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Leeds Carnegie’s Chris Walker captains England at Under 18 level for the first time in South Africa on Friday.

The flanker from Prince Henry’s, Otley, leads the team against a Namibia Invitation side at the Borders Stadium in East London (11.50am).

Four backs make their first appearance at this level - three from Exeter Chiefs in fly half Henry Slade, centre Sam Hill and wing Jack Arnott, with full back Anthony Watson (London Irish) stepping up from last season’s England Under 16 team.

Head coach John Fletcher said: “It’s the first time Chris Walker’s led this team but he’s a very mature young player with a lot of experience at this level and playing senior rugby at Otley last season.

“I’m sure he’ll set an example with his workrate and he’ll be supported by Billy Vunipola who will be the vice captain.

“We’ve got a young side and a particularly young back line but we’ve settled in well after arriving in South Africa and we're looking forward to what should be a good test for us against a bigger and older set of players from Namibia.”

England go on to face France U18 on July 20 in George (5pm) and South Africa U18 on July 23 in Port Elizabeth (1.25pm).

Fletcher’s side stretched their winning international run at this level to 18 games last season, completing a third successive Grand Slam and are back in South Africa a year after their landmark 45-13 win over the junior Springboks in Kimberley.


England Under 18
15 Anthony Watson (St George's College, Weybridge & London Irish)
14 Jack Arnott (St Boniface’s College & Exeter Chiefs)
13 Sam Hill (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs)
12 Tommy Bell (Bacup and Rawtenstall GS & Sale Sharks)
11 Charlie Walker (Oakham & Harlequins)
10 Henry Slade (Plymouth College & Exeter Chiefs)
9 Joel Hodgson (RGS Newcastle & Newcastle Falcons)
1 Nick Auterac (Oaklands College & Saracens)
2 Koree Britton (Ivybridge College & Gloucester Rugby)
3 Anthony Brennan (Twyford CofE & London Wasps)
4 Will Spencer (St Paul's Catholic & Bath Rugby)
5 Dominic Barrow (Prince Henry's GS, Otley & Leeds Carnegie)
6 Sam Northcote-Green (Dulwich College & London Wasps)
7 Chris Walker (Prince Henry's GS, Otley & Leeds Carnegie, captain)
8 Billy Vunipola (Harrow & London Wasps, vice captain)

Replacements
16 Nathan Moris (Sedbergh & Newcastle Falcons)
17 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs)
18 Kyle Sinckler (Epsom College & Harlequins)
19 Tom Jubb (Oaklands College & Saracens)
20 Will Skuse (Bryanston & Bath Rugby)
21 Dan Robson (Hartpury College & Gloucester Rugby)
22 Elliot Daly (Whitgift & London Wasps)
23 Ben Ransom (Tonbridge & Saracens)

First round results

South Africa 25 - 5 France
Namibia 10 - 35 England

Quote:

Charlie Walker (Oakham School & Harlequins)

?

Tigers, surely?

Thanks QP, can you tell me where you found the results please? Also does anyone know if there will be match reports posted anywhere?

The results are on www.sarugby.net..
35-10 not a good score considering SA beat them by another 60 points last year [95-10]

England U18 open South Africa tour with five-try victory
Friday July 16, 2010
Issued by Simon Mills


England’s Under 18s opened their tour to South Africa with a 35-10 win over a Namibia Invitation team in East London today.

A young side led by Leeds flanker Chris Walker ran in five tries – three of them in a breathtaking 10-minute opening spell – to control the game against a bigger opposition side.

They now move on to face France U18 on July 20 in George (5pm) and South Africa U18 on July 23 in Port Elizabeth (1.25pm).

Debutants Jack Arnott and Sam Hill both struck early on with Nick Auterac, Will Spencer and Nathan Moris also touching down and Tommy Bell kicking five conversions.

Bell’s break created the opening for St Boniface’s and Exeter Chiefs centre Arnott to strike in the third minute before midfield partner Hill (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs) finished off after Billy Vunipola had dented the Namibia defence.

When Oaklands and Saracens prop Auterac powered his way over and Bell converted, England were 21-0 up after 10 minutes.

They couldn’t add to the score before half time and Namibia pulled 10 points back early in the second half with a penalty, try and conversion.

But St Paul’s and Bath lock Will Spencer’s 50th minute try regained control and replacement hooker Moris (Sedbergh & Newcastle Falcons) killed off any chance of a comeback with the final score 10 minutes from time.

Head coach John Fletcher said: “This was our first outing for a long time with a lot of young players involved for the first time so it was a decent performance against a much bigger and physically more mature side.

“We’ve scored five good tries and could have scored a few more but for a lack of precision in places, so it ‘s a really positive start to the trip.”

England Under 18: Anthony Watson (St George's College, Weybridge & London Irish); Jack Arnott (St Boniface’s College & Exeter Chiefs), Sam Hill (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs), Tommy Bell (Bacup and Rawtenstall GS & Sale Sharks), Charlie Walker (Oakham & Harlequins); Henry Slade (Plymouth College & Exeter Chiefs), Joel Hodgson (RGS Newcastle & Newcastle Falcons); Nick Auterac (Oaklands College & Saracens), Koree Britton (Ivybridge College & Gloucester Rugby), Anthony Brennan (Twyford CofE & London Wasps), Will Spencer (St Paul's Catholic & Bath Rugby), Dominic Barrow (Prince Henry's GS, Otley & Leeds Carnegie), Sam Northcote-Green (Dulwich College & London Wasps), Chris Walker (Prince Henry's GS, Otley & Leeds Carnegie, captain), Billy Vunipola (Harrow & London Wasps).

Replacements: Nathan Moris (Sedbergh & Newcastle Falcons) for Britton 60, Luke Cowan-Dickie (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs) for Auterac 60, Kyle Sinckler (Epsom College & Harlequins) for Brennan 60, Tom Jubb (Oaklands College & Saracens) for Walker 47, Will Skuse (Bryanston & Bath Rugby) for Vunipola 52, Dan Robson (Hartpury College & Gloucester Rugby) for Slade 60, Elliot Daly (Whitgift & London Wasps) for Hill 60, Ben Ransom (Tonbridge & Saracens) for Hill 60.

ok, thanks ruggazboy.

Gotta admit that the scoreline isn't as I had hoped. However, considering the team is missing its three most promising players (Ford, Kvesic and Yarde), plus a couple other first choice starters, it's a reasonable start. I certainly think South Africa, and maybe France, will be the end of the unbeaten run considering the unavailabilites, relative inexperience and youth of the squad.

U18 teams are always young and inexperienced.

Fair point Rarua. However, five or six of the squad that played in the u18 six nations tourney earlier in the year are out. Their replacements have not played at this level before and are (I think) a year young. Therefore, relatively speaking, young and inexperienced.

Which ones Nomad?

Jubb, Hill, Arnott, Slade and Watson. All should be available to this team next year and Watson the year after (he played England U16 this season).

England 66 ; 19 France
South Africa 27 16 Namibia XV..

I'm now convinced we'll beat south africa..

That's a great result, if unexpected!

Will be awaiting the result of the SA game with interest now, and as you said Rugga, definitely think we can do 'em now.

I believe Ford is playing for U19s. On another note, has anyone been watching Billy Vunipola, he should be starting his U18 season this season but has already been representing England for a few years at the same level, an unbelievable, devastating ball carrier, even when placed in a higher age group, future England international? You bet!

There definately seem to be some potential stars in this years U18 squad. Fletcher has mentioned Yarde, Ford, Elliot, Vunipola, Barrow, Twomey, Merrick and Kvesic at various times when asked about the top talents with potential to go all the way.

Like you Rob, I am looking forward to seeing Vunipola play. From the sounds of things he is a huge lad whom has pace and skill (He kicked a 7's conversion from the touchline in a schools event a while back).

Now all we have to do is wait five years for them to play for the seniors .

Will the game be televised?

Quote:

RugbyNomad
Jubb, Hill, Arnott, Slade and Watson. All should be available to this team next year and Watson the year after (he played England U16 this season).

Watson wasn't the only one of that bunch to play U16, Arnott played alongside him in the back 3 for example.

I think I'm right in saying Cowan-Dickie (Loosehead), Nathan Morris (Hooker), Kyle Sinkler (Tighthead) will be eligible again next season. A whole front row.

So will Mark Jennings of Sale. And a few others I think including Ford - who will probably be promoted to U20 anyway.

Quote:

robmaza
I believe Ford is playing for U19s. On another note, has anyone been watching Billy Vunipola, he should be starting his U18 season this season but has already been representing England for a few years at the same level, an unbelievable, devastating ball carrier, even when placed in a higher age group, future England international? You bet!

Ford has club commitments. Vunipola indeed looks good, hopefully he & his brother choose England, rather than Tonga.

Quote:

RuggaZBoy
Will the game be televised?

According to a poster on Planet Rugby, it will be broadcasted in South Africa.

Oh what it would be to live in a rugby nation. I thought there was a chance it would be shown in SA, but never in a million years here.

Thanks for the extra info Slater. It was informative as per usual.

On a side note, Merrick and Jubb will be available next year too; this will give us an entire front five.

SA 23-17 England.

Unbeaten run stops @ 19.

Would've been nice to reach 20, but i guess the south africans must have been great..

A Saffer poster on another sight who watched the second half said

" from what i saw the sides were evenly matched and full of running.

bokkies appeared to dominant in the line-outs - what's new?

england scrum looked very solid but their handling let them down at critcal times.

good game - both sides can be pleased with their performance. "

We out scored them 3-1 on tries and missed at least two conversions and a penalty. This would indicate that it could have gone either way.

I am disappointed to lose. However, it is common to hear players say that they often learn more from defeat than victory, so perhaps the result is just as good (if not better) than winning in developmental terms.

Match report here:

England U18 edged out as long run ends against South Africa

England’s three-year winning streak at Under 18 international level is over after they went down 23-17 against South Africa in Port Elizabeth.

They scored three tries to one with wing Mark Jennings (Lymm HS & Sale Sharks) and centres Tommy Bell (Bacup & Rawtenstall GS & Sale Sharks) and Elliot Daly (Whitgift & London Wasps) touching down and Bell adding a conversion.

But despite dominating the game they failed to put away some clear-cut chances and were punished by a dogged South Africa side who scored a try through Free State centre Paul Jordaan with fly half Johan Goosen kicking five penalties and Jordaan one.

Although the result ended a winning run of 19 internationals stretching back to July 2007, head coach John Fletcher was still upbeat at the end of a tour in which England beat Namibia 35-10 and France 66-19, scoring 18 tries in their three games.

“We just lacked precision and although we scored three tries to one we left a couple of straightforward ones out there and that’s hard to take,” said Fletcher.

“You couldn’t fault us for effort and we had enough ball and enough chances to score but that’s how it goes.

“Great credit to South Africa – they really hung on in there – and their reaction tells its own story. They got out of jail and are incredibly pleased to have beaten us. It shows the regard we’re held in. We expect to win and that wasn’t the case a few years ago.

“Our lads are very upset and it shows how much they care about the loss but we’ll all move on and they will learn from it which is the important thing. It’s been a great trip and they’ve conducted themselves brilliantly.”

Goosen kicked two penalties in the opening 15 minutes and a third shortly before the break with a Jennings try and Bell conversion leaving England trailing 9-7 at half time.

They clicked into gear early in the second half with Bell scoring in the corner and Daly’s touchdown opening up a 17-9 lead going into the final 15 minutes.

England were judged to have lost the ball twice over the line by referee Pieter de Villiers and had a third chance ruled out by the TMO at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Jordaan kicked a fourth penalty for the Baby Boks and broke away for the solo try that levelled the scores before Goosen struck from 45 and 50 metres inside the last five minutes.

“We are pretty pleased chuffed with this victory that shows that we have the talent in our country and we can compete and get the results against a side like England. It’s important now that we keep these guys together,” said South Africa coach Eric Sauls.



England Under 18: Ben Ransom (Tonbridge & Saracens); Mark Jennings (Lymm HS & Sale Sharks), Elliot Daly (Whitgift & London Wasps), Tommy Bell (Bacup & Rawtenstall GS & Sale Sharks), Charlie Walker (Oakham & Harlequins); Joel Hodgson (RGS Newcastle & Newcastle Falcons), Dan Robson (Hartpury College & Gloucester Rugby); Nick Auterac (Oaklands College & Saracens), Koree Britton (Ivybridge College & Gloucester Rugby), Anthony Brennan (Twyford C of E & London Wasps), George Merrick (Whitgift & Harlequins), Dominic Barrow (Prince Henry's GS, Otley & Leeds Carnegie), Will Skuse (Bryanston & Bath Rugby), Chris Walker (Prince Henry's GS, Otley & Leeds Carnegie, captain), Billy Vunipola (Harrow & London Wasps, vice captain)

Replacements: Nathan Moris (Sedbergh & Newcastle Falcons), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs), Kyle Sinckler (Epsom College & Harlequins), Will Spencer (St Paul's Catholic & Bath Rugby), Sam Northcote-Green (Dulwich College & London Wasps), Henry Slade (Plymouth College & Exeter Chiefs), Sam Hill (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs), Anthony Watson (St George's College, Weybridge & London Irish).

Pity but at least the junior ranks of English rugby play the game the way it is meant to be played. SAf of course rely on scoring tons of goals and mashing the opposition into the turf.

Interesting fact, the SA scrumhalf, flyhalf (Goosen), Inside Centre (Jordaan), Outside centre (Small-Smith) all come from the same school, the no. 1 school in the world, unbeaten for 4 years, Grey College [haven't had much international games though, perhaps whitgift could give them a run]


Here are some video's of them in action
[www.youtube.com]
[www.youtube.com]