Hunter names Farrell in starting XV to face Scotland

Posted on Mar 9, 2011 in Latest Rugby News

England U20 Head Coach Rob Hunter has named a strong side to face Scotland at Newbury’s Monks Lane on Friday night, kick off 8pm. The most notable inclusions see Aviva Premiership regulars Owen Farrell (Saracens) brought in at 12 while Sale Sharks prop Henry Thomas will start on the bench.

In total there are five personnel changes and one positional alteration to the side that started the 19-8 victory over France in Worcester two weeks ago. Farrell is joined by London Wasps pair Joe Launchbury and Christian Wade at No.4 and No.11 respectively, while Gloucester Rugby scrum half Dan Robson and Harlequins hooker Rob Buchanan also start.

The positional change sees London Irish’s Kieran Low switch from lock to blindside flanker.

London Wasps forward Sam Jones makes his first U20 appearance of the season on the bench, along with London Irish’s flying wing Jonathan Joseph.

Speaking about his match day squad Hunter said: “We’ve made a few changes and it’s nice to have such good competition for places.

“We’re in a good position this week where we have a lot of players available to us, but we have a lot of guys performing well and putting pressure on each other.

“Scotland will be strong, committed, quick and organised. They present a different challenge from the three sides we’ve faced so far and any game against Scotland is huge due to the enormous amount of history and spice between the two nations.”

The England U20 match against Scotland will be live on the Sky Sports 3 red button. Tickets are available on the door at Monks Lane from £12, with children under ten receiving free entry.

England U20 team to face Scotland:

15 Ben Ransom (Saracens)
14 Andy Short (Worcester Warriors)
13 Elliot Daly (London Wasps)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens)
11 Christian Wade (London Wasps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
9 Dan Robson (Gloucester Rugby)
1 Mako Vunipola (Bristol Rugby)
2 Rob Buchanan (Harlequins)
3 Will Collier (Harlequins)
4 Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
5 Charlie Matthews (Harlequins)
6 Kieran Low (Harlequins)
7 Matt Kvesic (Worcester Warriors)
8 Alex Gray (C) (Newcastle Falcons)

Replacements:

16 Koree Britton (Gloucester Rugby)
17 Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks)
18 Sam Jones (London Wasps)
19 Matt Everard (Leicester Tigers)
20 Chris Cook (Bath Rugby)
21 Jamie Elliott (Northampton Saints)
22 Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)

England U18 name side to face France

Posted on Feb 18, 2010 in Rugby News

England Under 18 return to action on Sunday against the only side to have dented their impressive 14-match winning run. England, coached by John Fletcher and Peter Walton, haven’t been beaten in an international at this level since an 11-3 defeat against Australia in Brisbane in 2007.

But France – visitors to Newbury this weekend – edged past them in a training game last season and will threaten all over the field, according to former Newcastle Falcons boss Fletcher.

Fly half George Ford (Rishworth & Leicester Tigers) leads the side at Monks Lane and Fletcher makes seven changes to the team that beat Australian Schools 30-28 at Sale in December.

Injured Dulwich College and Harlequins lock Sam Twomey (knee) and Harrow and London Wasps flanker Billy Vunipola are replaced by George Merrick (Whitgift & Harlequins) and Will Skuse (Bryanston & Bath Rugby) respectively, while props Luke Cowan-Dickie (Truro Coll & Exeter Chiefs) and Anthony Brennan (Twyford CofE & London Wasps) make their first starts.

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