England Saxons squad announced to face Portugal


By Patrick
January 21 2009

England Saxons will rely on youth and experience against Portugal at Edgeley Park next Friday, January 30 (kick off 8pm). Below is the recently updated Saxons squad that will face Portugal as well as quotes by head coach Stuart Lancaster.

Untitled Document

ENGLAND SAXONS SQUAD TO FACE PORTUGAL

England Saxons will rely on youth and experience against Portugal at Edgeley Park next Friday, January 30 (kick off 8pm).

Joining last season’s England U20 Junior World Cup finalists Noah Cato, Alex Goode, Nathan Catt and Joe Simpson will be fellow Saxons debutants Dan Cole and Matt Smith (Leicester Tigers), Leeds Carnegie flanker Kearnan Myall and Bristol Rugby fly half Ed Barnes.

Adding experience at the home of Sale Sharks will be Harry Ellis and Jordan Crane (both Leicester Tigers) and Bath’s Nick Abendanon, who have 25 senior caps between them.

With Gloucester Rugby, London Irish, Harlequins, Northampton Saints, Worcester Warriors and Sale Sharks players released for the following day’s rearranged Guinness Premiership fixtures, Lancaster has made 15 call ups to the 21-man training squad that will meet on Monday. Further additions to the squad will be made following injury updates later this week.


Wasps scrum half Joe Simpson is one tipped to make a big impact at the highest level

 

England Saxons Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said, “With a number of our regular Saxons players involved in rearranged club fixtures, this match is a great opportunity for some of our talented young players coming through the programme, those just outside the current Elite Player Squads, to showcase their talents on the international stage and put a marker down for the future.

“It is a great opportunity and hopefully we can put together a cohesive and exciting game plan in a short space of time to allow the players to express themselves.”

Portugal - Os Lobos or the wolves - are ranked No 23 in the world and are among six European countries hoping to fill the two automatic Rugby World Cup 2011 places, with the highest placed nation joining England in Pool B.

With four crucial matches in the three months that follow, the first against Russia on February 7, the fixture against England's young guns is an important part of Portugal's preparations. Having qualified for the Rugby World Cup for the first time in 2007, when they beat Uruguay over two legs in the repecharge match, they will be hoping to reach successive tournaments.

England Saxons training squad
England Saxons v Portugal
Friday January 30, 2009, Edgeley Park (kick off 8pm)

Forwards
Nathan Catt (Bath Rugby)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers)*
Phil Dowson (Newcastle Falcons)
Tom Mercey (Saracens)
Kearnan Myall (Leeds Carnegie)
Andy Saull (Saracens)
George Skivington (London Wasps)
Joe Ward (London Wasps)
Rob Webber (London Wasps)
Dave Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
Ben Woods (Leicester Tigers)

Backs
Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby)*
Ed Barnes (Bristol Rugby)
Noah Cato (Saracens)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Adam Powell (Saracens)
Harry Ellis (Leicester Tigers)*
Joe Simpson (London Wasps)
Matt Smith (Leicester Tigers)
Dominic Waldouck (London Wasps)

* Denotes capped player


Newcastle prop Dave Wilson impressed in his last outing for the Saxons

Tickets for the match are available from Sale Sharks (www.salesharks.co.uk) and are priced from only £5 for adults.

Full player profiles and headshots are available from www.rfu.com/profiles.

England Saxons fixtures 2009

January 30
England Saxons v Portugal, Edgeley Park, kick off 8pm (live on Sky Sports 1)

February 6
Ireland A v England Saxons, Donnybrook, kick off 7.30pm

June 6-20
Churchill Cup, North America, dates and fixtures to be confirmed.

 

England Saxons squad announced to face Portugal
Posted by: Unofficial England Rugby Union (IP Logged)
Date: 21/01/2009 19:02

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Re: England Saxons squad announced to face Portugal
Posted by: whingebasher (IP Logged)
Date: 21/01/2009 21:18

Maybe there is a God in Heaven

Re: England Saxons squad announced to face Portugal
Posted by: World Rugby (IP Logged)
Date: 22/01/2009 16:16

STUART LANCASTER has challenged England's young guns to play an expansive game when they face Portugal at Edgeley Park next Friday.

"The challenge is to develop an expansive and cohesive game plan that will test Portugal's defence," the England Saxons Head Coach told today's rfu.com podcast.

Lancaster and Assistant Coach Paul Hull are not short of talent, with the likes of Junior World Championship finalists Joe Simpson and Noah Cato, Bath's form full back Nick Abendanon and recently sidelined England No. 9 Harry Ellis at their disposal.

http://www.matchdaychat.com/ezines/images/21883.jpg
Can he cut it? Noah Cato gets his Saxons call up


"Noah is a special talent," said Lancaster. "Eddie Jones has recognised it and rewarded him with a starting place at Saracens and Nick Abendanon has been outstanding all season. This game is their opportunity to put a marker down at international level.

"That's very much what the Saxons is about, providing opportunities for young players, those returning from injury and those in form to press for cases for the Six Nations.

"Joe Simpson has now pushed his form through to a Wasps side that's tough to break into. I can see his coaches' confidence in him growing as he gets more starts and opportunities."

Lancaster also was also quick to praise England newcomer Matt Smith. "He's a great example of someone who's come through the Academy system," he said of the Leicester wing. "He's been a virtual ever present in the Tigers side, keeping out the likes of Alex Tuilagi and thoroughly deserves his chance."

England Saxons play Portugal in Stockport next Friday January 30 (kick off 8pm). Tickets are available from www.salesharks.com priced from just £5 for adults.

Also on this week's rfu.com podcast:

* Strettle back on the mettle - having got the surgeon's all clear, Harlequins flier David Strettle is back in training and eager to prove that he still has that something special. Two years ago his Saxons' performance against Ireland A catapulted the debutant into England Test side - can he do it again?

For the full interviews, check out today's rfu.com podcast at www.rfu.com/podcast. Here, you can listen to the weekly podcast or subscribe to itunes and have it delivered straight to your inbox each week.

The rfu.com podcast takes you inside English rugby from the grassroots to the elite.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:01:22:16:18:28 by Kath..

Re: England Saxons squad announced to face Portugal
Posted by: SideStep (IP Logged)
Date: 24/01/2009 18:51

As a Leeds fan I'm glad to see Lanny sticking with lads he has helped turn into top players from his days at Leeds Tykes or Carnegie as it is now and i am sure Webber, Crano and Myall will thrive from the attention and as far as Webber and Myall are concerned i feel will both break into the England 1st 15 like Crane and Care have from their Leeds days.

The first Leeds Tykes child mascot...#leedswasps0203season. #cheersbentos

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