Under 20s

[Epaminondas Pules]

First game and a lot of lads new to u20 so it was a bit scratchy at times.
When this side settles down and gets one or two of their better players back they could be very good.
Impressed with Lockett up front. Grayson looked sharp, Hendy good off the bench but Arundell looked something very special.

Yep, spot on. Thought Summerfield showed up well as did Kripps.

Grayson just looked like he had more time than anyone else, and yeah Arundel looked like he’d taken how he was above everyone else from school level to U20’s. In a very good Harrow team he was just another level to everyone else and looked similar last night.

My big worry is still SH and last night do nothing to calm those worries.

[WaspInWales]

Some lovely tries scored too!

[whatisthejava]

I was at the game, your 12 and 15 were class but your wing did the exact same thing as LCD and didn’t even get penalized.

Our centres couldn’t tackle a supper

[p/d]

Arundell the FB.

Bloody hell!!!

[Epaminondas Pules]

Arundel's stats are quite frightening. 5 carries for 208 metres, 3 clean breaks, 9 defenders beaten, 2 try assists, 1 try scored. Not a bad evening's work.

[Timbo]

His gait reminds me of Matt Tait (yes, I’m a poet).

[Epaminondas Pules]

Team for Italy:

15. George Hendy, 14. Deago Bailey, 13. Tom Litchfield, 12. Ethan Grayson, 11. Francis Moore (Saracens), 10. Jamie Benson, 9. Matty Jones, 1. Fin Baxter, 2. John Stewart, 3. Mike Summerfield, 4. Alfie Bell, 5. Tom Lockett, 6. Alex Wardell, 7. Toby Knight, 8. Emeka Ilione.

Replacements
16. Finn Theobald-Thomas (Worcester Warriors), 17. Mark Dormer, 18. Will Hobson, 19. Charlie Rice, 20. Greg Fisilau, 21. Sam Edwards, 22.Louie Johnson, 23. Ollie Dawkins.

[FKAS]

Really good to see Ilione back from injury. I think this is first game back since his 6N injury.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Think so. He picked up a knock preseason too didn’t he?

[Mellsblue]

His gait reminds me of Matt Tait (yes, I’m a poet).

Bloody hell. That is spot on. I watched those clips thinking he reminded me of someone but I couldn’t place it.

[fivepointer]

Arundell not injured as i thought but turning out for London Irish at Bristol tomorrow night.

[fivepointer]

0-3 at h/t.
We've not been great. Italy on top in the scrum, resolute in defence and playing better with the ball than we are.

[fivepointer]

0-6 at f/t.
We continued not to be great.
That was a pretty dismal all round effort tbh.

[Puja]

Full credit to the Italians - their defence and organisation was excellent. They're really building something special through their age groups.

We were robbed of a couple of blatant penalty tries at the end of the first half. Tapped penalty from the 9 where no-one was back 10 and if you removed the offside players who tackled then it's a guaranteed try, then an even more blatant one where Ilione tapped a free kick from a 5m scrum and the Italian flanker tackled him without ever retreating even a little. Would've been a travesty if we'd won though.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Quite a few changes for the Wales game (fri 7pm on iplayer)

1. Fin Baxter
2. Finn Theobald-Thomas (Worcester Warriors, Caps 1)
3. Will Hobson
4. Charlie Rice
5. Alfie Bell
6. Chandler Cunningham-South (London Irish, Caps 0)
7. Toby Knight
8. Emeka Ilione
9. Sam Edwards
10. Jamie Benson
11. Cassius Cleaves (Harlequins, Caps 0)
12. Ethan Grayson
13. Jacob Cusick (Leicester Tigers, Caps 0)
14. Deago Bailey
15. Henry Arundell

Replacements

16. Joe Vajner (London Irish, Caps 0)
17. Archie McArthur (Wasps, Caps 0)
18. Mike Summerfield
19. Lewis Chessum (Leicester Tigers, Caps 0)
20. Kofi Cripps
21. Matty Jones
22. Louie Johnson
23. Rekeiti Ma’asi White (Wasps, Caps 0)

[32nd Man]

Quite a few changes for the Wales game (fri 7pm on iplayer)

1. Fin Baxter
2. Finn Theobald-Thomas (Worcester Warriors, Caps 1)
3. Will Hobson
4. Charlie Rice
5. Alfie Bell
6. Chandler Cunningham-South (London Irish, Caps 0)
7. Toby Knight
8. Emeka Ilione
9. Sam Edwards
10. Jamie Benson
11. Cassius Cleaves (Harlequins, Caps 0)
12. Ethan Grayson
13. Jacob Cusick (Leicester Tigers, Caps 0)
14. Deago Bailey
15. Henry Arundell

Replacements

16. Joe Vajner (London Irish, Caps 0)
17. Archie McArthur (Wasps, Caps 0)
18. Mike Summerfield
19. Lewis Chessum (Leicester Tigers, Caps 0)
20. Kofi Cripps
21. Matty Jones
22. Louie Johnson
23. Rekeiti Ma’asi White (Wasps, Caps 0)

I suspect that a few rockets have been administered and a few reputations shredded by that Italy game.

The whole "no one wants to be in the first team to lose to them" effect.

[FKAS]

Good to see some Tiger Cubs getting involved. Edwards has been off getting game time at Nottingham if I remember rightly and is a pacey 9. Cusick is big and quick (ginger as well so easy to spot) and has also had some loan time at Nottingham. Lewis Chessum the younger but taller Chessum brother, I hope he's got the same playing style as his brother and again has played on loan at Nottingham.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Quite a few changes for the Wales game (fri 7pm on iplayer)

1. Fin Baxter
2. Finn Theobald-Thomas (Worcester Warriors, Caps 1)
3. Will Hobson
4. Charlie Rice
5. Alfie Bell
6. Chandler Cunningham-South (London Irish, Caps 0)
7. Toby Knight
8. Emeka Ilione
9. Sam Edwards
10. Jamie Benson
11. Cassius Cleaves (Harlequins, Caps 0)
12. Ethan Grayson
13. Jacob Cusick (Leicester Tigers, Caps 0)
14. Deago Bailey
15. Henry Arundell

Replacements

16. Joe Vajner (London Irish, Caps 0)
17. Archie McArthur (Wasps, Caps 0)
18. Mike Summerfield
19. Lewis Chessum (Leicester Tigers, Caps 0)
20. Kofi Cripps
21. Matty Jones
22. Louie Johnson
23. Rekeiti Ma’asi White (Wasps, Caps 0)

I suspect that a few rockets have been administered and a few reputations shredded by that Italy game.

The whole "no one wants to be in the first team to lose to them" effect.

I doubt anyones rep has been shredded. We often use the 6N as a rotational exercise to determine what the best squad for the JWC is.

[SDHoneymonster]

Cassius Cleaves has just replaced Finn Carnduff as the best name coming through the age groups. That's just sublime.

[Stom]

He’s been known about for years. A real talent to go with the name. Can’t wait to see him in the quarters.

[Slater582]

Cunningham-South is apparently a Kiwi poach.

I'd like to think one of Rekeiti Ma’asi-White or Olly Hartley will come through as a centre at Wasps. I gather the former is a real prospect and the latter is 6'4.

He’s been known about for years. A real talent to go with the name. Can’t wait to see him in the quarters.

Do you know if Kitan Ojo is of similar quality? Heard a buzz around him a few years ago but he got a nasty injury as I recall.

[Puja]

Cunningham-South is apparently a Kiwi poach.

Is he EQ or is he in on the same way that Dombrandt played for Wales U20s?

Puja

[fivepointer]

London Irish site 10 Feb - "London Irish have completed the signing of Chandler Cunningham-South, who will join the Club’s Senior Academy.

Cunningham-South, who grew up in New Zealand, is a versatile forward who is comfortable in the second row, blindside flanker or number 8.

Chandler has played for North Harbour U18s and trained with NZ Warriors in Rugby League. More recently, Chandler has been showcasing his skills for Canterbury RFC U19s and Lincoln University in Christchurch.

“We are delighted to welcome Chandler to the Club,” said Patrick O’Grady, Academy Manager.

“He certainly has potential, and we are excited to see his development continue with us here at London Irish.”

No mention of any English connections but i dont think you have to have any to play u20s.

[SDHoneymonster]

London Irish site 10 Feb - "London Irish have completed the signing of Chandler Cunningham-South, who will join the Club’s Senior Academy.

Cunningham-South, who grew up in New Zealand, is a versatile forward who is comfortable in the second row, blindside flanker or number 8.

Chandler has played for North Harbour U18s and trained with NZ Warriors in Rugby League. More recently, Chandler has been showcasing his skills for Canterbury RFC U19s and Lincoln University in Christchurch.

“We are delighted to welcome Chandler to the Club,” said Patrick O’Grady, Academy Manager.

“He certainly has potential, and we are excited to see his development continue with us here at London Irish.”

No mention of any English connections but i dont think you have to have any to play u20s.

U20 6N rules mean you don't have to be qualified for a country to play for them, hence Dombrandt playing for Wales and Protheroe playing for England over the years. Clubs tend to note when they've signed an England-qualified player so if there's nothing on the press release that might be your answer.

[SDHoneymonster]

Although the 'grew up in NZ' line perhaps suggests he wasn't actually born there - maybe he's qualified through birth?