Juniors in action in Six Nations
In Aberavon and Rome
Judged by the first round of Under-19 matches at the time of the Six Nations, it would seem that the one between Wales and Scotland at Aberavon on Thursday could be a close-run affair. And Italy may just be able to put pressure on England in Rome.
So far this season, Italy have beaten Scotland, Wales have beaten England and France have beaten Scotland.
This weekend's matches:
England vs Italy in Rome
England will not have enjoyed losing in England to the men across the Severn. They will also be wary of the team that beat the Scots by much the same score as France beat them.
Coach Nigel Redman said of his selection: “There have been a number of changes as at least six players, who may have been involved, have educational commitments and we always seek to help them create the right balance between their education and their rugby. This does, however, give some of the younger players the opportunity to show what they can do."
Teams:
England Under-19: 15 Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors), 14 Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins),13 Adam Powell (Saracens),12 Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers),11 Oliver Dodge (Leicester Tigers), 10 Dominic Waldouck (London Wasps Latymer Upper School), 9 Danny Pointon (Gloucester), 8 Hugo Ellis (London Wasps & St Benedict’s School), 7 Andrew Saull (Saracens & Bancrofts School), 6 Alex Shaw (Leicester Tigers), 5 Scott Hobson (Redruth & Truro College), 4 Ben Thomas (Saracens & Haileybury College), 3 Tom Mercey (Saracens),2 Ross McMillan (Nottingham),1 Matthew Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
Replacements:16 Jordan Page (Leeds Tykes),17 Charlie Beech (Northampton Saints),18 Daniel Cole (Leicester Tigers),19 Simon Pitfield (Northampton Saints), 20 James Miller (Bath), 21 Richard Bolt (Exeter Chiefs), 22 Will Harries (Northampton Saints), 23 Luther Burrell (Leeds Tykes & Park Lane College)
Italy Under-19: 15 Pietro Valcastelli (Futura Park Rugby Roma), 14 Angelo Paoletti (Benetton Treviso), 13 Filippo Vezzosi (Consiag I Cavalieri Prato), 12 Alberto Dal Corso (Carrera Petrarca Padova, Cap), 11 Andrea Bacchetti (Adriatic LNG Rovigo), 10 Giulio Rubini (Orienta ASR Frascati), 9 Michael Wilson (Benetton Treviso), 8 Davide Duca (Orienta ASR Frascati), 7 Filippo Cristiano (Ghial Calvisano), 6 Giorgio Di Laura-Frattura (Net.Com Lazio&Primavera), 5 Nicola Pedrazzani (Rugby Brescia), 4 Natale Duca (Arix Viadana), 3 Plinio Sciamanna (Arix Viadana), 2 Andrea Zampiron (Carrera Petrarca Padova), 1 Gabriele Turroni (ASR Cesena)
Replacements (from): 16 Emanuele Borboni (Admo Leonessa Brescia), 17 Francesco Forte (Futura Park Rugby Roma), 18 Nicola Gatto (Halley Ercole Monselice), 19 Mauro Nicolli (SS Rugby Bassano), 20 Giacomo Pettinelli (Cus Roma), 21 Alessandro Maestri (Coop Rugby Noceto), 22 Tito Tebaldi (Coop Rugby Noceto), 23 Stefano Ambrosio (HDI UR Capitolina), 24 Francesco Franzoni (Consiag I Cavalieri Prato), 25 Eugenio Martinelli (IVPC UR Sannio), 26 Luca Beccaris (Ghial Calvisano)
Referee: Eric Gauzins (France)
Wales vs Scotland at Aberavon on Thursday
Wales will be full of hope as they square up to the Scots, who have lost to Italy and to France this year while the Welsh are fresh from beating England in England and, earlier inn the season, the touring Australian team.
Coach Justin Burnell has chosen an unchanged team to play Scotland.
Scotland's coach Peter Wright has made four changes to the team that narrowly lost 15-6 to France Under-19 at Dalziel last Thursday.
Stewart’s Melville winger Dave McCall is back from a knee injury and replaces Alex Grove who has a shoulder injury. On the other wing, Calum Anderson is replaced by Ally Robertson as he continues to receive post-concussion treatment. Callum Mark comes in for Andrew Easson who is still nursing a leg knock suffered during the French clash.
In the pack, Frazer Wilford moves to the bench and makes way for the introduction of Watsonians prop Tom Wright.
Peter Wright said: “We have made a number of changes for our next game against Wales because of injuries, but this gives more boys an opportunity to play at the highest level before we leave for the IRB World Championship in Dubai."
Teams:
Scotland Under-19: 15 Colin Goudie (Stewart’s Melville FP), 14 David McCall (Edinburgh Gunners & Stewart’s Melville FP), 13 Jack Cuthbert (Bath), 12 Callum Mark (Haddington), 11 Ally Robertson (Ellon), 10 Cameron Ferguson (Dundee HSFP) (captain), 9 Murray Bringhurst (Watsonians), 8 David Lambert (Loughborough University), 7 Daniel Levison (Dundee High School), 6 Frazer McArdell (Hartpury College), 5 Steven Turnbull (Stirling County), 4 Richard Vernon (Stewart’s Melville FP), 3 Gordon Reid (Ayr), 2 Tom Wright (Watsonians & Northumbria University), 1 Alan Dymock (Dundee HSFP)
Replacements: 16 Frazer Wilford (Sheffield Hallam University), 17 Ross McCallum (Ardrossan Academy), 18 Nick Hart (Watsonians), 19 Patrick McArthur (West of Scotland), 20 Jamie Hunter (Hillhead/Jordanhill), 21 Ross Curle (Hillhead/Jordanhill), 22 A N Other
Wales Under-19: 15 Martyn Thomas (Scarlets), 14 Alec Jenkins (Scarlets), 13 Jonathan Davies (Scarlets),12 Ashley Smith (Dragons),11 James Lewis (Dragons),10 Rhys Jones (Exiles), 9 Robert Lewis (Dragons), 8 Lewis Evans (Scarlets), 7 Daniel Franks (Blues), 6 Joshua Turnbull (Scarlets), 5 Lou Reed (Scarlets), 4 Bradley Davies (Blues, captain), 3 Jamies Corsi (Dragons), 2 Kenneth Owens (Scarlets),1 Hugh Gustafson (Scarlets).
Replacements:16 Keiron Jenkins (Blues),17 Nicholas Eaves (Blues),18 Matthew Larsen (Blues),19 Marc Breeze (Ospreys), 20 Gareth Maule (Dragons), 21 Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), 22 Darren Allinson (Scarlets)
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
