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March 15, 2008
England coach Nigel Redman today saluted the "very special group" of players and management that secured a first ever RBS Under 20 Six Nations Grand Slam.
England scored seven tries in beating Ireland 43-13 at Kingsholm on Friday night, completing the clean sweep that also encompassed wins over Wales (28-15), Italy (22-13), France (24-6) and Scotland (41-15).
Captain Hugo Ellis, who sat out the second half after breaking a bone in his right hand, lifted the trophy at the end of a campaign in which England scored 21 tries – six of them touched down by Saracens wing Noah Cato.
Cato, Ellis, Seb Stegmann (Harlequins), Luke Eves (Bristol Rugby), Matt Cox (Worcester Warriors), Nathan Catt (Bath Rugby) and Mark Odejobi (London Wasps) all scored tries at Gloucester with Alex Goode (Saracens) adding four conversions.
What has delighted former Bath, England and Lions lock Redman most is the way the squad – 31 players were used in the five games – has produced consistently dynamic performances.
"The players have come up with a game that challenges themselves as well as the opposition," he said.
"When Hugo Ellis scored in the first half, Nathan Catt was supporting on his inside and had run 60 yards to get there. Seven different players scored our tries – and everyone in the team has to be able to play.
"The toughest game of the five was France away which was a tight game because of the environment – a brand new stadium full to 20,000 capacity and the full French experience – while Wales, who beat France in the last round, have developed throughout the tournament.
"The Irish put pressure on the lineout where we found things difficult and that keeps our feet on the ground. We knew there would be times when we might struggle.
"In the first 20 minutes we didn’t have any ball because of our indiscipline but when we cut out the stupid mistakes – and stopped conceding penalties – we came into our own.
"We’ve had a lot of changes to deal with over the course of the five games and it’s a credit to the players - the atmosphere they have created within the squad. The players coming in have felt at home.
"It’s a very special group – and I include the management as well as the players – and to have completed the five games unbeaten is a fantastic achievement."
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