England U20s Team Named for Junior World Championship Final
By Kath June 20 2009
ENGLAND UNDER 20S Team for IRB Toshiba Junior World Championship Final
ENGLAND UNDER 20S Team for IRB Toshiba Junior World Championship Final
ENGLAND UNDER 20s
Team for
IRB Toshiba Junior World Championship Final
ENGLAND U20s coach Mark Mapletoft has backed 18-year-old Saracens hooker Jamie George to deliver against the Junior All Blacks in this Sunday's IRB Toshiba Junior World Championship final in Tokyo (kick off 3pm local, 7am UK time).
Jamie George's promotion from the replacements bench in place of James Clark (London Irish) is the only change to the team that overcame South Africa to secure a second shot at the title against the same opposition.
Mapletoft was posed some serious questions when selecting his final squad. England's 40 - 21 win over South Africa in Wednesday's semi final boosted confidence for the U20s' rerun of last year's final, when England finished runners up to New Zealand. After trailing the Baby Boks 11-9 at half time, England's young players stepped up their semi final second half performance, scoring four tries.
Said Mapletoft, "Jamie is the youngest player in the squad but I know him well from my time with Sarries and I have no doubts that he's very capable of handling the pressure. In some ways there is less pressure on us now we've reached the final that there was in the semis, where you have to overcome the possibility of going out before the final hurdle."
Against the Baby Boks, Mapletoft opted for the physicality of the Exiles' Clark but believes George is perfectly suited to the all round game so typical of New Zealand teams.
"It's a case of horses for courses. James proved he was the right man for the job against the South Africans. But New Zealand are a different challenge and Jamie is well suited to the ball in hand game. The Blacks have been very impressive so far, only conceding two tries all tournament. They have some very good players including wing Zak Guildford and, like the senior team, they do enjoy playing some rugby."
But Mapletoft and assistant coach Martin Haag are confident of meeting the challenge. Their starting lineup reflects the need to come out firing on all cylinders, with strength up front and the creativity and speed to put points on the board.
"People say games are won and lost up front and there's no doubt that we have a strong pack," said Mapletoft. "But you also need a good blend and we've got great half backs, a decent backline, pace out wide and a phenomenal goal kicker, which is a big plus in keeping momentum. Tom Homer averages 87% which is an incredible success rate for a player of his age. When you think that he's had limited top level kicking experience it's quite amazing."
Seven of the 22 were part of last year's tournament and for captain Calum Clark, Ben Youngs, Rob Miller and Luke Eves the match is a chance to avenge last year's 38-3 defeat.
"Guys are only available for this age group for two years. For these guys, especially the four that played against the Kiwis last year, the possibility of reaching - and losing - two finals undoubtedly gives them extra personal motivation. "But this is a team goal as well. It's our number one long term goal and I know all the lads want to give it everything. They've been really conscientious with their recovery and everything is geared up to that first whistle on Sunday.
"We're well prepared, we know what we're doing and we know what they're about. And we know that on the day, the best team will win."
You can watch this Sunday's final, which kicks off at 3pm local time (7am UK time) live and free online at www.irb.com or on Eurosport 2.
ENGLAND UNDER 20S
IRB Toshiba Junior World Championship Final
15 Tom Homer (London Irish)
14 George Lowe (Harlequins)
13 Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby)
12 Luke Eves (Bristol Rugby)
11 Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby)
10 Rory Clegg (Newcastle Falcons)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
1 Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs)
2 Jamie George (Saracens)
3 Bob Baker (London Wasps)
4 Graham Kitchener (Worcester Warriors)
5 James Gaskell (Sale Sharks)
6 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
7 Calum Clark (Leeds Carnegie, captain)
8 Carl Fearns (Sale Sharks)
Replacements
16 James Clark (London Irish)
17 Shaun Knight (Gloucester Rugby)
18 Dan Williams (Gloucester Rugby)
19 Josh Ovens (Bath Rugby)
20 Dave Lewis (Gloucester Rugby)
21 Rob Miller (Newcastle Falcons)
22 Jack Cobden (Leicester Tigers)
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England U20s Team Named for Junior World Championship Final
Posted by: Unofficial England Rugby Union (IP Logged)
Date: 20/06/2009 06:34
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Re: England U20s Team Named for Junior World Championship Final
Posted by: MikeGC (IP Logged)
Date: 20/06/2009 07:55
Re: England U20s Team Named for Junior World Championship Final
Posted by: jbtokyo (IP Logged)
Date: 20/06/2009 13:10
Was privileged to watch them play on Wednesday but they will need to step up their game tomorrow to beat the Kiwis who were truly in a different league.
I'm looking forward to watching them tomorrow and the AU v. SA game for the princely sum of GBP8 - who says Tokyo is expensive?
I'm looking forward to watching them tomorrow and the AU v. SA game for the princely sum of GBP8 - who says Tokyo is expensive?
Re: England U20s Team Named for Junior World Championship Final
Posted by: Rarua (IP Logged)
Date: 21/06/2009 07:52
The game is over at 42-21 with only a few minutes to go but the English team were far better than the score.
All except the inside backs. Man you produce planks to play in the 10 and 12 shirts.
The tight 5 was a walkover to the whites, the back rows were on a par, the Eng scrum half reserve was pretty good but so was the JAB. The 10-12-13 was a complete walkover to the blacks and their 11-14-15 were marginally better than the opposition.
All except the inside backs. Man you produce planks to play in the 10 and 12 shirts.
The tight 5 was a walkover to the whites, the back rows were on a par, the Eng scrum half reserve was pretty good but so was the JAB. The 10-12-13 was a complete walkover to the blacks and their 11-14-15 were marginally better than the opposition.
Re: England U20s Team Named for Junior World Championship Final
Posted by: Rarua (IP Logged)
Date: 21/06/2009 07:56
Actualy, on relection I take back my unkind comments about the 13.
Why do English teams only start to try to run the ball when all is lost?
I think you might get good at it if you tried more often. Your wings seem pretty good most of the time.
Why do English teams only start to try to run the ball when all is lost?
I think you might get good at it if you tried more often. Your wings seem pretty good most of the time.
Re: England U20s Team Named for Junior World Championship Final
Posted by: MikeGC (IP Logged)
Date: 21/06/2009 08:21
Well, if we hadn't persisted with falling off tackles....
Or if we'd scored after being camped on the New Zealand line...
Still, well done the the young lads from New Zealand they played well, and importantly, as a team.
Or if we'd scored after being camped on the New Zealand line...
Still, well done the the young lads from New Zealand they played well, and importantly, as a team.
Re: England U20s Team Named for Junior World Championship Final
Posted by: RFU: Press Release (IP Logged)
Date: 21/06/2009 10:13
England lose out to New Zealand In Junior final
Sunday June 21, 2009
Issued by Nicki Drinkwater
Homer attempts to stop try scoring Robinson
IRB Toshiba Junior World Championship Final
England 28 New Zealand 44
NEW ZEALAND ran in seven tries in an outstanding showcase of 15-man rugby to beat England 44-28 and win the IRB Toshiba Junior World Championship 2009.
The earlier heavy rain at Tokyo's Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium had stopped by the start of the final but conditions were still very slippery underfoot.
But it didn't seem to upset the New Zealanders, whose all around team effort saw them retain the trophy they won last year - though they were made to work very hard by a determined England outfit that never gave up.
"We were beaten by a better team," admitted England coach Mark Mapletoft after the match.
"Overall it was closer than last year and we've certainly made strides in some aspects. To score 28 points was obviously a positive but it was equally disappointing to concede seven tries.
"They were just too clinical for us to get away with slipping off one on one tackles in defence and giving the ball away in attack. When we gave them cheap yards and a sniff of the line, they were over.
"Overall I'd have to say the score was a fair reflection of the two teams but on the plus side, we could have capitulated but didn't. I have to give the boys credit for sticking at it but as hard as we worked we couldn't quite close the gap."
The tone of the match was set early on with the England forwards pushing the New Zealand pack backwards in the mauls, while the Kiwi backs looked very dangerous in broken play and two penalties by full back Tom Homer saw England take an early lead.
It could have been more, with Ben Youngs stripped of the ball by Robbie Robinson as the England scrum half slid over the line in the 11th minute.
Robinson proved to be even more of a thorn in England's side four minutes later when he finished off a good break by Winston Stanley, to go over for the opening try of the final. England responded in the best possible way just a minute later when James Gaskell dived over to make it 11-5 for his second of the tournament.
But it didn't take long though for New Zealand to make it a one-point match again.Stanley was again the creator, the centre's inch perfect kick meant Zac Guildford didn't have to break stride as he re-gathered and sprinted home from 40 metres out.
Aaron Cruden missed the conversion but found the target in the 25th minute with a penalty as New Zealand went in front for the first time.
The score seemed to lift New Zealand and two tries in five minutes by Cruden - both following some great interchanges between forwards and backs - saw the Kiwis put 14 points between the teams.
Homer reduced that to 11 with another well struck penalty and the sides went into the break with New Zealand leading 25-14.
It only took three minutes of the second half for New Zealand to once again break the England defence however, Cruden made a half break and then passed inside to Shaun Treeby, who went over under the posts.
Carl Fearns pulled a try back for England but tenacious New Zealand defence was always going to make it difficult to pull back another 11 points and Guildford's second try of the game in the 59th minute almost put the match out of reach for them.
Brayden Mitchell's five-pointer in the 72nd minute made it impossible and Dave Lewis' try in the 78th minute was nothing more than a consolation effort.
ENGLAND: 15 Tom Homer (London Irish), 14 George Lowe (Harlequins), 13 Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby), 12 Luke Eves (Bristol Rugby), 11 Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby), 10 Rory Clegg (Newcastle Falcons), 9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), 1 Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs), 2 Jamie George (Saracens), 3 Bob Baker (London Wasps), 4 Graham Kitchener (Worcester Warriors), 5 James Gaskell (Sale Sharks), 6 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), 7 Calum Clark (Leeds Carnegie, captain), 8 Carl Fearns (Sale Sharks).
Replacements (all used): 16 James Clark (London Irish), 17 Shaun Knight (Gloucester Rugby), 18 Dan Williams (Gloucester Rugby), 19 Josh Ovens (Bath Rugby), 20 Dave Lewis (Gloucester Rugby), 21 Rob Miller (Newcastle Falcons), 22 Jack Cobden (Leicester Tigers)
Scorers: Tries: Gaskell, Fearns, Lewis, Cons: Homer, Miller, Pens: Homer (3)
NEW ZEALAND: 15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Nafi Tuitavake, 13 Winston Stanley, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Aaron Cruden (captain), 9 Frae Wilson, 1 Willie Ioane Afuvai, 2 Brayden Mitchell, 3 Ma'afu Fia, 4 Alex Ryan, 5 Daniel Faleafa, 6 Brendon O'Connor, 7 Berny Hall, 8 Trent Boswell-Wakefield. Replacements: 16 Shae Tamati, 17 Latu Talakai, 18 Leighton Price, 19 Elliot Dixon, 20 Tom Taylor, 21 Codey Rei, 22 Ken Pisi Siaosi
Scorers: Tries: Robinson, Guildford (2), Cruden (2), Treeby, Mitchell Cons: Cruden (3), Pens: Cruden
Referee: James Jones (Wales)
Sunday June 21, 2009
Issued by Nicki Drinkwater
Homer attempts to stop try scoring Robinson
IRB Toshiba Junior World Championship Final
England 28 New Zealand 44
NEW ZEALAND ran in seven tries in an outstanding showcase of 15-man rugby to beat England 44-28 and win the IRB Toshiba Junior World Championship 2009.
The earlier heavy rain at Tokyo's Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium had stopped by the start of the final but conditions were still very slippery underfoot.
But it didn't seem to upset the New Zealanders, whose all around team effort saw them retain the trophy they won last year - though they were made to work very hard by a determined England outfit that never gave up.
"We were beaten by a better team," admitted England coach Mark Mapletoft after the match.
"Overall it was closer than last year and we've certainly made strides in some aspects. To score 28 points was obviously a positive but it was equally disappointing to concede seven tries.
"They were just too clinical for us to get away with slipping off one on one tackles in defence and giving the ball away in attack. When we gave them cheap yards and a sniff of the line, they were over.
"Overall I'd have to say the score was a fair reflection of the two teams but on the plus side, we could have capitulated but didn't. I have to give the boys credit for sticking at it but as hard as we worked we couldn't quite close the gap."
The tone of the match was set early on with the England forwards pushing the New Zealand pack backwards in the mauls, while the Kiwi backs looked very dangerous in broken play and two penalties by full back Tom Homer saw England take an early lead.
It could have been more, with Ben Youngs stripped of the ball by Robbie Robinson as the England scrum half slid over the line in the 11th minute.
Robinson proved to be even more of a thorn in England's side four minutes later when he finished off a good break by Winston Stanley, to go over for the opening try of the final. England responded in the best possible way just a minute later when James Gaskell dived over to make it 11-5 for his second of the tournament.
But it didn't take long though for New Zealand to make it a one-point match again.Stanley was again the creator, the centre's inch perfect kick meant Zac Guildford didn't have to break stride as he re-gathered and sprinted home from 40 metres out.
Aaron Cruden missed the conversion but found the target in the 25th minute with a penalty as New Zealand went in front for the first time.
The score seemed to lift New Zealand and two tries in five minutes by Cruden - both following some great interchanges between forwards and backs - saw the Kiwis put 14 points between the teams.
Homer reduced that to 11 with another well struck penalty and the sides went into the break with New Zealand leading 25-14.
It only took three minutes of the second half for New Zealand to once again break the England defence however, Cruden made a half break and then passed inside to Shaun Treeby, who went over under the posts.
Carl Fearns pulled a try back for England but tenacious New Zealand defence was always going to make it difficult to pull back another 11 points and Guildford's second try of the game in the 59th minute almost put the match out of reach for them.
Brayden Mitchell's five-pointer in the 72nd minute made it impossible and Dave Lewis' try in the 78th minute was nothing more than a consolation effort.
ENGLAND: 15 Tom Homer (London Irish), 14 George Lowe (Harlequins), 13 Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby), 12 Luke Eves (Bristol Rugby), 11 Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby), 10 Rory Clegg (Newcastle Falcons), 9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), 1 Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs), 2 Jamie George (Saracens), 3 Bob Baker (London Wasps), 4 Graham Kitchener (Worcester Warriors), 5 James Gaskell (Sale Sharks), 6 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), 7 Calum Clark (Leeds Carnegie, captain), 8 Carl Fearns (Sale Sharks).
Replacements (all used): 16 James Clark (London Irish), 17 Shaun Knight (Gloucester Rugby), 18 Dan Williams (Gloucester Rugby), 19 Josh Ovens (Bath Rugby), 20 Dave Lewis (Gloucester Rugby), 21 Rob Miller (Newcastle Falcons), 22 Jack Cobden (Leicester Tigers)
Scorers: Tries: Gaskell, Fearns, Lewis, Cons: Homer, Miller, Pens: Homer (3)
NEW ZEALAND: 15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Nafi Tuitavake, 13 Winston Stanley, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Aaron Cruden (captain), 9 Frae Wilson, 1 Willie Ioane Afuvai, 2 Brayden Mitchell, 3 Ma'afu Fia, 4 Alex Ryan, 5 Daniel Faleafa, 6 Brendon O'Connor, 7 Berny Hall, 8 Trent Boswell-Wakefield. Replacements: 16 Shae Tamati, 17 Latu Talakai, 18 Leighton Price, 19 Elliot Dixon, 20 Tom Taylor, 21 Codey Rei, 22 Ken Pisi Siaosi
Scorers: Tries: Robinson, Guildford (2), Cruden (2), Treeby, Mitchell Cons: Cruden (3), Pens: Cruden
Referee: James Jones (Wales)
Re: England U20s Team Named for Junior World Championship Final
Posted by: PoyntonShark (IP Logged)
Date: 23/06/2009 05:12
Thought Youngs, England's starting 9 was considerably better than his replacement. Agree about 10/12 though pretty ordinary performance. Though I fully exepct the NZ 10, Cruden was it?, to embarrass far bigger reputations than Rory Clegg's in the next couple of years. Anyone know why England refused to use Sharples on the wing? The NZ backs as a unit were far quicker, in thought and deed, than the English, but Sharples looked like the quickest on the park by some margin, yet on several occasions England players (usually forwards) refused to give him the chance at a one on one.
On a sad note, apparently the father of NZ winger Zac Guildford died in the stand whilst watching the game.
We are the angry mob. We read the papers every day. We like who we like, we hate who we hate, but we're also easily swayed.
On a sad note, apparently the father of NZ winger Zac Guildford died in the stand whilst watching the game.
We are the angry mob. We read the papers every day. We like who we like, we hate who we hate, but we're also easily swayed.
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