John Fletcher

England last faced the Baby Boks 12 months ago when they fell to a 36-29 defeat at the University of Western Cape, and Fletcher says that he is expecting another physical content.

“We know that they are strong side,” he said. “They tend to be big up front and have some quick backs. But saying that, we have a big pack and we’re looking forward to the game massively.

“It’s been pretty wet since we got here but the lads have trained well. It’s a good experience for them, and it’s a new experience for most of them. But this is the first of our three games and we’re looking to start well." 

Captain James Chisholm added: "We're really pleased to be here and excited about playing our hosts. South Africa in South Africa is about as tough as it gets, but we're ready and we can't wait to get out there."

England Under 18 starting XV against South Africa

15 Howard Packman (Moulton College & Northampton Saints)
14 Tom Howe (Shiplake College & London Wasps)
13 Nick Carpenter (Filton College & Bristol Rugby)
12 Max Clark (Bryanston & Bath Rugby)
11 Nathan Earle (Oaklands & Saracens)
10 Sam Olver (Oundle School & Northampton Saints)
9 Stuart Townsend (Ivybridge Community College & Exeter Chiefs) 

1 Alex Lundberg (Hampton School & London Wasps)
2 Cameron Neild (Manchester Grammar & Sale Sharks)
3 Paul Hill (Prince Henry's Grammar & Leeds Carnegie)
4 Tom Ellis (Millfield & Bath Rugby)
5 Charlie Ewels (Bryanston & Bath Rugby)
6 Hayden Stringer (Oaklands & Saracens)
8 James Chisholm (Brighton College & Harlequins) (C)
7 Lewis Ludlow (Hartpury College & Gloucester Rugby) 

Replacements:   

16 Jack Walker (Prince Henry's & Leeds Carnegie)
17 Luke Chapman (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs)
18 Ciaran Parker (St Ambrose & Sale Sharks)
19 Josh Peters (Oundle School & Northampton Saints)
20 Ellis Genge (Hartpury College & Bristol Rugby)
21 James Mitchell (Lymm School & Sale Sharks)
22 Will Owen (QE Leicester & Leicester Tigers)
23 Josh Sharp (Oaklands College & Saracens)
24 Rory Jennings (Bryanston School & Bath Rugby)
25 Josh Skelcey (Moulton College & Northampton Saints)
26 Tom Fowlie (St Pauls Catholic College & London Irish)

England Under 18s huddle up

South Africa Schools 19 England Under 18s 14

England Under 18s fell to a tough 19-14 loss against a physical South Africa Schools side in Cape Town. Captain James Chisholm scored two tries but it wasn’t quite enough against the Baby Boks.

With five on the clock fly half Sam Olver sent a penalty towards the posts but it fell short and was knocked on by a South African defender. From the resulting scrum Chisholm peeled off the back and touched down and Olver added the extras.

South Africa hit back straightaway though and reduced the deficit to four points with a well-taken penalty just wide of England’s posts. With the hosts on the front foot they made the possession count with a try that came after a spell off sustained pressure to make it 8-7.

England almost regained the lead on the stroke of half time when a well-executed cross-field kick from Olver was gathered by Tom Howe, but the London Wasps wing was held up on the line.

The hosts started the second half brightly and had their second try ten minutes after the restart when their wing powered through to touch down. The conversion was missed to leave England six points behind at 13-7.

England full back Howard then picked the ball up deep in his own half and embarked on a mazy length-of-the-field run before being stopped illegally. South Africa were reduced to 14-men and from the resulting scrum Chisholm picked up from the base and touched down to put England 14-13 up after Olver’s conversion.

But two late penalties from South Africa’s fly half made it 19-13 and despite a late onslaught from England, they couldn’t make the breakthrough.

Head Coach John Fletcher said: “We’re obviously disappointed with the loss but to be honest we didn’t start as well as we could have done in the first half. Perhaps that was to be expected as these guys are just coming off the back of pre-season and haven’t played for a while.

“We had one held up on the line just before half time, and if we had got that one down I think we would have gone on to win the game, but it wasn’t be. We came back into it in the second half and it could have gone either way, but credit to South Arica – they were physical and took their chances.”

Points: Chisholm 2T; Olver 2C

England Under 18s starting XV against South Africa

15 Howard Packman (Moulton College & Northampton Saints)
14 Tom Howe (Shiplake College & London Wasps)
13 Nick Carpenter (Filton College & Bristol Rugby)
12 Max Clark (Bryanston & Bath Rugby)
11 Nathan Earle (Oaklands & Saracens)
10 Sam Olver (Oundle School & Northampton Saints)
9 Stuart Townsend (Ivybridge Community College & Exeter Chiefs)
1 Alex Lundberg (Hampton School & London Wasps)
2 Cameron Neild (Manchester Grammar & Sale Sharks)
3 Paul Hill (Prince Henry's Grammar & Leeds Carnegie)
4 Tom Ellis (Millfield & Bath Rugby)
5 Charlie Ewels (Bryanston & Bath Rugby)
6 Hayden Stringer (Oaklands & Saracens)
7 Lewis Ludlow (Hartpury College & Gloucester Rugby)
8 James Chisholm (Brighton College & Harlequins, captain) 

Replacements:

16 Jack Walker (Prince Henry's & Leeds Carnegie) on for Cameron Neild 50 mins
17 Luke Chapman (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs)
18 Ciaran Parker (St Ambrose & Sale Sharks)
19 Josh Peters (Oundle School & Northampton Saints)
20 Ellis Genge (Hartpury College & Bristol Rugby) on for Alex Lundberg 50 mins
21 James Mitchell (Lymm School & Sale Sharks) on for Stuart Townsend 66 mins
22 Will Owen (QE Leicester & Leicester Tigers) on for Lewis Ludlow 57 mins
23 Josh Sharp (Oaklands College & Saracens) on for Sam Olver 63 mins
24 Rory Jennings (Bryanston School & Bath Rugby)
25 Josh Skelcey (Moulton College & Northampton Saints) on for Howard Packman 61 mins
26 Tom Fowlie (St Pauls Catholic College & London Irish) on for Tom Howe 57 mins