What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Crowley names squad to face Saxons
Thursday June 16, 2011
Issued by Nicol McClelland

Kieran Crowley knows England Saxons present a tough challenge for the Canadians (C) Martin Bennett


Rugby Canada head coach Kieran Crowley knows his team faces a tough task to defeat England Saxons in the Churchill Cup final on Saturday (1630)

And while injury and unavailability have limited some of his selection options, Crowley has picked a mix of muscle up front and experience out back which he hopes will get the job done at Sixways Stadium.

The squad to face the Saxons features eight players from the starting line-up that defeated Russia 34-18 and twelve starters from Canada's 26-12 win over Italy A.

“It's the best squad available to us and it's a matter of managing the players we have,” Crowley said. “They're ready to go. If we can match them around the set piece I believe we'll be right in this game.”

The Saxons enter the game as favourites, having lifted the trophy five times in the last nine years, and Crowley knows their forward pack will be the launching pad for their attack.

“That is a massive challenge on Saturday,” he said. “England base a lot of their game around their scrum and they've scored four penalty tries in their first two games. We've got to work as a unit. We'll be up against a strong pack.”

Having said that, Crowley felt the Canadian forward pack handled itself well against Italy A and has named almost an identical line-up from one through eight, with the exception of the addition of Jamie Cudmore.

The front row sees the return of captain Pat Riordan to the starting lineup, bolstered by props Hubert Buydens and Jason Marshall.

Crowley gave praise to the front row, saying they were the men for the job.

“It's good to have the experience of Riordan back in the starting lineup,” he said. “Marshall has come on in leaps and bounds and Buydens has been one of the most improved players of the tournament.”

Erichsen returns to the starting second row after being left out of the squad against Russia and is joined by Cudmore, who returned to the Canadian jersey last week for the first since 2007.

Not surprisingly, the back row of Jebb Sinclair, Chauncey O'Toole and Aaron Carpenter retain their starting jerseys, as they have in all of their team's games this tournament.

The only forward in the squad unavailable for selection is Ryan Hamilton, who has been rested due too a strained knee ligament.

In the backs, both wing Justin Mensah-Coker and scrum half Ed Fairhurst have had to return home due to work commitments.

With that in mind, Sean White will return to the starting scrum half position, pairing with Ander Monro at fly half.

The remainder of the back line has been rejigged by Crowley, who feels added experience was necessary to deal with the impending threats from the Saxons.

For this reason, the centres pairing has changed back to Phil Mackenzie and Ryan Smith.

Crowley said he enjoyed the dynamic centres pairing of Conor Trainor and Mike Scholz, but that Mackenzie and Smith were better fits for Saturday's game.

“The other two have done really well, but we feel with the way the English play, Smith and Mackenzie will handle it better,” he said. “Both Conor and Scholz are inexperienced. Smith and Mackenzie bring a few more assets at this level, but on the other hand Scholz and Trainor create things.”

Meanwhile, the back three sees James Pritchard moved to the wing, Ciaran Hearn on the other wing and Matt Evans at fullback.

“We're looking for our wingers to have more involvement,” Crowley said of the change. “Matt's a very good counter attacker and James has played both fullback and wing. Hearn's been playing well. He's really having a go and hopefully he gets an opportunity to show that.”

On the bench Crowley has opted for four forwards and three backs.

Andrew Tiedemann, Scott Franklin, Tyler Hotson and Nanyak Dala make up the forward replacements, while Jamie Mackenzie has been brought into the squad to back up the scrum half position, a fit Nathan Hirayama is in to bolster fly-half and Conor Trainor takes up the last bench spot.

As well as being a rematch of last year's Churchill Cup final and an opportunity for Canada to win the tournament for the first time, Crowley said Saturday's game will be a good indication of how well the team is building toward the Rugby World Cup in September.

“I think we've made massive strides in the level of our performances,” he said. “This game is going to be the biggest measurement in terms of where we are for the World Cup.”

Churchill Cup finals, Saturday June 18, Sixways.

Bowl final: USA v Russia 1200
Plate final: Tonga v Italy A 1415
Cup final: England Saxons v Canada 1630

Canada

1. Hubert Buydens
2. Pat Riordan (Captain)
3. Jason Marshall
4. Brian Erichsen
5. Jamie Cudmore
6. Jebb Sinclair
7. Chauncey O'Toole
8. Aaron Carpenter
9. Sean White
10. Ander Monro
11. James Pritchard
12. Ryan Smith
13. Phil Mackenzie
14. Ciaran Hearn
15. Matt Evans

Replacements
16. Andrew Tiedemann
17. Scott Franklin
18. Tyler Hotson
19. Nanyak Dala
20. Jamie Mackenzie
21. Nathan Hirayama
22. Conor Trainor

RFU Podcast on Stevens, Saxons and the Junior World Championship
Thursday June 16, 2011
Issued by Simon Mills


THIS WEEK’S RFU Podcast reports from inside the England Saxons camp - where Matt Stevens is preparing for the Churchill Cup final against Canada - and from the England Under 20 players at the IRB Junior World Championship in Italy.

Stevens, an Aviva Premiership winner with Saracens this season, helped the Saxons demolish the Tonga scrum and earn three penalty tries in last weekend’s 41-14 victory.

But as well as singing the praises of his tight five teammates, he chooses to highlight the young backline that will be the Saxons’ cutting edge.

“We’re very lucky because we have some experience in the likes of Topsy Ojo but also some real bright sparks. [Gloucester centre] Henry Trinder has played superbly and we’ve got a bit of dynamism there. I’m hoping for another big performance and for people to keep on putting their hands up for England.”

We also hear from two of the Saxons young guns - Leicester Tigers centre Billy Twelvetrees and Worcester Warriors lock Graham Kitchener.

Another Worcester player – flanker Matt Kvesic – led England U20 to their 39-18 win against Scotland in round two of the Junior World Championship.

Kvesic, hat-trick hero Christian Wade (London Wasps) and Owen Farrell (Saracens) all give their assessment of the performance and look forward to Saturday’s group decider against South Africa in Padova.

For the full interviews, check out today's RFU Podcast. Here you can listen to the weekly podcast or subscribe to itunes and have it delivered straight to your inbox each week.

The RFU Podcast takes you inside English rugby from the grassroots to the elite.

RFU Podcast Here

Rugby School welcomes Canada and Italy A ahead of Churchill Cup finals
Thursday June 16, 2011
Issued by Nicol McClelland


Rugby Canada train at Rugby School, Warwickshire. (C) Martin Bennett

Note to editors: rights free images are available by contacting 'nicolmcclelland@rfu.com'

CHURCHILL CUP finalists Rugby Canada were treated to a training session in the glorious surrounding of Rugby School on Tuesday as they prepared for their crunch game against England Saxons on Saturday.

Following wins over Italy A and Russia – both of whom inspired late fight backs to push the Canadians all the way – the men of North America will face title holders and strong favourites to lift the trophy for the sixth time, England Saxons.

But as fullback and Bedford Blues player James Pritchard said, the Canadians have every reason to believe in a win come Saturday, saying:

"The big thing is ball possession, I think that if we can get enough of the ball and maintain it, and cut down on our mistakes, we are in with a real chance.

“We've watched the other two games they've played in, and the Saxons had the majority of the ball and they are very hard to stop in attack, so we feel if we can keep hold of the ball, and go through the phases, cut down on our mistakes, we can give them a real game."

In a change to their normal training surroundings at Broadstreet, Coventry, Rugby Canada ran out into the magnificent setting of Rugby School – the birthplace of the sport – on a sundrenched Tuesday afternoon. Following a lengthy training session, Jamie Cudmore, Phil Mckenzie and Pritchard were offered a tour of the grounds from Sports Director Simon Brown, who delved into the history of the 400 year-old school.

Brown commented:

“On behalf of Rugby School, we were delighted to welcome Rugby Canada here. The school has a long and rich history of rugby union and we are always more than willing to welcome sides from elsewhere around the world.

“I would like to thank all three players from Canada Rugby for the interest they showed in the school and particularly for conversing with the students during lunch – I’m sure that was an experience they won’t forget. I'd also like to wish them the best of luck for this coming Saturday.”

Not ones to miss out on the action, Italy A were also welcomed to the school where Andrea Bacchetti, Nicola Bellardo and Andrea Manici led a skills session before organising a game of touch rugby. Students were treated to personal tutoring from the Italy A threesome and as Brown commented, it was a hugely beneficial experience.

“I can’t say enough about the players from Italy A. They got stuck in straight away with the students and ensured they each came away having learnt something. Not only that, but they all appeared to be having a great time; players and students alike!”

Churchill Cup finals, Saturday June 18, Sixways.

Bowl final: USA v Russia 1200
Plate final: Tonga v Italy A 1415
Cup final: England Saxons v Canada 1630

England Saxons lock ready for Sixways finale


England Saxons lock Graham Kitchener

Graham Kitchener insists there is no chance of England Saxons taking their eye off the ball in the build-up to Saturday's Churchill Cup final against Canada.

The 21-year-old lock will be making his final appearance at Sixways as a Worcester Warriors player before joining Leicester Tigers this summer.

He starts alongside Mouritz Botha (Saracens) in the second row as the Saxons defend their title following impressive wins against the USA (87-8) and Tonga (41-14).

The match is a replay of last summer's final in Harrison, New Jersey, won 38-18 by the Saxons thanks to tries from Alex Goode (Saracens), Jon Clarke (Northampton Saints), Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby) and Luke Narraway (Gloucester Rugby). Kitchener and Goode are the only survivors from the squad that day on duty at Worcester.

Since then Canada - ranked No.15 in the world - have continued improving, outplaying Italy A (26-12) and Russia (34-18) to reach this year's final and won't be underestimated.

"There's no chance of us relaxing at all," said Kitchener, who takes over from the injured David Attwood.

"We've reviewed each game, this weekend is a new one and you're only as good as your next game. We've seen Canada play pretty well and to beat Italy A in the way they did that means we won't take them for granted.

"It's been a very positive tournament for us. We came into it not knowing what to expect from the two teams in our group - especially Tonga - but we've beaten them well and as a squad despite the short amount of time together we've bonded together and gelled pretty well.

"It's bad luck for David Attwood to be injured but I need to take my opportunities and I'm excited and ready to play. I've been on the bench and now I want to be on the pitch and playing, especially at Worcester.

"It'll be good to go back there, get a start and win the Churchill Cup. I'd like to think that I'd get a warm welcome.

"Sixways has been a special place for me for the last three years. I'm really looking forward to being back and I hope people are looking forward to seeing me."