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Six Nations opener sees England U20s hand debuts to 11 starters

(Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)

England age-grade coach Alan Dickens has named a Six Nations team that includes eleven starters making their debut at U20s level. The opening match of the championship is against Scotland in Edinburgh on Friday and No8 Toby Knight, one of the debut-making contingent, will skipper the side.

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Right wing Deago Bailey, outside centre Tom Litchfield, scrum-half Tom Carr-Smith and hooker John Stewart are the four who are featuring in a second U20 Six Nations for the title-holding England who won the tournament with a Grand Slam last year when it was staged entirely in Cardiff.  

Loosehead Mark Dormer and tighthead Mikey Summerfield join previously-capped Stewart in the front row. Alfie Bell and Tom Lockett are named in partnership in the second row.?Alex Wardell starts at blindside with Kofi Cripps at openside.  

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    Louie Johnson will start at fly-half accompanied by Ethan Grayson at inside centre. Ollie Dawkins plays on the left wing with Henry Arundell at full-back, rounding off the debutants. 

    Dickens said: “We have had a really great start to our training week and the attitude and commitment from the lads has been outstanding. On Tuesday we had a joint session with Oxford University following our game against them in mid-January.   

    “It is helpful to be able to incorporate that into our preparation for the Six Nations. Scotland will be a tough side to face but the boys have put in quality preparation and we are looking forward to getting out on the pitch in Edinburgh. 

    “For many of the players this game will be their first Six Nations experience and that will be a very special moment; I want them to remember?that on Friday night and savour the occasion.” 

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    ENGLAND U20s (vs Scotland, Friday)
    15. Henry Arundell (London Irish, Caps 0)
    14. Deago Bailey (Bristol Bears, Caps 3)
    13. Tom Litchfield (Northampton Saints, Caps 2)
    12. Ethan Grayson (Northampton Saints, Caps 0)
    11. Ollie Dawkins (Wasps, Caps 0)
    10. Louie Johnson (Newcastle Falcons, Caps 0)
    9. Tom Carr-Smith (Bath Rugby, Caps 2)
    1. Mark Dormer (Newcastle Falcons, Caps 0)
    2. John Stewart (Bath Rugby, Caps 1)
    3. Mikey Summerfield (London Irish, Caps 0)
    4. Alfie Bell (Wasps, Caps 0)
    5. Tom Lockett (Northampton Saints, Caps 0)
    6. Alex Wardell (Saracens, Caps 0)
    7. Kofi Cripps (Wasps, Caps 0)
    8. Toby Knight (Saracens, Caps 0) – Captain

    Replacements:
    16. Jasper Spandler (Bath Rugby, Caps 0)
    17. Will Hobson (Harlequins, Caps 0)
    18. Robin Hardwick (Wasps, Caps 0)
    19. Charlie Rice (Bristol Bears, Caps 0)
    20. Greg Fisilau (Wasps, Caps 0)
    21. Matty Jones (Gloucester Rugby, Caps 0)
    22. Jamie Benson (Harlequins, Caps 0)
    23. George Hendy (Northampton Saints, Caps 0)

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    Comments on RugbyPass

    J
    JW 20 minutes ago
    Andy Goode: Aussie comments didn't cover them in glory

    Yes I was happy with the refs ruling of arrival (and that the tackled player wasn’t obligated to release the ball immediately) but if you see the wide angle you can note how Morgan dives to get there in time.


    I don’t mind your (or the refs) view, but what Morgan said is accurate. Both Mils and Beaver agreed on the breakdown, and you will also get the same view from Aotearoa Rugby Pod guys for a pretty unanimous NZ view.

    Sometimes when both players are low its a rugby collision and this is one of those times.

    Not recently. In the SR finals and AB v Arg series weve seen players clearly bent 90 at the waist still be penalised, only when the attacker does something the ref sees immediate mitigation and rules a rugby incident. Tizzano didn’t offer that he was always in the position Morgan aimed to collect him in.


    Happy to not throw the rule book at these situations but the precent is that they are in these situations.

    many tries out wide the player is allowed to be tackled while diving

    They are diving for the line, not to avoid being tackled.

    “In principle, in a try scoring situation, if the action is deemed to be a dive forward for a try, then it should be permitted. If a player is deemed to have left the ground to avoid a tackle; or to jump, or hurdle a potential tackler, then this is dangerous play and should be sanctioned accordingly.”

    You can read Nicks article for an updated discourse on this though.

    30 Go to comments
    J
    JW 58 minutes ago
    New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

    But he was wrong, he had to take back what he said. But maybe this only happened because he came out and was honest with his initial plans?


    He’s simply in a position where he should be far more professional.


    I don’t really follow much media, especially SM, but again, I’ve not seen anyone complaining. Plenty of ridicule and pointing out things like it being disrespectful to the game, but as far as the English language goes, that’s not complaining. Nick Bishop for instance hasn’t been complaining, he’s simply saying Galthie made a bad decision for France’s prospects (which when the common reply is ‘thats how it is’).


    Complaining would be views expressing that the FFR should have put the tour back a week so that all T14 finalists could attend. Complaining would be saying they’ve been robbed of seeing the worlds best stars. Complaining would be saying players can simply take extra weeks off from T14. I’ve only seen advice and suggestions that these are things France need to look-at-for-the-future.


    Basically I tried to communicate with French fans because they don’t understand what’s being communicated. ALL reactions I have seen shared here by French supports have all seemed way over the top compared what I’ve seen expressed about this tour.

    the players are expected to play in too many matches, for too many minutes, and need more rest and recovery time.

    This is the message I have been sharing. So something needs to happen, whether thats France pull out of more Internationals or rest players from more domestic games, who knows, but I also don’t think what they have now is working. It’s obviously much better than 3-4 years ago, but they appear to want to work even harder at it like you say. Personally I’ve only seen LNR be reasonable, I hear much less of their other internationals being denied/influenced not to play, so I imagine that they will give even further (as I can’t really see France pulling out the other international windows as well).

    147 Go to comments
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