Picking a potential England Saxons XV
It’s been two and a half years since the England Saxons were last seen, as the RFU’s designated second side, which also operates as England’s capture side, remains dormant.
The Saxons’ last action was in the summer of 2016, when the group toured South Africa and took on South Africa A in a two-match series, where they came under the stewardship of Ali Hepher, Andy Titterrell and Alan Dickens.
The Saxons won the series 2-0 and it provided a platform for a number of players to step up to full England honours, such as Alec Hepburn, Don Armand – now the top-ranked openside in the Gallagher Premiership with an RPI of 83 – and Charlie Ewels, as well as shining a further spotlight on Danny Cipriani, who returned to South Africa two years later with the senior England side.
Fixtures between the Saxons and the Irish Wolfhounds used to be commonplace and whilst you would think the shift in World Rugby regulations that mean U20 sides can no longer be the designated capture sides for nations, only the ‘second’ or ‘A’ sides, would result in more fixtures for the Saxons, it has instead seen them fade away.
With the likes of Will Addison and Mike Haley lost to Ireland, Jake Polledri throwing in with Italy and swathes more dual-eligible players having their eyes turned by the offer of more immediate international rugby with other nations, you would think that a revival of the Saxons would one of the more pressing concerns at the RFU.
If the Saxons and the Wolfhounds were to meet over the next couple of months, as used to be the way, what might the Saxons squad look like? Bearing in mind the purposes of the side, firstly as a stepping stone to the senior side, and secondly as a way of tying up players of promise who are being courted by other nations, we have put together what a prospective XV might look like.
Back three – Ollie Thorley (73), Nathan Earle (61) and Alex Goode (88)
In Thorley and Earle, you have arguably the two most in-form English wings in the Gallagher Premiership. They have been integral to their club sides this season, boast physical abilities which would see them able to cope with the step up to international rugby and at 22 (Thorley) and 24 (Earle), have their best years ahead of them and plenty of room to grow.
Goode is a slightly different approach, with the ever-impressive Saracen, for whatever reason, having been on the outside of Eddie Jones’ plans over the last three years. The Saxons would give him an opportunity to show he can replicate his club ability at a higher level, although if Jones is simply not interested in the full-back for style or skill set reasons, then it would be a chance to have a look at Jason Woodward, who has been involved with England’s senior side previously, although he has yet to win a cap.
Centres – Mark Atkinson (68)/Ryan Mills (64) and Joe Marchant (65)
A chance to see Atkinson or Mills at this level should be one that Jones would embrace. He has moved away from Owen Farrell at 12, instead slotting him into his preferred spot at 10, but it’s a shift which hinges significantly on Ben Te’o being fit. If Jones were to have an option cut from Farrell’s cloth at 12, such as Atkinson or Mills, it would be a nice security blanket for the Australian, who could then forge ahead with Farrell as his fly-half, knowing he has alternative options at 12.
Tying up Marchant would be another savvy move for England, with the 22-year-old earning some covetous glances of late. As he continues to grow more accustomed to Paul Gustard’s system at Harlequins and thrives alongside the swift and clinical operators of Earle and Marcus Smith, as well as the emerging pair of Cadan Murley and Gabriel Ibitoye, Marchant is looking more and more like a difference-maker at the next level.
Sale Sharks’ Sam James would be worth a look, too, whilst England tying down teammate Cam Redpath would give plenty of people peace of mind. Newcastle Falcons’ Jonny Williams is another that England should be keen to tie down, with the centre eligible for both Wales and Scotland.
Half-back pairing – Jack Maunder (76) and Marcus Smith (56)
Maunder already has an England cap to his name but is someone the senior side are likely to look increasingly towards in the next cycle, when both Danny Care and Ben Youngs may play lesser roles. The scrum-half has taken the opportunities that have come his way at Exeter well and this would be a chance to see how he does in a different environment with unfamiliar teammates. As a pure passing scrum-half, he is already quite polished.
As for Smith, he sees and uses space on a rugby pitch unlike any other English fly-half. He is a unique attacking weapon in England’s armoury and defensively he has embraced his smaller stature, consistently going low and efficiently chop tackling, rather than going high and being caught by fends. Unseating Farrell is an unenviable task and the experience of George Ford is likely to win out in a race for the back-up spot at the Rugby World Cup, making the Saxons a perfect way of helping to continue Smith’s development.
Front row – Ellis Genge (70), Jack Singleton (61) and Will Stuart (71)
Genge is already a full international and should be right in the mix for the England 23 at the Six Nations, but so is Ben Moon, who was one of the standout performers of the November internationals. If Moon has done enough to seal the back-up spot behind Mako Vunipola, something which is conceivable with Genge having only recently come back from injury, then the 23-year-old could thrive with the Saxons.
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Worcester hooker Singleton has been knocking on England’s door over the last year or two, but it’s proven difficult to dislodge the trio of Dylan Hartley, Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie. In the Saxons, he could erase any doubts about his lineout throwing and show that he can step up to the next level. It’s a similar story for Stuart, who has flashed his ability this season for Wasps and England need to identify who can compete with Kyle Sinckler and Harry Williams in the next cycle, with plenty of talented young tightheads around in English rugby, but many of them lacking experience.
Second row – Jonny Hill (87) and Nick Isiekwe (84)
This pair have been just on the outside of England reckoning of late, with Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Courtney Lawes and Joe Launchbury well-established as England’s quartet of locks for the short-term. That said, both Hill and Isiekwe have repeatedly distinguished themselves at Premiership and European levels and it’s a no-brainer to get a better look at two players likely to be more involved with the senior side in the next RWC cycle.
Loose forwards – Alex Dombrandt (65), Ben Earl (84) and Zach Mercer (67)
Dombrandt has been tearing up trees with Harlequins since his return to the club and Earl has fitted in seamlessly to Saracens’ back row, looking comfortable alongside players such as Billy Vunipola, Schalk Burger and Jackson Wray. There is no shortage of alternatives, either, with Lewis Ludlow, Ben Curry and Ted Hill – if not with England – chief among them, but these two would complement each other well and it would, like the second rows, prepare them for more involvement with the seniors in the next cycle.
Unfortunately for Mercer, he has seemed to be just on the outside of the England equation, with Vunipola a must-pick and both Mark Wilson and Nathan Hughes preferred by Jones when fit. The opportunity to be a leader and focal point with the Saxons, a role that Itoje excelled in a few years ago, could see him more successfully force his way into contention with that trio in the years to come. His abilities to keep phases alive, stretch defences and find space, even in the more congested areas of the pitch around the fringes, are arguably unsurpassed among English back rowers.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Very 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.
2 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 commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to comments