Wales in line for Triple Crown
England, Scotland at The Stoop
If Wales beat Ireland at Blackrock College on Saturday afternoon, they will win the Under-19 Triple Crown.
So far Wales have beaten England 13-10 and Scotland 48-10. Earlier in the year they became the first national team to beat the Australian Schools on a tour of the Four Home Unions.
Ireland vs Wales on Saturday, 25 February
Centre Gareth Maule and front row forwards Nicholas Eaves and Marc Breeze start against the Irish,
Coach Justin Burnell said: "We have got great competition in the midfield and front row and with these changes we are just taking maximum advantage of the strength of our squad.
"If we could secure the Triple Crown this weekend it would represent just reward for that part of the journey that has taken shape since we mapped out last July what we wanted to achieve up to the World Cup.
"It would also justify the fantastic support we have been given and go some way to repaying that backing given to us."
Teams:
Wales Under-19: Martyn Thomas (Scarlets), Alec Jenkins (Scarlets), Gareth Maule (Dragons), Ashley Smith (Dragons), James Lewis (Dragons), Rhys Jones (Exiles/Sale Sharks), Robert Lewis (Dragons), Nicholas Eaves (Blues), Marc Breeze (Ospreys), Jamie Corsi (Dragons), Bradley Davies (Blues, captain), Lou Reed (Scarlets), Joshua Turnbull (Scarlets), Daniel Franks (Blues), Lewis Evans (Dragons)
Replacements: Keiron Jenkins (Blues), Kenneth Owens (Scarlets), Matthew Larsen (Blues), Hugh Gustafson (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Darren Allinson (Scarlets)
Ireland Under-19: 15 Michael Skelton (UL Bohemians), 14 Stuart Morrow (Ballynahinch), 13 Kyle Tonnetti (St. Gerard's), 12 Ian Whitten (Queens University Belfast), 11 Michael Barker (Queens University Belfast), 10 Ian Keatley (UCD), 9 Stephen Cranley (Greystones), 8 Kevin Sheahan (UCD), 7 David Pollock (Queens University Belfast), 6 Thomas Anderson (Queens University Belfast), 5 Conor McInerney (UCD) (captain), 4 Andrew Browne (Galwegians), 3 Royce Burke-Flynn (Blackrock), 2 Andrew O'Driscoll (PBC Cork), 1 Richard Sweeney (UCD)
Replacements: 16 Neil Simpson (Instonians), 17 David Millard (INÉS Harlequins / St Mary’s’ College London), 18 James Gethings (Gonzaga), 19 Tom Walsh (Castleknock College), 20 Shane O’Sullivan (CBC Cork), 21 David Drake (Instonians), 22 Niall O’Connor (Limavady Grammar School), 23 Stephen Verso (Blackrock College RFC)
Date: Saturday, 25 February 2006
Kick-off: 13.00
Venue: Stradbrook, Blackrock College RFC
Referee: Dean Richards (England)
England Under-19 vs Scotland Under-19 at the Twickenham Stoop on 24 February
It is a match England would be expected to win.
Both sides have lost to Wales. England lost 13-10, Scotland a massive 48-10. Scotland have lost to Italy but England beat Italy 34-26. England must be favourites to win this encounter in London on Friday evening.
But England are without some players who have educational commitments. Coach Nigel Redman said: “With several regular squad members unavailable because of educational commitments, having a training squad of 26 gives us a chance to see players who have been put forward by their Academy managers or to look again at some who trained with us before Christmas.”
Leeds Tykes young guns, fullback David Doherty and scrumhalf Danny Care will be starting for their first Under-19 match this season. Wing Jordan Turner-Hall, who plays for the Harlequins, is sure to have crowd support, together with fly half Danny Cipriani of London Wasps and Saracens centre Adam Powell who will be captain and starting with club mate Andy Saull at 7
“With long term injuries to some players, opportunities open for others who have been doing well at their clubs to prove themselves at international level and we congratulate Worcester’s Sam McDonald and Matthew Cox and Iain Grieve of Bristol on their first call up,” said National Academy and England Under19s coach Nigel Redman.
Peter Wright, the Scotland coach, made six changes from the side beaten by Wales. Wings David McCall and Calum Anderson are back in the side and Alex Grove, the Rugby schoolboy, comes in at centre.
There are also three changes to the front tow. In come Frazer Wilford and Ross McCallum to the front row and Graeme McGilchrist starts on the flank.
Teams:
England Under-19: 15 David Doherty (Leeds Tykes & Notre Dame), 14 Jordan Turner-Hall (INÉS Harlequins), 13 Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers), 12 Adam Powell (Saracens), 11 Oliver Dodge (Leicester Tigers), 10 Daniel Cipriani (London Wasps & Whitgift), 9 Danny Care (Leeds Tykes), 8 David Tait (Sale Sharks), 7 Andrew Saull (Saracens & Bancrofts School), 6 Alex Shaw (Leicester Tigers), 5 Simon Pitfield (Northampton Saints), 4 Sam McDonald (Worcester Warriors), 3 Daniel Cole (Leicester Tigers), 2 Jordan Page (Leeds Tykes), 1 Charlie Beech (Northampton Saints)
Replacements: 16 Ross McMillan (Nottingham), 17 Matthew Mullan (Worcester Warriors), 18 Tom Mercey (Saracens), 19 Matthew Cox (Worcester Warriors), 20 Joseph Simpson (London Wasps & St Benedict’s), 21 Adam Greendale (Leeds Tykes & Hymers College), 22 Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors), 23 Iain Grieve (Bristol)
Scotland: 15 Colin Goudie (Stewart’s Melville FP), 14 David McCall (Edinburgh Gunners & Stewart’s Melville FP), 13 Jack Cuthbert (Bath), 12 Alex Grove (Rugby School), 11 Calum Anderson (Peebles), 10 Cameron Ferguson (Dundee HSFP) (captain), 9 Murray Bringhurst (Watsonians), 8 David Lambert (Loughborough University), 7 Daniel Levison (Dundee HSFP), 6 Graeme McGilchrist (Watsonians), 5 Steven Turnbull (Stirling County), 4 Richard Vernon (Stewart’s Melville FP), 3 Ross McCallum (Ardrossan Academicals), 2 Frazer Wilford (Sheffield Hallam University), 1 Alan Dymock (Dundee HSFP)
Replacements: 16 Patrick McArthur (West of Scotland), 17 Gordon Reid (Ayr), 18 Nick Hart (Watsonians), 19 Ross McDonald (Glasgow Hawks), 20 Jamie Hunter (Hillhead/Jordanhill), 21 Ross Curle (Hillhead/Jordanhill), 22 Richard Mill (Stirling County), 23 Graham Hogg (Hawick)
Date: 24 February 2006
Kick-off: 19.45
Venue: The Twickenham Stoop
Referee: Matthew Aplin (Wales)
Touch judges: Stuart Terheege, Paul Emerson
Assessor: Paul Bridgman