England and Wales have named their sides for Tuesday’s Aon U18 International Series clash in Stellenberg, with both sides makes changes after contrasting defeats.
England make eleven changes to their side following a challenging 41-21 defeat to France on Friday, which saw them 31-0 down at the break as they tried to cope with the French physicality. Meanwhile Wales make eight changes after their heartbreaking last-minute defeat to South Africa, 43-40.
The 1.15pm (BST) kick off will be streamed live on S4C online, and is the first of the two round 2 games, with South Africa and France meeting at 3pm. The final round of games takes place on Saturday at SACS, with South Africa hosting England and Wales taking on France.
A number of players will be facing up against school or club mates, not least England’s Sedbergh and Newcastle Falcons full back Will Haydon-Wood, who will be up against schoolmate Carwyn Tuipulotu, who starts at 8 for Wales. Tom Curtis, who will captain the pair at school level next year, is on the England bench.
Hartpury College also have schoolmates in opposition, with Louis Rees-Zammit on the Welsh left wing and Rowan Mullis at loosehead of England. Elsewhere Bristol Bears see Clifton College’s Ioan Lloyd start at full back for Wales with SGS Filton College’s Jack Bates facing his clubmate, he is on the right wing for England.
Bath could see Nahum Merigan and Archie Griffin face each other, Beechen Cliff’s Merigan is on the England bench with Griffin of Marlborough College on the Welsh bench. Leicester Tigers’ Sam Costelow, the Oakham outside half, is on the Welsh bench too, with clubmates James Whitcombe of Woodhouse Grove and George Martin of Brooksby Melton College on the England bench.
In the England side just Wirral Grammar School’s Tom Roebuck and Millfield’s Josh Gillespie keep their place in the backline, though Gillespie switches wings as Bates comes in on the right with Haydon-Wood at full back, while Roebuck moves to the centres from the wing. He is joined there by the exciting Phil Cokanasiga of St Paul’s Catholic College.
At half back Dean Close’s George Barton comes in at fly half with St Ambrose College’s Raffi Quirke coming in at scrum half.
Up front St George’s Weybridge’s Sam Riley comes in at hooker for tour captain Alfie Barbeary, that move sees Wellington College openside Fin Rossiter take over the captaincy for this one.
Either side of Riley are Mullis and Uppingham’s tighthead Jack Hughes, while in the second row the outstanding Whitgift lock George Hammond keeps his place, with Leighton Park’s Chunya Munga joining him.
Combining with Rossiter in the back row are Cheltenham College’s Jack Clement, who holds on to his place in the side at number 8, and Hymers College’s Archie Smeaton, who also has caps for Scotland U18 to his name.
Commenting on his selection and reflecting on Friday’s defeat to France, England Head Coach Steve Bates said:
“I’ve been really impressed with the players since Friday’s opening fixture. They have showed the right level of disappointment that you would think appropriate for a group of young players such as this but they have also shown a great deal of maturity in being able to put it behind them and move on.”
“We did a lot of very good things against the French but there was a difference in physicality which caused us some problems early on. However, once we came to terms with that and settled down we played some good rugby and that is what we have to focus on and continue to make progress in every session and game that we play.”
“The last few days have been about improvement. The squad showed against France some real spirit and courage and I’m expecting that again on Tuesday. This is a very young team, not just in age but playing time together so while this is an international fixture our focus should be on development and progress.”
The captaincy will sit on the Welsh openside too, with Coleg Sir Gar’s Jac Morgan leading the side. He is joined by Tuitpulotu at 8 and Llandovery College’s Oliver White on the blindside, neither of whom started against South Africa.
Teddy Williams and Jac Price retain their places in the second row, as does Cameron Lewis at hooker, but it is an all-new pair of props as Gwendraeth’s Callum Williams and Cymoedd’s Ben Warren both come in.
It is all change at half back row Wales as Bryanston’s Ellis Bevan comes in at scrum half and Gwent’s Evan Lloyd steps in at outside half. Aneurin Owen continues at inside centre, where this time he is paired with Sir Gar’s Osian Knott.
In the back three Ioan Lloyd and Louis Rees-Zammit retain their places, Sir Gar’s Harri Doel, one of a stunning give Sir Gar players in the starting fifteen, comes in on the right wing.
England U18 v Wales U18 – Tuesday 14th August, 13.15 (BST), Stellenberg – Live on S4C online
England U18 XV:
15 Will Haydon-Wood (Sedbergh & Newcastle Falcons)
14 Jack Bates (SGS Filton College & Bristol Bears)
13 Tom Roebuck (Wirral GS & Sale Sharks)
12 Phil Cokanasiga (St Pauls Catholic College & London Irish)
11 Josh Gillespie (Millfield & Northampton Saints)
10 George Barton (Dean Close & Gloucester)
9 Raffi Quirke (St Ambrose College & Sale Sharks)
1 Rowan Mullis (Hartpury College & Gloucester)
2 Sam Riley (St George’s Weybridge & Harlequins)
3 Jack Hughes (Uppingham & Northampton Saints)
4 George Hammond (Whitgift & Harlequins)
5 Chunya Munga (Leighton Park & London Irish)
6 Archie Smeaton (Hymers College & Yorkshire Carnegie)
7 Fin Rossiter (Wellington College & London Irish, captain)
8 Jack Clement (Cheltenham College & Gloucester)
Replacements: 16 Alfie Barbeary (Bloxham & Wasps), 17 James Whitcombe (Woodhouse Grove & Leicester Tigers), 18 Harvey Beaton (Sutton Valence & Saracens), 19 George Martin (Brooksby Melton College & Leicester Tigers), 20 Harry Dugmore (Whitgift & Harlequins), 21 Nahum Merigan (Beechen Cliff & Bath), 22 Callum Pascoe (Gosforth Academy & Newcastle Falcons), 23 Tom Curtis (Sedbergh & Sale Sharks), 24 Josh Hallett (New Hall & Saracens), 25 Louis Lynagh (Hampton & Harlequins), 26 Lennox Anyanwu (Christ’s Hospital & Harlequins).
Wales U18 XV:
15 Ioan Lloyd (Clifton/Bristol/Exiles)
14 Harri Doel (Coleg Sir Gar/Scarlets)
13 Osian Knott (Coleg Sir Gar/Scarlets)
12 Aneurin Owen (Ysgol Gwynllyw/Dragons)
11 Louis Rees-Zammit (Hartpury/Gloucester/Exiles)
10 Evan Lloyd (Coleg Gwent/Dragons)
9 Ellis Bevan (Bryanston/Exiles)
1 Callum Williams (Maes y Gwendraeth/Scarlets)
2 Cameron Lewis (Coleg Sir Gar/Ospreys)
3 Ben Warren (Coleg y Cymoedd/Cardiff Blues)
4 Teddy Williams (Glantaf/Cardiff Blues)
5 Jac Price (Coleg Sir Gar/Scarlets)
6 Oliver White (Llandovery College)
7 Jac Morgan (Coleg Sir Gar/Scarlets, captain)
8 Carwyn Tuipulotu (Sedburgh/Scarlets)
Replacements: 16 Llew Phillips-Taylor (Coleg Sir Gar/Scarlets), 17 Luke Yendle (Newport High/Dragons), 18 Garyn Phillips (Colege Gwent/Dragons), 19 Archie Griffin (Marlborough/Bath/Exiles), 20 Rob Brookson (Coleg Gwent/Dragons), 21 Ioan Davies (Coleg y Cymoedd/Cardiff Blues), 22 Morgan French (Bromsgrove/Worcester/Exiles), 23 Dan Babos (Dragons Academy/Dragons), 24 Sam Costelow (Oakham/Leicester Tigers/Exiles), 25 Ewan Rosser (Coleg Gwent/Dragons), 26 Morgan Richards (Newport High/Dragons), 27 Joe Roberts (Coleg Sir Gar/Scarlets).
Aon U18 International Series Fixtures (all KOs BST):
Friday 10th August – Boland Landbou
England 21-41 France
South Africa Schools 43-40 Wales
Tuesday 14th August – Stellenberg
England v Wales – 1.15pm
South Africa Schools v France – 3pm
Saturday 18th August – SACS
France v Wales – 11.15am
South Africa Schools v England – 1.05pm
