England's 2016 U20 World Champion side - where are they now?
Having enjoyed plenty of success at U20 level in recent years, England have had the luxury of an exciting pool of players to select from under both Stuart Lancaster and Eddie Jones.
The likes of Maro Itoje, Elliot Daly, Billy Vunipola, Kyle Sinckler and Anthony Watson are just a handful of players from the 2011-2014 period of English age-grade rugby who are now regulars in the senior squad and have played prominent roles in the improving fortunes of the national team since 2015.
The England U20s’ last title, in 2016, saw them thump Ireland in the final, but as of yet, it has failed to produce the same number of difference-makers at the senior level as their opponents that day, with Andrew Porter, James Ryan and Jacob Stockdale all playing valuable roles in Ireland’s Six Nations Grand Slam this year.
We look at the XV that took to the field against Ireland in 2016, see where they are now and what their international prospects look like moving forward.
- Max Malins
The versatile fly-half/full-back is impressing in limited appearances at Saracens and has earned an extension to his contract in north London. Sitting behind Owen Farrell and Alex Lozowski on the depth chart is an unenviable position to be in, but he is progressing well and making the most of the opportunities that come his way. To really push for international recognition, he’ll either need to move club or supplant Lozowski as Farrell’s deputy.
- Sam Aspland-Robinson
Injuries have played their part in preventing Aspland-Robinson from making the breakthrough at Harlequins and now he has the exciting talent of Gabriel Ibitoye to compete with, as well as fellow senior academy members Max Coyle and Cadan Murley. If he can stay fit and feature in the Premiership, don’t rule out international caps in the future, but it’s currently a competitive position in English rugby.
- Joe Marchant
Another Harlequins player who has suffered with injuries, although Marchant has already made the breakthrough into Quins’ first-choice XV. Injury denied him England caps during the summer tour of Argentina last summer, whilst another injury has marred his 2017/18 campaign, but he has been looking sharp since recovering from that in the last few weeks. Don’t rule him out from touring South Africa this summer with the seniors.
- Johnny Williams
This powerful inside centre is on the radar of both Wales and Ireland, too, but what looked like a career destined for early England caps has been hindered somewhat by London Irish’s relegation to the Championship and their struggles this year back in the top tier. He hasn’t quite made the “leap” yet but is still a very talented player who offers something different to most of England’s options at 12. Expect him to leave Irish this summer should they be relegated to the Championship again.
- Matt Gallagher
Another player on the cusp for Saracens, with the versatile back-three player regularly impressing in the A League and the Anglo-Welsh Cup. The departure of Nathan Earle and the retirement of Chris Wyles has been mitigated by the arrivals of Alex Lewington and David Strettle, so it remains to be seen if more playing time will open up next season. With the depth of options Saracens have, he may be a player best suited to moving away for more playing time.
- Harry Mallinder
The, now, full-back has been involved in a couple of England training camps and will be well aware of what it is he needs to improve to see regular playing time with the senior side. His range, kicking game, handling and physical attributes are all very well-suited to playing full-back at the international level and if Northampton Saints can shore up his defensive work, then international caps are likely to follow.
- Max Green
Bath snapped up Green from Yorkshire Carnegie earlier this season but having just secured the signing of Will Chudley for next season, as well as retaining Kahn Fotuali’i, game time could be slim for the scrum-half. England’s nine jersey could be wide open after the 2019 Rugby World Cup, so Green has time on his side, but there are plenty of contenders to fill the spot, such as Dan Robson, Ben Spencer and Jack Maunder.
- Lewis Boyce
Like Mallinder, Boyce has been involved in larger England squads and is clearly highly thought of by Jones and the rest of the England coaching staff. He is moving into a more prominent role with Quins now, having made the move from Yorkshire Carnegie, but with the likes of Mako Vunipola, Joe Marler, Ellis Genge, Alec Hepburn and Beno Obano about, predicting England caps anytime soon would be bold.
- Jack Singleton
A similar story to Boyce, really, with a mountain of competition to contend with for an England spot, such as Jamie George, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Tommy Taylor and Tom Dunn, not to mention current captain Dylan Hartley. Singleton did tour Argentina with England last summer, but Hartley played the full 80 minutes in both matches and the Worcester hooker remains, for now, uncapped.
- Billy Walker
The big tighthead is another player biding his time in the Saracens senior academy, with the likes of Vincent Koch and Juan Figallo ahead of him. Injuries have played their part in preventing him from making his breakthrough so far.
- Stan South
South has slowly risen through the ranks at Quins but is still largely resigned to opportunities in the A League and Anglo-Welsh Cup, the latter of which he put in performances of note this season and was shortlisted for the Breakthrough Player of the Year. English rugby is in fine fettle with its stock of locks and its hard to see a cap coming soon for South, for whom breaking into the regular Quins 23 will be the priority.
- Huw Taylor
A player of some promise for Worcester a couple of years ago, opportunities have been limited for the hybrid second and back-rower. He has decided to try his luck with the Dragons next season and will, presumably, be bidding to make the senior Wales squad, for whom he is also eligible.
- George Nott
Like Taylor, Nott can shift easily between the second and back-rows and is also Welsh-qualified, but he has recently signed a new deal with Sale Sharks. One of the more mobile rear five forwards in the Premiership, Nott is a potential mismatch nightmare for defences. If Sale can continue to rise up the league and Nott can nail down a spot in the XV, his international stock will rise.
- Will Evans
A player who may, were it not for injury, have an England cap already. Jones is a big fan of Evans and the openside has been on the Australian’s radar for a while now. A fractured eye socket has limited his opportunities for Leicester Tigers this season but if he can finish strongly and stay fit heading into the 2018/19 campaign, he is RWC bolter material.
- Callum Chick
Unfortunately for Chick, he hasn’t quite been able to make the breakthrough for Newcastle Falcons, with many teams at the Premiership level preferring the more dynamic options at No 8. He regularly impresses in the A League, Anglo-Welsh Cup and Challenge Cup, but has thus far struggled to break into the trio of Mark Wilson, Will Welch and Nili Latu.
Other notables:
Zach Mercer, in his first year of U20 eligibility in 2016, is currently right on the cusp of an England spot with Vunipola injured, whilst Wasps’ Jack Willis has been at the centre of a campaign for a call-up, such has been his form this season.
Ollie Thorley has been shining for Gloucester and can’t be too far off a call-up to an expanded England squad when he returns to fitness next season.
Theo Brophy Clews is developing into the kind of hybrid playmaker England rate in their midfield and may be another to leave Irish to pursue senior international ambitions, whilst Jack Walker has been beset by the worst injury luck since he made the move from Yorkshire Carnegie to Bath.
Comments on RugbyPass
Brayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to comments