

Italy scorers: Penalties: Menniti 4.
England scorers: Tries: Robson, Northcote-Green, Britton, Vunipola. Conversions: Ford 4.

Referee: James Jones (Wales). Attendance: 3,000.

Bit closer than recent years.

When is Twomey back?