The ISRFC Lambs have named their side for their final game on their tour of Croatia and Italy, versus Italy U19 B on Tuesday.
It is one of the biggest challenges in the Lambs’ history and looks set to be a physical challenge, but it will be one that the Lambs will meet full of optimism with their fast and free style.
They have won two of their three games on tour so far, a stunning 99-0 win over Croatia U19 kicking things off before and impressive 33-10 win over Regionale Veneto. Circumstances went against them in their third game, v F.R. Prato & Milano, with the game being brought forward 24 hours, and then kick off times getting moved back and forth. They gave a good account of themselves though despite being on the wrong side of things at times, going down 34-21.
That will likely have the Lambs fired up for Tuesday’s 5.30pm kick off (BST) in Rome against the Italy U19 B side, and they have picked a formidable team.
Three players make it four games played out of four on tour, captain and fly half Alfie Orchard of Bedford, Wisbech Grammar School’s Bradley Hutler, selected at number 8 but he has also appeared in the second row, and King’s Macclesfield’s Owen Jones, who is again in the second row but is equally adept at 6.
These three have been in fine form on tour, so too has Felsted’s Tyler Tomlinson. The flanker shows his value to the side after making it three starts in a row. He moves from openside to blindside for this one though to accommodate one of the Lambs’ three vice-captains, Cheltenham College’s Aiden Ali, who starts at 7 having also played at loosehead on tour.
The other two vice-captains, Ampleforth College’s Tom Eyston and Trinity’s John Petty, start at tighthead and loosehead respectively. Completing the front row is the versatile Joe Martin. The Portsmouth Grammar School man, like Tomlinson, shows his importance with a third start on the bounce. He also shows his versatility, having been at loosehead last time out.
Completing the pack is Framlingham College’s Toby Risebrow, he comes back into the side to join Jones in the second row, his third start on tour.
In the backine Wisbech Grammar’s Jack Trundley keeps his place at scrum half, that is his third start there on tour and he is one of six players in the starting fifteen to keep their place from Friday’s loss, Hutler, Tomlinson, Jones, Martin, and his half back partner and captain, Alfie Orchard, being the others.
Stamford’s Byron Van Uden comes back in at 12 having played there against Regionale Veneto, he is partnered by Wisbech Grammar’s try scoring machine Oliver Mann, his first start since Croatia.
In the back three the versatile Tom Walker of Felsted is at full back, he started there against Croatia before moving to 9 against Regionale Veneto. His schoolmate, Piers Martin comes in for his second start on the left wing, with Queen Ethelburga’s Darren Ali-Scott completing the line up on the right wing.
Speaking ahead of the game, the Lambs’ National Director, Alex Laybourne, said:
“The whole squad are thoroughly looking forward to the Italy fixture, and after three games on tour we feel we are in a good place going into the game.”
“During the preparations there has been a focus on controlling the controllable and being more accurate; and if we continue to get better, as we have done each game so far, then we are confident of another excellent performance. We know Italy will be physical and well organised and we are looking forward to the challenge.”
ISRFC Lambs v Italy U18 B – Centre Sportivo Polizia di Stato, Rome, 5.30pm (BST)
Images via Holly Tomlinson
ISRFC Lambs XV:
15 Tom Walker (Felsted), 14 Darren Ali-Scott (Queen Ethelburga’s), 13 Oliver Mann (Wisbech Grammar), 12 Byron Van Uden (Stamford), 11 Piers Martin (Felsted), 10 Alfie Orchard (Bedford, captain), 9 Jack Trundley (Wisbech Grammar), 1 Tom Eyston (Ampleforth College, vc), 2 Joe Martin (Portsmouth Grammar), 3 John Petty (Trinity, vc), 4 Toby Risebrow (Framlingham College), 5 Owen Jones (King’s Macclesfield), 6 Tyler Tomlinson (Felsted), 7 Aiden Ali (Cheltenham College, vc), 8 Bradley Hutler (Wisbech Grammar).
Replacements: 16 Ollie Brown (Shiplake College), 17 Samuel Wright (Rugby), 18 Harrison Stiles (Framlingham College), 19 Henry Reed-Purvis (Bradford Grammar), 20 Tom Watson (Framlingham College), 21 Alex Liley (St Peter’s, York), 22 Elliot Rayment (Royal Hospital School), 23 William Kay (Stockport Grammar), 24 Harry Bureau (Framlingham College).
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 – Lambs 21-34 Centro Do Formazione F.R Prato & Milano
Game 4 – Tuesday 10th April – v Italy U19 B
Return – Wednesday 11th April
