The ISRFC Lambs have made six changes to the side that beat Regionale Veneto for Friday’s game against Centro Do Formazione FR Prato & Milano.
Just 48 hours after Wednesday’s win, the Lambs have been devoting plenty of time to recovery as they look to maintain their unbeaten record on their tour of Croatia and Italy, having also beaten Croatia U19 99-0. A win here would set them up for Tuesday’s game against Italy U19 B perfectly.
Three players in the Lambs side start their third game of the three of tour, captain and fly half Alfie Orchard of Bedford, King’s Macclesfield’s Owen Jones, and Wisbech Grammar School’s Bradley Hutler, man of the match last time out.
Oddly though, it will be the first time that Jones and Hutler have partnered each other in the second row on tour. Hutler started at number 8 last time out, while in the opener Jones was on the blindside flank. Against Prato & Milano, both are in the engine room.
Hutler’s back row partners on Wednesday, Framlingham College’s Harrison Stiles and Feslted’s Tyler Tomlinson, are again at six and seven respectively, with Bradford Grammar’s Henry Reed-Purvis coming back in at number 8 having started in the tour opener.
In the front row Rugby’s Samuel Wright keeps his place at tighthead, while Portsmouth Grammar School’s Joe Martin shows his versatility, moving from hooker to loosehead, with Shiplake College’s Ollie Brown coming in at hooker, where he started against Croatia.
Partnering Orchard at half back is Wisbech Grammar School’s Jack Trundley, who started there in the tour opener. Meanwhile in the centre’s Royal Hospital School’s Elliot Rayment is retained at outside centre, while St Peter’s York’s Alex Liley comes back in at inside centre after sitting out Wednesday’s encounter.
Framlingham College’s Harry Bureau is at full back for the second game in a row, his schoolmate Tom Watson also starts for the second time in succession, he switches from the right wing to the left, with Stockport Grammar School’s William Kay coming in on the left wing for his second start, having started against Croatia too.
It has been a more relaxed couple of days from the Lambs as they have aimed to recover with the quick turnaround. A trip to the Ferrari factory at Maranello proved popular, while on Thursday afternoon they enjoyed a fun session with the minis and junior sections at Valdinievole RFC after their team run.
Looking ahead to the fixture, Lambs National Director Alex Laybourne said:
“After a tight turnaround from game 2 to 3 there are some aching bodies ahead of today’s fixture!”
“After some recovery work and a light team run this morning we are confident of going up another gear and the Leadership team have added in some extra detail ahead of tonight. The execution of the philosophy is getting better every game and we are pleased with how the group have come together.”
ISRFC Lambs v Centro Do Formazione FIT Prato & Milano – Friday, 4pm (BST), Stadi Chersoni
ISRFC Lambs XV:
15 Harry Bureau (Framlingham College), 14 William Kay (Stockport Grammar), 13 Elliot Rayment (Royal Hospital School), 12 Alex Liley (St Peter’s, York), 11 Tom Watson (Framlingham College), 10 Alfie Orchard (Bedford, captain), 9 Jack Trundley (Wisbech Grammar), 1 Joe Martin (Portsmouth Grammar), 2 Ollie Brown (Shiplake College), 3 Samuel Wright (Rugby), 4 Bradley Hutler (Wisbech Grammar), 5 Owen Jones (King’s Macclesfield), 6 Harrison Stiles (Framlingham College), 7 Tyler Tomlinson (Felsted), 8 Henry Reed-Purvis (Bradford Grammar).
Replacements: 16 Tom Eyston (Ampleforth College, vc), 17 John Petty (Trinity, vc), 18 Toby Risebrow (Framlingham College), 19 Aiden Ali (Cheltenham College, vc), 20 Piers Martin (Felsted), 21 Byron Van Uden (Stamford), 22 Oliver Mann (Wisbech Grammar), 23 Darren Ali-Scott (Queen Ethelburga’s), 24 Tom Walker (Felsted).
ISRFC Lambs U18 Tour Schedule:
Depart – Friday 30th March
Game 1 – Sunday 1st April – Lambs 99-0 Croatia U19
Game 2 – Wednesday 4th April – Lambs 33-10 Regionale Veneto U18
Game 3 – Friday 6th April – v Centro Do Formazione F.R Prato & Milano
Game 4 – Tuesday 10th April – v Italy U19 B
Return – Wednesday 11th April
