England Saxons team announced to face Portugal
By Patrick
January 28 2009
England Saxons boss Stuart Lancaster has selected a young and exciting side to take on Portugal at Edgeley Park on Friday night. Lancaster's side has an average age of just 22, but is full of Premiership and international experienc with several players looking to make a big impression on England manager Martin Johnson ahead of the Six Nations.
ENGLAND SAXONS v PORTUGAL
England Saxons Head Coach Stuart Lancaster has named four Tigers in the team to take on Portugal this Friday. As well as this, recently banned Harry Ellis makes a welcome return to action a week before the Six Nations is due to commence. His inclusion in the starting line up will give England manager Martin Johnson a chance to assess the England scrum half's form in time for the start of the tournament. England’s young guns, whose average age is just 22, take on Portugal’s full international side, known as Los Lobos or the Wolves, at Stockport’s Edgeley Park, home of Sale Sharks this Friday, January 30 (8pm, live on Sky Sports 1).
Up front, Leicester’s Dan Cole props down at loose-head whilst his Tigers team mate Jordan Crane moves from his usual No 8 position to join Wasps’ George Skivington in the second row. Crane’s place in the back row is taken by skipper Phil Dowson, whilst Saxons newcomers Kearnan Myall (Leeds Carnegie) and Andy Saull (Saracens) start on the flanks. Completing the pack are fellow Saxons’ debutant and Wasps’ hooker Rob Webber and experienced Falcons’ prop Dave Wilson. Said Head Coach Stuart Lancaster, “This is a team based on potential for the future and that’s very much what England Saxons, and this game especially, is about. “It’s a great opportunity for a lot of young talented players to put a marker down on the international stage.”
Five of last year’s successful England U20s squad that won the Grand Slam and reached the final of the Junior World Championship are joined by a host of other young players, like Barnes and Powell, who have already shown their form in the Guinness Premiership. “Then you’ve got the likes of Phil Dowson and Jordan Crane who will bring experience as well as their club form into the side,” added Lancaster. For England scrum half Harry Ellis, the match marks his return to action after a six week absence. “Harry has been outstanding all week in training and it’ll be great for him to get some game time, “said Lancaster. “I know the senior coaches are keen to see him back in action and this is the perfect stage.”
Despite the short turn around, the players got together on Monday after a busy weekend of European action, Lancaster and Assistant Coach Paul Hull are pleased with their preparations. “The players have applied themselves very well and really bought into the culture of the team we’re trying to create. “They’re looking forward to challenging and expressing themselves against tough, and far more senior, international opposition.” London Irish flanker Jon Fisher, the youngest member of the squad at just 20, joined the squad yesterday in place of the injured Ben Woods and takes his place on the bench. “Jon is another example of a player who excelled in the Under 20s World Championship and this is a great development opportunity for him,” said Lancaster. Tickets for England Saxons match against Portugal this Friday are available from Sale Sharks (www.salesharks.com) and are priced at just £10 for adults and £5 for juniors. England Saxons Replacements * Denotes capped player Portugal: tbc England Saxons fixtures 2009 January 30 February 6 June 6-20
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will be at Edgeley Park tomorrow....
Bravo Dowson, but he could do with a move to a club where he's not getting constantly pummelled, he's a fine player.
How much better does the Saxons kit look than the one the seniors have to trot out in!
Quote:The Hookers Union
Can't wait....
will be at Edgeley Park tomorrow....
`Aye. Bit far for me that. Ill be stuk in frunt`t telly wit beer cod chips an mooshy peez.
Quote:Hobnobs
How much better does the Saxons kit look than the one the seniors have to trot out in!
Thankfully we're due a refresh in the summer I think. I'd love the sernior side to adopt the saxons design but I doubt that'll happen.
The recent withdrawals from the main squad have shown exactly why so many experienced players were named in the Saxons squad. If you need to replace front-line players, as you invariably do, the agreement only permits you to do that from the Saxons squad, so you can't fill that with nothing but promising rookies.
Hopefully, bingewasher has grasped that by now!
That was never the argument/point. The whole issue was about who PLAYS for the Saxons. Nothing more.
Follow the threads.
I know what a clan is, but I've never come across a fub before.
In stark contrast, I'm well acquainted with binges and washers.
Pray tell us, o Wise One - what is the next stage of your master plan?
Johnson bent it to breaking point with Armitage, so that's one good thing.
Quote:Clubfan1
Now I understand. We should have the experienced players in the Saxons squad, but they shouldn't actually play. Yes, that makes perfect sense. Can't think why I hadn't cottoned on to the wisdom of that before.
I know what a clan is, but I've never come across a fub before.
Pray tell us, o Wise One - what is the next stage of your master plan?
I cant think why you didnt cotton on to that either.
I could offer a few possibilities mind you, but Im a polite and respectful individual.
That would be even dafter than the system which currently dictates selection. It's crazy that the Saxons squad selection can't be seen in isolation, and has to be done with an eye on the implications for the senior squad, but that's the system, and it would be idiotic not to select in a way which makes the best of a@#$%&system. It's the system which is at fault, as it is responsible for the selection.
32 minus 22 apparently equals 12. Thats 12 players in the original squad who will have nothing to do with the Saxons game.
Thats 12 opportunities to have reserves for the big team.
Can you grasp that?
Young players learn far more from playing alongside somebody experienced than they will from playing in a team full of fellow rookies. Any A side should be a mixture of youth and experience. If you want a team full of young players, watch the U-20s.
The players tonight will have to stand up for themselves without having a hand to hold on to. Its a big test of what they are really made of and theres nothing wrong with that.
Itll sort the men out from the boys.
Brutal? Yes, and why not?
Who impressed?
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:01:31:01:06:58 by phil_t.
Goode changed the pace and accuracy of the game when he came on. Powell was much more effective with Goode, which is hardly surprising given that they are team mates.
England should be looking to get Barritt into an England shirt asap (if he wants to) as he was rated very highly by the saffers, but is still England qualified.
Quote:England should be looking to get Barritt into an England shirt asap (if he wants to) as he was rated very highly by the saffers, but is still England qualified.
I thought he had played for SA 'A'?
