Hat-trick for Hodgson as England U18 pile up points against
By RFU Press Release
July 22 2010
England made 10 changes to the side that beat a Namibia XV 35-10 last week – and started only seven of the players who posted their 33-16 win against France at Newbury back in February.
Hat-trick for Hodgson as England U18 pile up points against France
The RGS Newcastle and Newcastle Falcons fly half led the way as England touched down 10 times in the second game of their South Africa tour. The result extended their winning sequence to 19 international victories since the summer of 2007 going into the final game against South Africa U18 in Port Elizabeth on Friday. England made 10 changes to the side that beat a Namibia XV 35-10 last week – and started only seven of the players who posted their 33-16 win against France at Newbury back in February. But they mixed back-line fluency and forward power with Oaklands and Saracens lock Tom Jubb marking his debut with a try while fly half Henry Slade (Plymouth College & Exeter Chiefs) and former Crediton centre Sam Hill (Ivybridge & Exeter Chiefs) also won their first caps off the bench. The other tries were shared by lock George Merrick (Whitgift & Harlequins), hooker Nathan Moris (Sedbergh & Newcastle Falcons), full back Ben Ransom (Tonbridge & Saracens), wing Charlie Walker (Oakham & Leicester Tigers) and replacement flanker Sam Northcote-Green (Dulwich & London Wasps) and Slade. Centre Tommy Bell (Bacup & Rawtenstall GS & Sale Sharks) added three conversions, Slade two and centre Elliott Daly (Whitgift & London Wasps) one. Head coach John Fletcher said: “In the first half we were good and played with lots of tempo and pace, caused France problems and moved the ball well. “The second was a bit patchy and we made a few unforced errors but fair play to France, they made us work hard and were dangerous when they had the ball. “Overall I’m really pleased with the performance though and we’ll have to step it up again when we face South Africa on Friday.”
England U18: Ben Ransom (Tonbridge & Saracens); Mark Jennings (Lymm HS & Sale Sharks), Elliot Daly (Whitgift & London Wasps), Tommy Bell (Bacup and Rawtenstall GS & Sale Sharks), Charlie Walker (Oakham & Harlequins); Joel Hodgson (RGS Newcastle & Newcastle Falcons), Dan Robson (Hartpury College & Gloucester Rugby); Luke Cowan-Dickie (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs), Nathan Moris (Sedbergh & Newcastle Falcons), Kyle Sinckler (Epsom College & Harlequins), George Merrick (Whitgift School & Harlequins), Tom Jubb (Oaklands College & Saracens), Will Skuse (Bryanston & Bath Rugby), Chris Walker (Prince Henry's GS, Otley & Leeds Carnegie, captain), Billy Vunipola (Harrow & London Wasps, vice captain) Replacements: Koree Britton (Ivybridge College & Gloucester Rugby) for Moris 65, Nick Auterac (Oaklands College & Saracens) for Cowan-Dickie 55, Anthony Brennan (Twyford CofE & London Wasps) for Sinckler 65, Will Spencer (St Paul's Catholic & Bath Rugby) for Merrick 45, Sam Northcote-Green (Dulwich College & London Wasps) for Vunipola, Henry Slade (Plymouth College & Exeter Chiefs) for Bell 38, Sam Hill (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs) for Daly 65, Anthony Watson (St George's College, Weybridge & London Irish) for Ransom 65, Dominic Barrow (Prince Henry's GS, Otley & Leeds Carnegie) for Chris Walker 68. |
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There are four changes to the England Under 18 side facing South Africa in the final game of their summer tour in Port Elizabeth tomorrow (1.25pm).
England ran in 10 tries in beating France 66-19 on Tuesday to extend their winning run to 19 international victories since the summer of 2007.
They opened the trip with a 35-10 win against a Namibia Invitation side and now take on a South Africa side that will want to make amends for a 45-13 defeat at Kimberley last July.
Head coach John Fletcher has brought in four forwards - a new front row of Nick Auterac (Oaklands College & Saracens), Koree Britton (Ivybridge College & Gloucester Rugby) and Anthony Brennan (Twyford C of E & London Wasps) and lock Dominic Barrow (Prince Henry's GS, Otley & Leeds Carnegie).
Fletcher praised the impact new captain Chris Walker and deputy Billy Vunipola have made since taking over the leadership of the side this summer.
"Chris has excelled in the way he's taken his first chance to lead the side and he's been really well supported by Billy on this trip," said Fletcher.
"The players have gelled together really well and been complimented wherever we've been for their behaviour on and off the pitch.
"Overall we're very happy with how everyone's performed so this was a tough selection to make. The players on the bench will still have a big influence on the game and we know South Africa are always going to be tough to beat at any level."
England Under 18
15 Ben Ransom (Tonbridge & Saracens)
14 Mark Jennings (Lymm HS & Sale Sharks)
13 Elliot Daly (Whitgift & London Wasps)
12 Tommy Bell (Bacup & Rawtenstall GS & Sale Sharks)
11 Charlie Walker (Oakham & Harlequins)
10 Joel Hodgson (RGS Newcastle & Newcastle Falcons)
9 Dan Robson (Hartpury College & Gloucester Rugby)
1 Nick Auterac (Oaklands College & Saracens)
2 Koree Britton (Ivybridge College & Gloucester Rugby)
3 Anthony Brennan (Twyford C of E & London Wasps)
4 George Merrick (Whitgift & Harlequins)
5 Dominic Barrow (Prince Henry's GS, Otley & Leeds Carnegie)
6 Will Skuse (Bryanston & Bath Rugby)
7 Chris Walker (Prince Henry's GS, Otley & Leeds Carnegie, captain)
8 Billy Vunipola (Harrow & London Wasps, vice captain)
Replacements
16 Nathan Moris (Sedbergh & Newcastle Falcons)
17 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs)
18 Kyle Sinckler (Epsom College & Harlequins)
19 Will Spencer (St Paul's Catholic & Bath Rugby)
20 Sam Northcote-Green (Dulwich College & London Wasps)
21 Henry Slade (Plymouth College & Exeter Chiefs)
22 Sam Hill (Ivybridge College & Exeter Chiefs)
23 Anthony Watson (St George's College, Weybridge & London Irish)
ENGLAND’S latest hat trick hero has vowed to put the team’s record winning run to the back of his mind as he prepares to face South Africa tomorrow.
The latest Hodgson halfback for England, Newcastle Falcon Joel, will start at fly half for England U18s tomorrow and told today’s RFU podcast, “No-one wants to be part of the team that loses a fantastic record like that.
“But to honest it’s not really on our minds at the moment. We’re just focusing on this game and preparing the way we always have done. I hope that’ll come good in the end.”
John Fletcher’s young guns stretched their winning international run to 19 games when they ran in ten tries to beat France 66-19 on Tuesday. Fletcher’s men dispatched a Namibian XV 35-10 in their opening South African tour match, having completed a third successive Grand Slam earlier this year.
Friday’s big test against South Africa comes a year after their landmark 45-13 win over the junior Springboks in Kimberley. Having started at scrum half for first game and run in 3 tries from fly half for the second, Hodgson retains his preferred number 10 shirt
“At club I’ve gone for 10 but I would never turn down a chance to play for my country. If they asked me to play anywhere I would, it all helps me for the future.”
You can read a full match report for this and all England matches at www.rfu.com.
Also on this week’s podcast:
• Rugby’s heroes - BBC Radio Newcastle summariser Ian Smith opens the cover on his new Rugby Union: The Men Who Make The Game, which features fifteen iconic interviews with some of the sport’s top names, capturing the essence of their journeys to the very top of the sport.
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