- John Fletcher names squad to face Ireland in FIRA-AER qualifier
- We've got a strong side and can cause them problems – Fletcher
England U18 face Ireland tomorrow with a starting 15 strong enough to cause their opponents a few problems, according to head coach John Fletcher.
"The squad have had a good few days training over here and we’re looking forward to the game," he said.
"Since the summer we’ve had three good camps and one game against a London Academies side which we learnt a lot from.
"We now have to build on all of that against a strong Ireland team, in Ireland, which is always a big task.”
With an influx of new players to select from, Fletcher is happy with the strength of his current squad.
“We’re strong, we’ve trained well in the camps and the players are all on good programmes at their schools and in their regional academies,” he said. “But you’re always going to be tested away from home against any national side.”
Captain Barrow buzzing for game
Captain Dom Barrow will lead the side out tomorrow and is looking forward to the challenge: “It should be a good game, it will probably be fairly physical but we’ve prepared really well and our camps have all gone very smoothly, so we’re all buzzing.
“This game could set the tone for our season, we want to go out there and leave nothing in the changing room. We’re quite a new team but we have a game-plan and the new players have really stepped up to the plate, so we’ll see how we get on.”
The Under 19 England Academies Squad are also in action tomorrow against their Irish counterparts and head coach Rob Hunter has named a side including London Wasps starlet Elliot Daly and Leicester Tigers fly half George Ford.
Ford will lead the side out and is hopeful of producing a good performance: “We’ve got to back ourselves but Ireland will be aggressive, they’re a smart team and we’ll have to be at our best to beat them.
“I was captain of the U18 side last year and I’m back with quite a few of those players for this match, so nothing changes really. This U19 age grade provides an opportunity for a lot of the lads to show what they can do ahead of selection for the U20 squad so we won't be taking it lightly.”
| England U18 Team to face Ireland |
|---|
| Player | School | Club |
|---|
| 15 Jack Nowell |
Truro College |
Exeter Chiefs |
| 14 Jack Arnott |
Ivybridge College |
Exeter Chiefs |
| 13 Mark Jennings |
Myerscough College |
Sale Sharks |
| 12 Sam Hill |
Ivybridge College |
Exeter Chiefs |
| 11 Anthony Watson |
St. George's College |
London Irish |
| 10 Will Hooley |
The Leys School |
Northampton Saints |
| 9 Alex Day |
St. Joseph's College |
Northampton Saints |
| 1 Luke Cowan-Dickie |
Truro College |
Exeter Chiefs |
| 2 Nathan Morris |
Sedbergh School |
London Wasps |
| 3 Danny Herriott |
Moulton College |
Northampton Saints |
| 4 Dominic Barrow (C) |
Prince Henry's Grammar School |
Leeds Carnegie |
| 5 Tom Jubb |
Oaklands College |
Saracens |
| 6 Jack Clifford |
RGS Guildford |
Harlequins |
| 7 Matt Hankin |
Haileybury College |
Saracens |
| 8 David Sisi |
St. Paul's Catholic College |
London Irish |
| Replacements |
|---|
| Player | School | Club |
|---|
| 16 Alec Hepburn |
Henley College |
London Wasps |
| 17 Tom Smallbone |
Harrow School |
London Irish |
| 18 Max Crumpton |
Oaklands College |
Saracens |
| 19 George Sandford |
St. Paul's Catholic College |
London Irish |
| 20 Gus Jones |
Eton College |
London Wasps |
| 21 James Lightfoot-Brown |
St. Paul's Catholic College |
London Irish |
| 22 Mitchell Tamiau |
Twyford C & E High School |
London Wasps |
| 23 Henry Slade |
Plymouth College |
Exeter Chiefs |
Stay up-to-date with England's Age Group news over the festive period as both the England U18 and U19 England Academies sides play Ireland tomorrow.
