Skipper: Jordan Crane
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Leicester number eight Jordan Crane has been handed the captaincy duties for the England Saxons in Friday's clash with the Ireland Wolfhounds.
He's one of six internationals in the XV along with Matt Mullan, Paul Doran-Jones, Joe Simpson, Jordan Turner-Hall and Richard Wigglesworth.
Elliot Daly and Joel Tomkins are in the backline of a young Saxons outfit while Saracens pair George Kruis and Will Fraser will start in the back-row.
Four more replacements are also set to make their first appearances at this level with former England U20 trio Rob Buchanan, Shaun Knight and George Lowe joined by ex-Rugby League international Kyle Eastmond.
"This is a dynamic young side with an average age of less than 24 and the players have a chance to show that they can play a major part of the future of England Rugby over the coming years. The blend of forward power and pace in the back line makes it an exciting one to be involved with," said head coach Jon Callard.
"We're facing an experienced Irish side in this opening game and the challenge is to step up and deliver a high quality performance in front of a passionate crowd in Galway."
England Saxons: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Joel Tomkins, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 George Ford, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Jordan Crane (capt), 7 Will Fraser, 6 George Kruis, 5 George Robson, 4 Graham Kitchener, 3 Paul Doran-Jones, 2 Joe Gray, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Rob Buchanan, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Shaun Knight, 19 Ed Slater, 20 Jamie Gibson, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 George Lowe, 23 Kyle Eastmond.
Date: Friday, January 25
Kick-off: 19:35
Venue: The Sportsground
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)
Assistant referees: Sean Brickell (Wales), Chris Williams (Wales)
Television match official: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales)
Assessor: Tim Aplin (Ireland)
Comments
rugby_rockstar says...
Has anyone found any tv channel of web site that's showing this match yet? Its going to be a corker.
Posted 12:24 24th January 2013
Frooschman says...
On a slightly different topic, why isn't Jordan Crance a better player? When he came on the scene I expected big things from him but he's never really taken the next step. I don't watch him enough to know why but he's got the look of 'club-man' about him. In which case why pick him for the Saxons - unless that underlines a serious lack of young talent at No8 in this country?
Posted 12:24 24th January 2013
damo says...
Hey Dan Murphy from Gloucester is he English?
I hope he's Irish cos when that clown Kidney gets sacked a good manager would have him playing for us for sure!!!
Posted 10:46 24th January 2013
DrDeath says...
@sirtidychris
Thought Botica wanted his home country ie NZ. He might opt for Wales, I believe he spent some of his childhood in Llanelli!!
Posted 10:46 24th January 2013
TVaddict says...
@sirtidychris
They're probably considering Eastmond as a fly-half, but I agree that's a bad move. Cipriani would be all right on the bench covering 10, a game changer. Other than him I can't think of any worthwhile players at fly-half.
As for Attwood, for me he can't be considered until he's holding a first team place regularly. Hence why I'd go for Matt Garvey. He's big, mobile, runs the lineout at London Irish and he covers 6. When he played for Saxons before he totally outplayed Robson, I remember the commentators being surprised that this player they'd hardly heard of was performing so much better than Robson. If he was playing for a bigger team he'd be on the verges of an England call up let alone Saxons.
Posted 10:43 24th January 2013
BMakka8 says...
@sirtidychris - I thought exactly the same about fly-half. I also wonder why Richard Wigglesworth is starting, he's not exactly the future at 9 for England.
However, I disagree about Attwood. I think that Slater is a much better 4 and Kitchener a better 5. Personally, I'd rate Slater above Kitchener and look forward to seeing him playing for England in future.
Posted 10:37 24th January 2013
Frooschman says...
I really like that team - especially the back line! And the game's on ESPN so that's my Friday night sorted.
@ sirtidychris It's my understanding that Botica hasn't decided where to hang his internationl hat and the last I read there were rumours of a return to NZ???
As for Attwood - couldn't agree more! However, until he makes the starting birth at Bath his own you can't pick him. (I make a similar argument about O. Farrell but that's a different story!)
Posted 10:24 24th January 2013
lawynd says...
@sirtidychris - Every time I've watched Bath, the lineout has looked a mess; could that perhaps indeed be why locks from clubs with better lineouts (like Leicester and Saracens) get called up first? He is a great talent in the loose and a real pest at the breakdown but you've got to be able to perform your bread and butter skills first and foremost.
Posted 10:13 24th January 2013
sirtidychris says...
Replacement flyhalf anyone ?? Kyle eastmond and Elliot Daly are not flyhalfs and should never be viewed as an option there until regular game time. I feel like a chance has been missed here to give Ben Botica a run out, or maybe it would have been Tom Heathcote had he not put a kilt on instead. Also cant believe Dave Attwood is not even on the bench he is a real abrasive enforcer and better than alot of the names ahead of him, were he a saracens or leicester lock and playing at the the same level he is now he would be in the EPS.
Posted 09:48 24th January 2013