Eng U20s 2023

[FKAS]

Liked the 13 always straightening his/the line, handling overall looked good in the highlights.

Maasi White looks excellent doesn't he. Very self aware, both in game and who he is. He knows hes big and someone they'll need to mark, so his handling and the IQ of knowing what to do at the right moments, he's really good at.

Sale must be feeling smug at picking him up. When Manu goes in the summer he's a direct replacement. With a better skill set. Credit to him as well, last year he dropped more than he caught but now he's really showing some classy skills. Must have been working hard on the training pitch.

[Mikey Brown]

Liked the 13 always straightening his/the line, handling overall looked good in the highlights.

Maasi White looks excellent doesn't he. Very self aware, both in game and who he is. He knows hes big and someone they'll need to mark, so his handling and the IQ of knowing what to do at the right moments, he's really good at.

Sale must be feeling smug at picking him up. When Manu goes in the summer he's a direct replacement. With a better skill set. Credit to him as well, last year he dropped more than he caught but now he's really showing some classy skills. Must have been working hard on the training pitch.

Does he play 12 as well?

[FKAS]

Maasi White looks excellent doesn't he. Very self aware, both in game and who he is. He knows hes big and someone they'll need to mark, so his handling and the IQ of knowing what to do at the right moments, he's really good at.

Sale must be feeling smug at picking him up. When Manu goes in the summer he's a direct replacement. With a better skill set. Credit to him as well, last year he dropped more than he caught but now he's really showing some classy skills. Must have been working hard on the training pitch.

Does he play 12 as well?

He has done previously. I think Wasps had him more at 13 to accommodate and extra playmaker at 12. Sale prefer their additional playmaker at 13 so he might have to shuffle in one. That being said if he can develop a kicking game he could drop in at 13 for them as his handling skills seem very good now.

[Margin_Walker]

Team for France on Friday. That centre partnership broken up as Woodward is out and Maasi White in to 12. The other lanky Leicester lad also into the second row.

1. Archie McArthur (Gloucester)
2. Finn Theobald-Thomas (Gloucester)
3. Tim Hoyt (Leicester Tigers)
4. Robert Carmichael (Leicester Tigers)
5. Lewis Chessum (C) (Leicester Tigers)
6. Finn Carnduff (Leicester Tigers)
7. Tristan Woodman (Sale Sharks)
8. Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
9. Charlie Bracken (Saracens)
10. Monty Bradbury (London Irish)
11. Josh Hathaway (Gloucester)
12. Rekeiti Ma'asi-White (Sale Sharks)
13. Joe Jenkins (Bristol Bears)
14. Tobias Elliott (Saracens)
15. Sam Harris (Bath Rugby)

Replacements
16. Calum Scott (London Irish)
17. Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)
18. Afolabi Fasogbon (London Irish)
19. Harry Browne (Harlequins)
20. Joshua Manz (Leicester Tigers)
21. Nye Thomas (Sale Sharks)
22. Benjamin Waghorn (Harlequins)
23. Cassius Cleaves (Harlequins)

[Puja]

If you count Theobald-Thomas's imminent arrival, that pack's Leicester from 2-6 (and if Woodman goes off injured, then we'll claim openside as well!)

Puja

[stepsider]

Cassius Cleaves looked handy last year. Great name too!

[Banquo]

what's up with Cunningham-South?

[Mikey Brown]

They said on the last LI game he opted out in order to play in the Prem. Seemed weird to me, but maybe there's more to it.

[Banquo]

They said on the last LI game he opted out in order to play in the Prem. Seemed weird to me, but maybe there's more to it.

Wonder if Burly Shassey has had a word....

[Puja]

They said on the last LI game he opted out in order to play in the Prem. Seemed weird to me, but maybe there's more to it.

It's fairly usual for players to prioritise first XXIII time with their clubs over U20s, isn't it? Woodman did it the second week when Sale needed him.

Puja

[FKAS]

Shame for Woodward, he's looked good in the competition so far. Interested to see how the Tiger cubs go in at lock. The lineout should go well if nothing else.

[Margin_Walker]

They said on the last LI game he opted out in order to play in the Prem. Seemed weird to me, but maybe there's more to it.

It's fairly usual for players to prioritise first XXIII time with their clubs over U20s, isn't it? Woodman did it the second week when Sale needed him.

Puja

Yeah, completely normal. Premiership always gets prioritised over the U20s if a player is in and around their club's first choice 23. Happens to a few players every year.

[fivepointer]

Pity there's no Woodward. Thought he looked very good against Wales. Jenkins has Prem experience with Bristol so isnt a bad replacement by any means.
France bound to pose quite a challenge so interesting to see how this one pans out.

[FKAS]

France U20 team to face England: 15 Mathis Ferte, 14 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Emilien Gailleton, 11 Leo Drouet, 10 Hugo Reus, 9 Baptiste Jauneau, 1 Louis Penverne, 2 Pierre Jouvin, 3 Zaccharie Affane, 4 Lenni Nouchi, 5 Posolo Tuilagi, 6 Oscar Jegou, 7 Esteban Capilla, 8 Marko Gazzotti.

Replacements: 16 Thomas Lacombre, 17 Luca Tabarot, 18 Lino Julien, 19 Cyriac Guilly, 20 Brent Liufau, 21 Mathis Castro Ferreira, 22 Leo Carbonneau, 23 Paul Costes

The Tuilagi in the second row is Henry's boy, he's 145kgs already. He's a big boy and carries hard, we'll see if he carries as hard as his dad (I hope for our boys not).

[francoisfou]

France U20 team to face England: 15 Mathis Ferte, 14 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Emilien Gailleton, 11 Leo Drouet, 10 Hugo Reus, 9 Baptiste Jauneau, 1 Louis Penverne, 2 Pierre Jouvin, 3 Zaccharie Affane, 4 Lenni Nouchi, 5 Posolo Tuilagi, 6 Oscar Jegou, 7 Esteban Capilla, 8 Marko Gazzotti.

Replacements: 16 Thomas Lacombre, 17 Luca Tabarot, 18 Lino Julien, 19 Cyriac Guilly, 20 Brent Liufau, 21 Mathis Castro Ferreira, 22 Leo Carbonneau, 23 Paul Costes

The Tuilagi in the second row is Henry's boy, he's 145kgs already. He's a big boy and carries hard, we'll see if he carries as hard as his dad (I hope for our boys not).

Some splendid names in that side! Dear old Eddie Butler would have loved commentating on this game !

[Puja]

France U20 team to face England: 15 Mathis Ferte, 14 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Emilien Gailleton, 11 Leo Drouet, 10 Hugo Reus, 9 Baptiste Jauneau, 1 Louis Penverne, 2 Pierre Jouvin, 3 Zaccharie Affane, 4 Lenni Nouchi, 5 Posolo Tuilagi, 6 Oscar Jegou, 7 Esteban Capilla, 8 Marko Gazzotti.

Replacements: 16 Thomas Lacombre, 17 Luca Tabarot, 18 Lino Julien, 19 Cyriac Guilly, 20 Brent Liufau, 21 Mathis Castro Ferreira, 22 Leo Carbonneau, 23 Paul Costes

The Tuilagi in the second row is Henry's boy, he's 145kgs already. He's a big boy and carries hard, we'll see if he carries as hard as his dad (I hope for our boys not).

English born, if I'm not mistaken - can't the RFU get him on a central contract to come over here and play for an English club?!

Puja

[FKAS]

France U20 team to face England: 15 Mathis Ferte, 14 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Emilien Gailleton, 11 Leo Drouet, 10 Hugo Reus, 9 Baptiste Jauneau, 1 Louis Penverne, 2 Pierre Jouvin, 3 Zaccharie Affane, 4 Lenni Nouchi, 5 Posolo Tuilagi, 6 Oscar Jegou, 7 Esteban Capilla, 8 Marko Gazzotti.

Replacements: 16 Thomas Lacombre, 17 Luca Tabarot, 18 Lino Julien, 19 Cyriac Guilly, 20 Brent Liufau, 21 Mathis Castro Ferreira, 22 Leo Carbonneau, 23 Paul Costes

The Tuilagi in the second row is Henry's boy, he's 145kgs already. He's a big boy and carries hard, we'll see if he carries as hard as his dad (I hope for our boys not).

English born, if I'm not mistaken - can't the RFU get him on a central contract to come over here and play for an English club?!

Puja

Pfft that would be far to useful, no chance of the RFU doing that.

[Epaminondas Pules]

To be fair the second gen of Tuilagis have been largely sub standard

Sorry, when I say largely I mean completely.

[Puja]

To be fair the second gen of Tuilagis have been largely sub standard

Sorry, when I say largely I mean completely.

Indeed. I'm reasonably convinced that the only reason Brian and Fred Jnr lasted as long at Leicester as they did was because we wanted to keep Manu happy. Gotta be hard trying to break through with the expectation that that surname brings as well.

Puja

[Spartan Shark]

Hoping Josh Hathaway doesn't add to his collection of yellow cards tonight.

Looking forward to see how Woodman goes tonight...he was rather good against Wales last time out

[Mr Mwenda]

0-3 after 20, England flanker dropped a certain try. Score not reflecting the balance of the game.

The latest tuilagi is recockulously big.

[Mr Mwenda]

0-6, England stupidly conceding penalties unnecessarily...

[Mr Mwenda]

Well this is a bit painful 0-11 with easy kick. England labour, run out of ideas and give a loose kick. French backs exploit really well. England look bemused to not have scored yet despite a lot of energy spent.

[FKAS]

Loose kick is generous. It's was a tired kick but everything about it was terrible. He kicks it at least 15m away from the nearest defender, it's long and easy to catch and then he casually jogs up which means the English defence have to stand and wait instead of cutting down the French space. Woeful from the England 10 who's looked devoid of ideas so far.

Harsh call at the death of the half there, didn't look like Woodman was held.

[stepsider]

Lacking imagination in attack + going backwards at scrumtime, doesn't look promising for H2