U18 SA squad

[Epaminondas Pules]

Finishes 76 v 15. Bench made a serious impact across the board, and we were good before then.

[fivepointer]

Good run out. Sets us up nicely for the SA game. (SA lost to France 24-37)

Highlights here -

[Epaminondas Pules]

Very slow start from the baby baby Boks, losing 23 v 0 at half time. Doubt they’ll be that slow again. Set up for a good game on Saturday.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Watching the game again we were very impressive ball in hand. Spotted the space and executed well. Little sloppy in the set piece in the first half, but tightened up in the 2nd. Some very good performances again, both starting and off the bench. It's a very good year group this. Couple it with last years graduates, and the next cohort (current 5th formers) to come up and we've got a bit of a (whisper it) golden generation coming through. Some very exciting talent to hopefully not ruin.

[Mellsblue]

Blah, blah, blah. What’s their kick chase like?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Blah, blah, blah. What’s their kick chase like?

Even the hooker kicks, so they're on the right track

[Epaminondas Pules]

Team for SA:

15. Jack Bracken (Saracens, St Albans School)
14. Angus Hall (Saracens, The Judd School, Tonbridge)
13. Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College)
12. Toby Baker (Bristol Bears, St. Peters School)
11. Charlie Griffin (South Central London Academy, Harrow School)
10. Ollie Davies (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar)
9. Lucas Friday (Harlequins, Trinity School)
1. Jamie Miller (Harlequins, Whitgift School)
2. Kepueli Tuipulotu (South Central London Academy, Harrow School)
3. Billy Sela (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff)
4. Junior Kpoku (Exeter Chiefs, Finborough School)
5. Olamide Sodeke (Saracens, Gravesend Grammar School)
6. Ronan Daniell (Harlequins, Hurstpierpoint College)
7. Charlie West (Saracens, St Albans School)
8. Solomon Shand (Gloucester Rugby, Hartpury College)

Replacements
16. Alfie Longstaff (Yorkshire Academy, Woodhouse Grove)
17. Will Conduit (Midlands West, Stourport College, ACE)
18. Sam Graham (Newcastle Falcons, Durham School)
19. Tayo Adegbemile (South Central London Academy, St Albans School)
20. Connor Treacey (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff)
21. Jack Lightbown (Sale Sharks, The Sixth Form Bolton)
22. Dom Hanson (Sale Sharks, Stockport Grammar)
23. Louie Platt (Yorkshire Academy, Mount St. Mary’s)
24. Toby Wilson (Sale Sharks, Kings Macclesfield)
25. Billy Pasco (Northampton Saints)
26. Finn Newton (Saracens, Haileybury)

[Puja]

Charlie Griffin looks a very handy player. Big and quick, but without looking like he leans just on those attributes. Wonder how people will treat the unaffiliated academies - whether they'll want to escape and move to a Prem club's academy aqap or if they'll regard it as an acceptable place to stay and develop.

Puja

[Margin_Walker]

Charlie Griffin looks a very handy player. Big and quick, but without looking like he leans just on those attributes. Wonder how people will treat the unaffiliated academies - whether they'll want to escape and move to a Prem club's academy aqap or if they'll regard it as an acceptable place to stay and develop.

Puja

He looks great. It'll be interesting. Especially as it's a very successful U18 setup, presumably with a lot of the same staff in place. Reigning U18 academy league champions. Believe they were unbeaten in 4 or 5 games at Malvern the other week too, so there's still talent there outside of the players on this tour.

Ultimately though, having a more stable pathway to a pro team may be more attractive to some lads if they can wangle it. Guys like Griffin and Tuipulotu will always get picked up, but the next rung down who tend to be the 4th, 5th, 6th taken in a senior academy intake will probably be losing out to comparable players in the other club's U18 setups.

Ultimately it may make sense to redraw the boundaries assuming thins stabilise.

[Epaminondas Pules]

They’re still running all the DPPs for the fallen clubs. My mates lad was in Wuss DPP last season for U15s and is back doing pre-season stuff there. All the same facilities and staff. The aim I believe is to keep running them regardless and still continue with new intake.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Cracking start! Weathered SA and pushed for the first score from Kopoku! Offloading galore again! 7 v 0

[Epaminondas Pules]

SA respond straight away after England fail to clear the kick off. 7 v 7

[Epaminondas Pules]

And England replay straight from the kick off! Won the kick off, recycle. Great run from Sela then lovely hands from Daniel to put Lilley in! 14 v 7 after 15 mins. Kudos to Friday who pulled in 3 defenders before putting Sela into a gap!

[Epaminondas Pules]

Big turnover of SA maul 5 metres from our line by Kpoku! Need a good scrum and clear here!

[Epaminondas Pules]

SA get the nudge but penalised by the ref for walking round.

[Epaminondas Pules]

SA equalise! England turn SA scrum over, Friday kicks and SA go from their own 22, get a lucky bounce from a charge down and score under the posts!

14 v 14

[Epaminondas Pules]

Breakdown is an absolute mess. SA allowed to lie all over our side. Ref doing nothing about it.

[Epaminondas Pules]

SA score again. Very poor clearance from Friday then SA break through and score. Again a lucky bounce when the ball hit the floor but a beautiful finish!

Fabulous conversion!

14 v 21

[Epaminondas Pules]

England replay immediately! Tuipolotu with a breakdown penalty. Takes it quick to himself. Nice play and some scrappy play but Baker crashes over from short range.

Conversion missed

19 v 21

[Epaminondas Pules]

SA score on half time. Tuipolotu overthrows the lineout and SA hooker storms in!

Being reviewed for potential double movement. TMO confirms double movement. Try disallowed. Looked fine to me.

And that’s half time. SA lead 21 v 19

[Margin_Walker]

Wow. I stepped away for a few minutes as they scored that. Looked fine on the initial replay I saw.

Decent game so far. England being killed on turnover ball and in the transition, with SA dangerous in broken field.

[Puja]

Any further updates?

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

Second half just started

[Epaminondas Pules]

Sloppy moments from England. SA scrum just outside our 22

[Puja]

Second half just started

Where're you watching?

Puja