The England U18 side to face South Africa Schools A in their second game on tour tomorrow (Tuesday) has been named.
Head Coach John Fletcher makes ten changes to the side that lost to France on Friday, 23-18. There is also a positional switch for London Irish & Wellington College’s Tom Parton, who moves from the right wing to fly half.
He is partnered at half back by Gresham’s Harry Simmonds, who is one of five fresh faces in the backline. Tour skipper Gabriel Ibitoye of Trinity School comes in at full back, with Bushe Academy’s Joe Cokanasiga coming into the right wing slot vacated by his London Irish teammate, Parton.
It is another London Irish man who starts on the left wing, Wellington College’s Ben Loader getting a start after being on the bench for Friday’s game. The final change in the backline sees New Hall’s Oli Morris come in for Wellington College’s Matt Williams at outside centre, while Jacob Umaga retains his place at inside centre.
In the forward pack Friday’s skipper Josh Bayliss of Millfield and Bath keeps his place at blindside flanker, but the rest of the back row trio is new. Sedbergh’s Sam Moore comes in for Tom Willis at number 8, while his Sale Sharks teammate, Ben Curry of Oundle, replaces twin brother Tom Curry at openside.
In the second row Newcastle Falcons’ Josh Williams keeps his place but Cranleigh’s Dino Lamb-Cona is his new partner, replacing Ted Hill for this game.
Jamie Blamire of Gosforth Academy starts again at hooker, but with two new props either side of him in the form of Wasps’ Jarod Leat at loosehead and Felsted’s Ehren Painter at tighthead.
Commenting on the various changes to the side, Fletcher said to www.englandrugby.com:
“The changes were about giving everyone the opportunity to start so that’s what we’ve done in the opening two games, what we’ve been trying to work on in training is building connections between players. We’ve been doing a lot of scenario-based stuff such as being eight points down or they need a drop goal to win the game or we need to score out wide. The players are building an awareness with each other.”
“The lads are having a great time. Our aim is to come to this beautiful country and see them enjoy themselves on and off the pitch.”
The game kicks of at 13.30 BST, after which the team will begin preparations for their final game of the tour, against South Africa Schools on Saturday 20th August.
England U18 v South Africa Schools A: Tomorrow, 13.30
15 Gabriel Ibitoye (Trinity & Harlequins)
14 Joe Cokanasiga (Bushe Academy & London Irish)
13 Oli Morris (New Hall & Saracens)
12 Jacob Umaga (Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I College & Wasps)
11 Ben Loader (Wellington College & London Irish)
10 Tom Parton (Wellington College & London Irish)
9 Harry Simmons (Gresham’s & Leicester Tigers)
1 Jarod Leat (St Paul’s Catholic College & Wasps)
2 Jamie Blamire (Gosforth Academy & Newcastle Falcons)
3 Ehren Painter (Felsted & Northampton Saints)
4 Dino Lamb-Cona (Cranleigh & Harlequins)
5 Josh Williams (Hartlepool 6th form College & Newcastle Falcons)
6 Josh Bayliss (Millfield & Bath)
7 Ben Curry (Oundle & Sale Sharks)
8 Sam Moore (Sedbergh & Sale Sharks)
Replacements:
16 Henry Walker (Bromsgrove & Gloucester)
17 Alex Seville (Hartpury College & Gloucester)
18 Ciaran Knight (St Peter’s, Gloucester & Gloucester)
19 Ted Hill (Worcester 6th form College & Worcester Warriors)
20 Tom Curry (Oundle & Sale Sharks)
21 Tom Willis (Henley College & Wasps)
22 Rory Brand (Wellington College & London Irish)
23 James Grayson (Moulton College & Northampton Saints)
24 Ali Crossdale (Sedbergh & Saracens)
25 Matt Williams (Wellington College & London Irish)
26 Levi Davis (Denstone College & Unattached)
Schedule:
England U18 18-23 France U18
England U18 v South Africa Schools A – Tuesday 16th August, 13.30
England U18 v South Africa Schools – Saturday 20th August, 13.15
