England U20s name side for IRB JWC Semi Final


By RFU Press Release
June 16 2010

England Under20s have made six changes for the IRB Junior World Championship semi-final against Australia in Argentina.

England U20s side for IRB Junior World Championship Semi Final
 
Skipper Jacob Rowan (Leeds Carnegie) returns to the back row after he was rested against France. Also back in the starting line-up is No.8 Jackson Wray (Saracens) who made such an impact coming off the bench against the French.

Flyer Christian Wade (London Wasps) returns to the wing and Charlie Davies (Stade Francais) starts at scrum half with IRB JWC all-time leading points scorer Tom Homer (London Irish) also returning at full back.

Australia beat South Africa in Santa Fe in their final pool game to set up the latest battle against the old enemy in Rosario. England for their part will return to the familiarity of Newell's Old Boys FC full of confidence having won all three of their pool games there in the shadow of the Diego Maradona stand.

But Head Coach Mark Mapletoft, knows that the junior Wallabies will be a difficult team to overcome:

"I've been very impressed with Australia, especially in their performance against South Africa, scoring five tries against what looked like a very good South African team. They'll present a difficult hurdle for us to overcome. At the same time our preparation has been very good and we've managed to be successful in the semis in the last two years and we'd love to go one better."

There is a good feeling in the camp at the moment, all 26 guys are fit and raring to go. We've managed to rotate the squad a little bit while winning games. Looking at the side we've selected a fifteen to win the game but looking at the bench, I'm sure those guys will come on and have an impact."

England U20 v Australia U20

IRB JWC, Stadio Coloso de Parque, Rosario
Thursday June 17
Kick off 14.10 local (18.10 GMT)

England U20

15. Tom Homer (London Irish)
14. Christian Wade (London Wasps)
13. Andrew Forsyth (Leicester Tigers)
12. Tom Casson (Harlequins)
11. Sam Smith (Harlequins)
10. Rory Clegg (Harlequins)
9. Charlie Davies (Stade Francais)
1. Joe Marler (Harlequins)
2. Jamie George (Saracens)
3. Shaun Knight (Gloucester)
4. Calum Green (Leicester Tigers)
5. Charlie Matthews (Harlequins)
6. Jamie Gibson (London Irish)
7. Jacob Rowan (Leeds Carnegie, captain)
8. Jackson Wray (Saracens)

Replacements
16. Arthur Ellis (London Wasps)
17. Lee Imiolek (Sale Sharks)
18. George Kruis (Saracens)
19. Will Welch (Newcastle Falcons)
20. Sam Harrison (Leicester Tigers)
21. Freddie Burns (Gloucester)
22. Jonny May (Gloucester)

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England U20s name side for IRB JWC semi
Discussion started by Unofficial England Rugby Union , 16/06/2010 16:04
Unofficial England Rugby Union
16/06/2010 16:04
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Dorset Boy
16/06/2010 16:30
I don't understand why Harrison, Burns and May aren't starters.

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joeblogs
18/06/2010 09:27
Totally agree Dorset boy, Burns made a difference at 10 when he came on and should have started. May's defence may need a bit of work but he was one of the few players who looked like scoring, which he did. Harrison over Davies every time, he has much better basic skills than Davies who for me has been a big disappointment and not lived up to the hype.

The playoff for 3rd/4th place promises to be a good game, think England can beat SA, but we'll have to be at the top of our game and get the selection right.

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tigersfan1
18/06/2010 09:44
Every game I have seen we seem to have started with somewhat clearly look second choices and bring on the cavalry to "finish the job". Maybe bit us on the bum this time.

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Quinten Poulsen
18/06/2010 10:54
A game every 4 days, with 5 games to play means they can't select their best XV every time. I would also say that Clegg was clearly first choice before the tournament, although credit to Burns as he has been the better 10 over the last couple of weeks. Harrison blotted his copybook by letting the French 9 ruin loads of good scrum ball for us, which is a shame because apart from that his game is excellent. I'm surprised May didn't start more, but on another thread he is quoted as saying the reason why is because he struggles with the blitz defence.

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joeblogs
19/06/2010 12:10
Harrison does get caught at times as he doesn't always pass directly off the floor, but he's a good solid player and way better than Davies who offers nothing as far as I can see and missed two tackles which resulted in two trys.

The selection for the last game will be interesting as you'd expect it to be the 1st choice 15 starting as it's the last game. I'd have Harrison, Burns at 10 rather then 15 as his form at the moment is better than Clegg, and May even if his defence does need work as he consistently scores trys, in the starting line up.

Forwards selection will also be interesting, Joe Marler or Lee Imioleck to start, both outstanding, what a problem to have!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:06:19:13:51:41 by joeblogs.

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