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LONDON DUO AIM TO TURN ON STYLE AT JUNIOR RUGBY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP |
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Eleven players from London’s four Premiership clubs are in the England Under 20 squad going for global glory at the Junior World Championship which kicks off in Wales on Friday (June 6).
London Wasps No 8 Hugo Ellis is the captain of the England squad who are attempting to add the world title to their RBS Under 20 Six Nations Grand Slam earlier this year. England begin Pool C of the tournament against Fiji in Newport on Friday (7pm) and will return to the same Rodney Parade venue for matches against Canada and the traditionally formidable Australia – the latter to be broadcast live on BBC 2 Wales on Saturday June 14. Flanker Jon Fisher of London Irish and Saracens fly half Alex Goode appeared on BBC London 94.9 to preview the tournament and both players are relishing the global challenge. “One of the best things is that we can test ourselves against the best age group players in the world,” said Goode. “You can come out of it saying I am the best 10 or the best flanker or the best player in that position in my age group. That’s a great accolade to have. “The top 16 teams in the world are competing for the prize. The favourites will be from the southern hemisphere – Australia, New Zealand and South Africa – and we’ve seen a few of their players in the Super 14. “Having won the Grand Slam and the Six Nations the pressure is on us from within the camp to bring the intensity we had throughout all those games every time we play.” The squad were visited by senior England team manager Martin Johnson during a training camp at North Bristol RFC and the 2003 World Cup winning captain passed on a few valuable tips. “I was expecting him to shout and scream but we were in small rugby club in Bristol and it wasn’t going to be like that,” said Fisher. “The emphasis in what he said to us was about winning. When it comes to the knockout stages you have to win if you want to win the big prize.” Goode said: “Martin Johnson was just very honest. He said when you go to the World Cup make the most of it. “When you’re playing the games, close them off. Don’t give Fiji or Canada a chance to get back in, take a dropped goal and keep the scoreboard ticking over. Make it hard for the opposition. “He talked about how all the coaches were watching the games in the Premiership, that there’s no stone unturned and every time you are out there you are being watched and you’ve got a chance.” Winning is important and so is player development in this age group. The England Under 20 coaches Nigel Redman and Mark Mapletoft have a style they plan to persevere with in Wales this month. “There is a massive emphasis on the style of rugby we want to play,” said Fisher. “We want to play stylish rugby and we have done. People who have seen our games will see we love to score tries and throw the ball around. “I think that’s how rugby will be played in the future: more tries, more skill and more pace.” Fisher is joined by London Irish club-mates hooker James Clark and prop Alex Corbisiero, while Goode has fellow Saracens in lock Ben Thomas and wing Noah Cato, who has scored six tries in five internationals this season. Harlequins are represented by wing Seb Stegmann and centre Jordan Turner-Hall while London Wasps have Ellis alongside wing Mark Odejobi and scrum half Joe Simpson. ENGLAND UNDER 20 SQUAD
Forwards (14)
Nathan Catt (Bath Rugby)
Calum Clark (Leeds Carnegie)
James Clark (London Irish)
Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
Matthew Cox (Worcester Warriors)
Hugo Ellis (London Wasps)
Jon Fisher (London Irish)
Scott Freer (Leeds Carnegie)
Gregor Gillanders (Leicester Tigers)
Joe Gray (Northampton Saints)
Scott Hobson (Cornish Pirates)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Billy Moss (Bath Rugby)
Ben Thomas (Saracens) Backs (12)
Miles Benjamin (Worcester Warriors)
Noah Cato (Saracens)
Luke Eves (Bristol Rugby)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Rob Miller (Newcastle Falcons)
Mark Odejobi (London Wasps)
Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby)
Joe Simpson (London Wasps)
Seb Stegmann (Harlequins)
Alex Tait (Newcastle Falcons)
Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers) TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, June 6: England v Fiji, Newport, 7pm
Tuesday, June 10: England v Canada, Newport, 5pm
Saturday, June 14: Australia v England, Newport, 3pm
Wednesday, June 18: Match day four
Sunday, June 22: Finals day |
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