England have named their side for the final game of their U18 tour of South Africa, against South Africa Schools.
Having lost their first two games on tour, 23-18 to France and 53-14 to South Africa Schools A, Saturday’s 13.15 kick off is a final chance for the young men in white to secure victory.
Head Coach John Fletcher has made eight changes in personnel, as well as two positional changes, with Harlequins and Cranleigh’s Dino Lamb-Cona moving from the second row to blindside flanker and clubmate and captain Gabriel Ibitoye of Trinity moving from full back to the left wing.
Despite the number of changes, there are four players in the side who are making their third start, therefore starting in every game. In the forward pack the Newcastle Falcons duo of Jamie Blamire (Gosforth Academy) at hooker and Josh Williams (Hartlepool 6th form College) at lock are both making their third starts.
Wellington College and London Irish star Tom Parton makes his third start of the tour, he is again at fly half, as he was earlier in the week, after starting the first game of the tour on the wing. Outside him at inside centre is Jacob Umaga of Wasps and Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I College, his third start in the same position.
Joining him in the centres is Parton’s club and schoolmate Matt Williams, who replaces Oli Morris at outside centre for his second start of the tour. Yet another Wellington College and London Irish player, scrum half Rory Brand, also comes back in. He replaces Harry Simmons for his second start from the three games.
In the pack Gloucester pair Alex Seville (Hartpury College) and Ciaran Knight (St Peter’s Gloucester) replace Jarod Leat and Ehren Painter either side of hooker Blamire.
Williams’ second row partnership from the French test is resumed as Worcester’s Ted Hill comes back in, with Dino Lamb-Cona moving to six in place of Millfield and Bath’s Josh Bayliss. Tom Curry gets his second start at openside, the Oundle and Sale Sharks man replaces his twin brother Ben, while Henley College and Wasps number 8 Tom Willis also gets a second start, coming in for clubmate Sam Moore of Sedbergh.
The game is likely to be the toughest of the tour, but having played two games and had plenty of training time, England are likely to step up form their first two performances. Improving was a big theme as John Flether spoke to www.englandrugby.com saying:
“Our main concern is to make sure the players improve on this tour, we’ve reassessed the squad and we’re giving opportunities to all of the players with us on the tour. The boys are always positive and they have good reason to be. The score against the first South African side wasn’t a true reflection on the game, it was a tough physical battle but they were more clinical than us.”
“The South African’s have improved a lot since we last played them, they’re more fluent on the ball. It’ll be another exciting test for us.”
Wales, meanwhile, are also on tour. They lost 23-17 to South Africa Schools in their first game but stormed back earlier in the week to beat Italy 41-18. They now face South Africa Schools A tomorrow in their final game, the side that beat England 53-14 in midweek.
Wales Head Coach Geraint Lewis has selected four English based players in his starting line up for the game, with Wellington College’s Dylan Moss starting at outside centre, Sedbergh’s James Botham at blindside flanker, and the Hartpury College duo of Jordan Liney and Morgan Morris starting at hooker and number 8 respectively. Solihull’s Will Talbot-Davies is on the bench.
England U18 XV v South Africa Schools – Saturday, 13.15
15 Ali Crossdale (Sedbergh & Saracens)
14 Joe Cokanasiga (Bushe Academy & London Irish)
13 Matt Williams (Wellington College & London Irish)
12 Jacob Umaga (Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I College & Wasps)
11 Gabriel Ibitoye (Trinity & Harlequins)
10 Tom Parton (Wellington College & London Irish)
9 Rory Brand (Wellington College & London Irish)
1 Alex Seville (Hartpury College & Gloucester)
2 Jamie Blamire (Gosforth Academy & Newcastle Falcons)
3 Ciaran Knight (St Peter’s, Gloucester & Gloucester)
4 Ted Hill (Worcester 6th form College & Worcester Warriors)
5 Josh Williams (Hartlepool 6th form College & Newcastle Falcons)
6 Dino Lamb-Cona (Cranleigh & Harlequins)
7 Tom Curry (Oundle & Sale Sharks)
8 Tom Willis (Henley College & Wasps)
Replacements:
16 Henry Walker (Bromsgrove & Gloucester)
17 Jarod Leat (St Paul’s Catholic College & Wasps)
18 Ehren Painter (Felsted & Northampton Saints)
19 Sam Moore (Sedbergh & Sale Sharks)
20 Josh Bayliss (Millfield & Bath)
21 Ben Curry (Oundle & Sale Sharks)
22 Harry Simmons (Gresham’s & Leicester Tigers)
23 James Grayson (Moulton College & Northampton Saints)
24 Oli Morris (New Hall & Saracens)
25 Ben Loader (Wellington College & London Irish)
26 Levi Davis (Denstone College & Unattached)
Wales U18 XV v South Africa Schools A
15 Jared Rosser
14 Joe Goodchild
13 Dylan Moss
12 Cameron Lewis
11 Corey Baldwin
10 Ben Jones
9 Dane Blacker
1 Tom Mably
2 Jordan Liney
3 Christian Coleman
4 James Ratti
5 Callum Bradbury
6 James Botham
7 Joe Thomas
8 Morgan Morris
Replacements:
16 Corrie Tarrant
17 Rhys Carre
18 Harri Dobbs
19 Max Williams
20 Will Griffiths
21 Will Jones
22 Will Talbot-Davies
23 Owain Leonard
24 Phil Jones
25 Ben Thomas
26 Ryan Conbeer
27 Connor Lewis
Schedule:
England U18 18-23 France U18
England U18 14-53 South Africa Schools A
England U18 v South Africa Schools – Saturday 20th August, 13.15
Italy 23-20 South Africa Schools A
Wales 17-23 South Africa Schools
Wales 41-18 Italy
South Africa Schools 42-3 France U18
Wales U18 v South Africa Schools A – Saturday 20th August
Italy U18 v France U18 – Saturday 20th August