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Captain Jack van Poortvliet one of four Test players in England A side
By Josh Raisey
Leicester Tigers scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet will captain the England A side that will take on Ireland A on Sunday at Bristol’s Ashton Gate Stadium – which is broadcast live on RugbyPass TV.
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The 16-cap international will be joined by his Leicester team-mate Ollie Hassell-Collins and the Northampton Saints duo of Tom Pearson and Curtis Langdon as the senior internationals in the starting XV. Hooker Langdon will also serve as vice-captain.
Nine members of the matchday squad that will run out in Bristol featured in England A’s last outing against Australia A in November at Twickenham Stoop, with the hosts winning 38-17.
Head coach this weekend Lee Blackett emphasised the opportunity that is there for the players this Sunday, as four members of the side that were victorious over Australia A have gone on to represent Steve Borthwick’s senior side, with Tom Willis and Joe Heyes facing Scotland on Saturday at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.
Despite starting twice for England in their Autumn Nations Series campaign, the return of Alex Mitchell in the No.9 jersey this Guinness Six Nations has seen Van Poortvliet shunted out of contention.
However, with a British and Irish Lions tour later this year, Van Poortvliet and his team-mates on Sunday will be aware that there will be openings in Borthwick’s squad for their tour of Argentina in July.
Blackett said: “Players and staff from across the RFU and Premiership Rugby have embraced the challenge of working with three training days and implementing the brand of rugby we want to play. It’s been a pleasure to work with this talented and varied group this week – it’s the kind of test you savour as a coach.
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“Nine of the squad involved against Australia A have since been involved in England senior camps, with four of them going on to achieve further caps. The opportunity in front of players this Sunday is clear.
“It’ll be great to take the Men’s A side to another big rugby city in Bristol following on from Leicester and London in 2024, and we’re all excited for a strong, physical test against Ireland A this weekend.”
England A XV (includes current club, community club and senior men’s caps)
15 Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks, West Park Leeds RUFC)
14 Tobias Elliott (Saracens, Harrow Rugby Club)
13 Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby, Chippenham RFC)
12 Will Butt (Bath Rugby, Wimborne RFC)
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins (Leicester Tigers, Newbury RFC, 2 caps)
10 Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, Oxford RFC)
9 Jack van Poortvliet (c) (Leicester Tigers, North Walsham RFC, 16 caps)
1 Phil Brantingham (Saracens, Northern FC)
2 Curtis Langdon (vc) (Northampton Saints, Hornets Rugby Club, 2 caps)
3 George Kloska (Bristol Bears, St. Brendan’s RFC)
4 Hugh Tizard (Saracens, Guildfordians RFC)
5 Tom Lockett (Northampton Saints, Northampton Saints)
6 Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints, Bromyard Rugby Club, 1 cap)
7 Jack Kenningham (Harlequins, Richmond RFC)
8 Alfie Barbeary (Bath Rugby, Banbury RUFC)
Replacements
16 Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears, Walcot RFC)
17 Tarek Haffar (Northampton Saints, Grasshoppers RFC)
18 Luke Green (Northampton Saints, Richmond RFC)
19 Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs, Taunton Rugby Football Club)
20 Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs, Devonport Services RFC)
21 Will Porter (Harlequins, Amersham and Chiltern RFC)
22 Jamie Shillcock (Leicester Tigers, Southam RUFC)
23 George Hendy (Northampton Saints, Shipston-on-Stour RFC)
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Does this mean Hassell-Collins won’t be eligible for Wales for 3 years? If so, that’s a ridiculous rule that needs changing.
Looks like a decent lineup, although i’m feeling a bit anxious about England’s stocks at lock, as Borthwick only seems to have faith in Itoje, Chessum, and Martin atm. I’d have liked to see Arthur Clark and Joe Owen either in the full England squad, or the A starting XV, and am not fully convinced by Tizard and Lockett.
Raises the question of what the A game is for, surely you want the next players out of the stables in the lineup? Second row a key example really, why not give Coles some minutes if he is next in line and coming back from injury? I get giving youngsters exposure to a degree.
Surprised more guys weren’t released from the main squad. Roebuck as an example hasn’t played any rugby since 19 January due to his main squad involvement. I’m sure Sale fans will thank SB for taking Ford and Roebuck, not releasing them for PRC games or the A games, then sending them back having not played any competitive games for 2 months.