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5 capped players in England A squad v Australia A
By Jon Newcombe
Northampton’s Fraser Dingwall will captain England A against Australia A at the Twickenham Stoop on Sunday as one of four capped players in the starting XV and five in total.
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Dingwall, who made two Test appearances in the 2024 Guinness Six Nations, is joined by back row duo, Northampton teammate Tom Pearson and Saracens’ in-form No.8 Tom Willis, along with Leicester tight-head Joe Heyes. Heyes, 25, has as many caps (four) as the other three between them.
The other capped player is Saints hooker Curtis Langdon, who sits on the bench as back-up to exciting Bristol talent, Gabriel Oghre.
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The backline features the Gallagher Premiership Player of the Month for October, Gabriel Ibitoye, and scrum-half Will Porter, who has just penned a new deal with Harlequins. Harlequins are also represented in the backline by Cadan Murley and Oscar Beard.
2024 World Rugby U20 Championship winners Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Henry Pollock are awarded their first Men A starts, with the Sale Sharks prop recently joining the squad after training with Steve Borthwick’s senior men.
Head coach Mark Mapletoft said: “I’d like to thank Conor [O’Shea], Steve [Borthwick] and all the support staff for their incredible effort in the build-up to what promises to be a fantastic occasion at The Stoop. Collaboration across the pathway, senior men’s and women’s teams has been vital in our processes so far.
“We want the players to seize the opportunity this Sunday, their cohesion and unity in such a short period has been pleasing.
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“We have a mix of younger talent, Premiership-quality players and those capped at Test level too – it’s a unique blend that ultimately creates a driven environment, and we’re confident that will show this Sunday.”
England Men A side to face Australia A (includes current club and senior caps)
15 Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks)
14 Cadan Murley (Harlequins)
13 Oscar Beard (Harlequins)
12 Fraser Dingwall (c) (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
11 Gabriel Ibitoye (Bristol Bears)
10 Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby)
9 Will Porter (Harlequins)
1 Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)
2 Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears)
3 Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
4 Hugh Tizard (Saracens)
5 Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby)
6 Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
7 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints)
8 Tom Willis (Saracens, 1 cap)
Replacements
16 Curtis Langdon (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
17 Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton Saints)
18 Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester Rugby)
19 Rusi Tuima (Exeter Chiefs)
20 Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
21 Archie McParland (Northampton Saints)
22 Jamie Shillcock (Leicester Tigers)
23 Will Muir (Bath Rugby)
Tickets start from only £25 for adults & £15 for kids (U16)* for England Men A’s meeting against Australia A. Click here to secure your place at the Twickenham Stoop.
(*booking fees apply)
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Underhill and Tom Curry were dubbed "the kamikaze twins". Pollock and Pearson could be just "the twins".
Their mum was in labour for 6 years?
Surprised Paul Brampton Brown isn't in there. I'm not sure why they insist on stringing Cadan Murley along, they're never going to pick him for England.
they probablt didn't select him because he doesn't exist
there is a rugby player called Paul Brown-Bampoe, but I reckon he'll be behind George Hendy and Tobias Elliott in the pecking order. I'd have loved one of those to be picked ahead of the zionist on the left wing.