Pictures: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency

Mark Stevens at Parc Y Scarlets

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter praised his side’s “attitude and commitment” as they kicked off their pre-season programme with a 23-15 victory over Scarlets at Parc Y Scarlets.

In the first of three pre-season tests ahead of their seasonal opener at Northampton Saints on September 7, Baxter would certainly have been satisfied as his side brushed aside the Welsh region.

Tries from Damian Welch and Will Carrick-Smith (pictured), coupled with kicks from Gareth Steenson and Henry Slade, sealed a workmanlike success for the Aviva Premiership outfit who last season twice overcame the Scarlets in the prestigious Heineken Cup.

“First and foremost we’ve come out of a hard fought game with a decent victory and feeling pretty good about quite a few things in our play,” said Baxter afterwards. “I think unfortunately for ourselves and the Scarlets, conditions dictated that we had to adapt our game somewhat. We probably had to do a bit more kicking, chasing and defending rather than play any multi-phase stuff, so that’s a bit of a shame.

“At the same time, it does test other parts of your game and for large parts I was pretty pleased with how we went. Of course there are things that we will need to work on over the next few weeks, but for a first outing I think we can be relatively happy with how we went about things.”

Baxter added: “For me pre-season is always a big test of attitude and commitment and I thought we showed that pretty well. We were physical in the contact and tackle area; we kept the ball well and in the end we scored a decent amount of points to win the game.

“We’ve also come out of the game with no major injuries, the only concern is Stu Townsend who has picked up a slight hamstring niggle, but other than that we’ve come through well and now we’ll take stock of things and get ready for next week against Bristol and then Glasgow the week after.”

As expected, Baxter took the opportunity to give a large number of his first team squad some much-needed game time – and they did not disappoint as they produced a workmanlike display to overcome their Welsh hosts.

And among those who did feature were England Under-20s trio Slade, Sam Hill and Luke Cowan-Dickie (pictured). Together with Jack Nowell and Joel Conlon, the trio were part of England’s Junior World Championship winning side this summer and Baxter is expecting big things this term from the highly-rated youngsters.

“Our senior squad has got a good amount of young talent in there now,” continued Baxter. “Our average age has come down considerably in the last season or two and that is good for the club moving first.

“As I said, for a first run-out in pre-season to come to Llanelli and record a decent win – in what was pretty difficult conditions – is very positive for us. The young lads within the squad did very well when they came on in the second half and we’ll expect more of the same as the season goes on from them,

“Likewise, the senior guys also put in a pretty decent shift and over the next week or two we’ll just look to focus on certain things and make sure we’re fully firing come the start of the season.”

With Championship side Bristol next up at Sandy Park this Saturday, quickly followed by another home engagement against Glasgow Warriors the following week, Baxter expects things to crank up another notch.

He added: “Everything will become a little bit tougher because we’ve all have a game or two under our belts. Bristol will have had a game under their belts, Glasgow a week later will have had two like us, so we’ll narrow down our focus of what we want to get from those games.

“We won’t probably get as much game minutes into people as we did today and we’ll focus training more on specific areas, but what I guess we’ll look for most is a few less errors in our play and look to sharpen up on a few key areas within our game.”

The post Baxter ‘pleased’ with win appeared first on Exeter Chiefs.

Pictures: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency

Scarlets 15

Exeter Chiefs 23

Mark Stevens at Parc Y Scarlets

On the weekend when Mo Farah and Usain Bolt again proved they were on the right track in Russia, so too are the Exeter Chiefs up and running as they kicked off their pre-season campaign with victory in Wales.

Having defeated the Scarlets twice in last season’s Heineken Cup, Rob Baxter’s side again proved too strong for the Welsh region as they secured a creditable 23-15 success at Parc Y Scarlets.

A converted try in each half from Damian Welch and Will Carrick-Smith, coupled with kicks from Gareth Steenson and Henry Slade, ensured the ideal start for the Devon club in the first of three pre-season games ahead of their seasonal opener at Northampton Saints on September 7.

With head coach Baxter having strengthened his resources this summer with six new faces – as well as the imminent arrival of Maori lock Romana Graham – it was only Tom James of the new stock that was given a parading from the outset in this game.

Aside from the Welsh international who has joined from Cardiff Blues, the Chiefs had a familiar look to their line-up that took to the field in the Principality. However, it was the home side who made the brighter start to this contest.

The Scarlets broke the deadlock early on when fly-half Steve Shingler fired them in front with a penalty, this after the Chiefs had somehow survived an early raid on their try-line from home flanker Dan Thomas, who was somehow held up on the line by a combination of Exeter defenders.

Shingler, back in Llanelli for a second time following a short stint in the Aviva Premiership with London Irish, had the chance to double tally shortly after when the Chiefs were penalised at scrum time, but this time he shanked his kick wide of the left post.

The Chiefs needed to respond and after a spell of concerted pressure deep inside home territory, they drew level when the deadly right boot of Steenson fired them on terms with a penalty after the home side were penalised for straying offside in front of their own posts.

With the game back on level terms, so the visitors began to crank up the pace in the difficult and wet conditions. Sharp handling, together with some powerful approach play, was paying dividends for the Chiefs and it was not long before they took the lead.

Indeed, the first try arrived when a quick free-kick from Will Chudley released Steenson into space and the Irishman tore down field before offloading to compatriot Ian Whitten, who was held just short of the line following a powerful charge of his own.

Chudley, though, was again quickly on the scene at the breakdown and his simple pop pass back inside allowed former Scarlets player Welch to flop over from close range.

Steenson obliged with the extras to that score before then adding a penalty as the Chiefs stormed into a 10-point lead with a second penalty on 20 minutes.

Sadly the Chiefs failed to build on that early ascendancy and over the remaining minutes of the first half, they allowed their Welsh hosts to haul themselves back into the game and claim a slender lead by the half-time break.

First, scrum-half Gareth Davies found his way over the whitewash after he sniped off the back of a Scarlets maul to claim their first try, which Shingler duly converted.

Then with the last action of the half, a well-created move enabled the Welshmen to create an overlap wide on the left that winger Jordan Williams exploited to slide over in the left corner to make it 15-13 at the turn.

Baxter, as expected, utilised his squad to the full during the second period, making 13 changes during the half-time break. Only James and Whitten remained from the first half as the Chiefs looked to get valuable game time into their plethora of travelling troops.

And it was one of those newcomers, England Under-20s starlet Slade, that kicked the Chiefs back in front eight minutes into the second period when he thundered over a 40-metre penalty after the Scarlets were pulled up for infringing at a ruck.

Shortly after and the Chiefs could have added to their advantage as a series of pick-and-go raids from the pack saw them punch themselves to within inches of the line. However, just as the visitors look set to pounce they sadly infringed and the opportunity was lost.

At the other end, the Scarlets threatened themselves when Gareth Maule cutting a lovely line through the heart of the Chiefs midfield, only to be felled by some excellent defence from Phil Dollman.

Further replacements meant the second half failed to hit the same heights as that of the first period, although the introduction of hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie into the fray certainly gave some late impetus to the Exeter cause.

The young Cornishman, who was one of five Chiefs who sealed Junior World Championship success with England during the summer, wasted little time in showcasing his talents with some trademark bulldozing runs and a catalogue of big hits on the opposition.

It was his efforts that helped win the turnover from which the Chiefs claimed their second try. With the ball having been stolen, lock Tom Hayes demonstrated his kicking prowess with a punt to the corner. Although winger Aaron Warren raced across to cover the danger as Fetu’u Vainikolo closed in, the resultant line-out gave the Chiefs the perfect platform from which to claim their second try.

Working the ball in field through a series of drives, the visitors masterfully created the opening for Ben White to feed the towering Carrick-Smith to dot down in the corner. Slade nudged over the touchline conversion to seal the win.

Scarlets: G Owen (G Maule 60); K Phillips, G Maule (N Reynolds h/t), A Warre (S Shingler 60), J Williams (A Warren 54); S Shingler (A Thomas h/t), G Davies (A Davies h/t); R Evans (E Phillips h/t, K Myhill 62), K Myhill (P John h/t), S Lee (D Manu h/t); G Earle (capt, R Kelly h/t), J Snyman (J Ball h/t); A Shingler (L Rawlins h/t), D Thomas, C Price (S Timani h/t).

Tries - G Davies, Williams; Conversion – Shingler; Penalty – Shingler

Chiefs: L Arscott (P Dollman h/t); M Jess (F Vainikolo h/t), I Whitten (C Sweeney 60), J Shoemark (S Hill h/t), T James (M Jess 60); G Steenson (H Slade h/t), W Chudley (S Townsend h/t, R Coote 60); B Sturgess (B Moon h/t, A Brown 72), J Yeandle (C Whitehead h/t, L Cowan-Dickie 69), C Rimmer (C Mitchell h/t); D Mumm (capt, T Hayes h/t), D Welch (W Carrick-Smith h/t); D Ewers (T Johnson h/t), J Scaysbrook (B White h/t) K Horstmann (J Phillips h/t). Replacements (not used): J Conlon, S Blanchet

Tries - Welch, Carrick-Smith; Conversions – Steenson, Slade; Penalties – Steenson (2), Slade

Referee: R Thomas (WRFU)

The post Scarlets 15 Chiefs 23 appeared first on Exeter Chiefs.

Picture: Exeter Rugby Club

By Mark Stevens

Having been voted the Aviva Premiership’s best match-day experience by fans from across all 12 top flight clubs, here at Exeter Rugby Club we aim to make visiting Sandy Park on game-day even better.

Whether attending for the first time or a seasoned regular, our club mission is to ensure that all of our visitors get the very best experience on offer at Sandy Park.

That is why as part of our on-going match-day strategy we are on the look-out for a select group of volunteers to act as our official game-day  ’Match Makers’.

Tasked with offering the perfect Westcountry welcome to all rugby supporters heading to Sandy Park, not only will they provide guidance, information and assistance in and around Exeter City Centre, but they will be the first welcoming face that greets you on arrival at the home of the Exeter Chiefs.

Keen to build on the initial launch last season ahead of our final Aviva Premiership game at home to Gloucester, now we want to hear from anyone interested in being part of our new ‘Match Makers’ scheme for the 2013/14 season.

To find out more information or to register your interest, email John Wood today at johnwood@exeterchiefs.co.uk

The post The ‘Perfect Match’ here at the Chiefs appeared first on Exeter Chiefs.

Picture: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency

By Mark Stevens

Having put in the hard yards off the field during a gruelling pre-season programme, it’s on-field matters that take centre stage for the Exeter Chiefs tomorrow as the countdown to the new season edges ever closer.

This weekend Rob Baxter’s side travel to Wales to face Scarlets in their opening pre-season fixture at the Parc Y Scarlets (3pm).

It represents the first of three warm-up clashes for the Devon club – Bristol and Glasgow Warriors follow over the next two weeks – before they engage in their fourth season of Aviva Premiership action at Northampton Saints on Saturday, September 7.

As always it’s a vital part of the club’s seasonal plan and head coach Baxter is expecting his squad to showcase their talents against the Welsh region, who they tackled twice last season in the Heineken Cup.

“The guys are very aware every pre-season game is important, everyone’s got an opportunity now to stake a claim for where they want to be for the first Premiership game of the season,” said Baxter. “It does get exciting now, but I’m very aware you have to approach pre-season matches to make sure you get the most you can to review after the game.

“We know how we want to approach things, we know the combinations we want to look at in this first game, but we also know we’ve got two or three weeks to fine-tune things that aren’t where we want them to be.”

With a hanful of new recruits added into the mix during the close season, three of them – Tom James (pictured), Fetu’u Vainikolo and Ceri Sweeney – are included in the travelling squad for this first encounter. Fellow newcomers Don Armand, Dave Lewis and Greg Bateman are nursing knocks and will not be risked and neither will the likes of Sireli Naqelevuki, Hoani Tui and James Hanks.

For Sweeney and James in particular, not only will tomorrow’s encounter offer them a swift return to the Principality, but it will also give them an early chance to stake their claim for a role within the Chiefs first team picture.

“The new guys want to play and want to show themselves,” added Baxter. “Any player will tell you you need those games of rugby under your belt to really feel part of a club. It’s great that we’ll get everybody involved this weekend. We’ve got an exciting group of players and we want to be ambitious in the way we play, that’s not going to change.”

Leading the side for the first time tomorrow will be Australian international Dean Mumm, who has taken over the captaincy duties for the new season from fellow lock Tom Hayes.

CHIEFS SIDE TO FACE SCARLETS

15 Luke Arscott
14 Tom James
13 Ian Whitten
12 Jason Shoemark
11 Matt Jess
10 Gareth Steenson
9 Haydn Thomas
1 Brett Sturgess
2 Jack Yeandle
3 Carl Rimmer
4 Dean Mumm (capt)
5 Damian Welch
6 Dave Ewers
7 James Scaysbrook
8 Kai Horstmann

Replacements (from): Ben Moon, Chris Whitehead, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Craig Mitchell, Alex Brown, Tom Hayes, Will Carrick-Smith, Ben White, Tom Johnson, Sam Blanchet, Joel Conlon, James Phillips, Stu Townsend, Will Chudley, Henry Slade, Ceri Sweeney, Sam Hill, Fetu’u Vainikolo, Phil Dollman, Jack Nowell.

The post Chiefs side to face Scarlets appeared first on Exeter Chiefs.

Supporters can now purchase their place for the game with London Wasps on Saturday, September 14 (3pm) and also Leicester Tigers on Sunday, September 29 (2pm).

Tickets can be purchased either online by clicking here or through the Trading Post, which is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm.

Please note there will be no West Grandstand tickets available for either of these fixtures.

Also on sale through the same sources are tickets for the club’s two pre-season friendlies against Bristol on Saturday, August 24 (3pm) and Glasgow Warriors on Saturday, August 31 (3pm).

The post Wasps and Tigers tickets on sale appeared first on Exeter Chiefs.

Pictures: Getty Images

Exeter Chiefs prop Luke Chapman is one of nine changes the England Under-18s coaches have made to their side to take on Wales in the second game of their South Africa tour tomorrow (3pm).

The Cornish forward was an unused replacement as England lost 19-14 against South Africa in their opening game on Friday, but he wull start from the outset for this latest encounter at at Outeniqua Park, George.

Coach John Fletcher said: “The players have responded well to the loss against the South Africans. They have trained well over the past few days and we will better for the hit-out last Friday.

“Wales had an excellent victory and performance against a good French team and we know that we will have to play at our best to be competitive. Our players are hurting after the narrow defeat to South Africa and I am expecting a response from the squad against Wales.”

England Under-18s side to take on Wales

1 Luke Chapman (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs)
2 Jack Walker (Prince Henry’s & Leeds Carnegie)
3 Paul Hill (Prince Henry’s Grammar & Leeds Carnegie)
4 Josh Peters (Oundle School & Northampton Saints)
5 Charlie Ewels (Bryanston & Bath Rugby)
6 Hayden Stringer (Oaklands & Saracens)
7 Will Owen (QE Leicester & Leicester Tigers)
8 James Chisholm (Brighton College & Harlequins, capt)
9 James Mitchell (Lymm School & Sale Sharks)

10 Josh Sharp (Oaklands College & Saracens)
11 Tom Fowlie (St Pauls Catholic College & London Irish)
12 Rory Jennings (Bryanston School & Bath Rugby)
13 Max Clark (Bryanston & Bath Rugby)
14 Josh Skelcey (Moulton College & Northampton Saints)
15 Nathan Earle (Oaklands & Saracens)

Replacements:

16 Cameron Neild (Manchester Grammar & Sale Sharks)
17 Alex Lundberg (Hampton School & London Wasps)
18 Ciaran Parker (St Ambrose & Sale Sharks)
19 Tom Ellis (Millfield & Bath Rugby)
20 Lewis Ludlow (Hartpury College & Gloucester Rugby)
21 Ellis Genge (Hartpury College & Bristol Rugby)
23 Sam Olver (Oundle School & Northampton Saints)
24 Nick Carpenter (Filton College & Bristol Rugby)

The post Chapman to start for England U-18s appeared first on Exeter Chiefs.

Pictures: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency

By Ben Wiltshire

Exeter Chiefs fly-half Gareth Steenson believes the hard work the team have been putting in through pre-season will surface in their first pre-season match against Scarlets this Saturday.

The Irishman has said that the whole team have been impressing as they build towards the start of the new campaign and he is confident that everything will come together in a match environment.

“Pre-season has been going really well, it’s been five weeks of hard work and the guys have been putting in some good scores in the gym and the fitness scores are right up there, so we’re at that point now where we just want to get out there and play some rugby,” said Steenson, who finished as the club’s top points-scorer last season.

“We’ve done a bit of everything in training, but as a player you know this time of the year is always going to be tough. I think the guys have done really well, especially those we’ve brought into the squad, and there’s been a lot of hard work done whether it’s in the gym, in the swimming pool or out on the pitch.

“All the time we’re working on tactical things as well – which which has been good – so things are coming together, but I think at this stage now you just need to get a game in to see all the benefits of everything we’re trying to achieve.”

The 29-year-old, who was a key figure in the Chiefs’ successive qualification in the Heineken Cup, has said that there is a real belief amongst the squad that after two successive top six finishes in the Premiership that the club can now push on further.

“The way we’ve gone the last few seasons, we always feel as though we’re learning and getting better,” he said. “We don’t get a lot of players in, but what we do bring in are high quality guys and they’re buying right into the culture of the club which is fantastic.

“Personally, I feel we’re only getting better and stronger as a group. We feel that every time we take the field we always feel better coming out the other side which is great for us because we’re still relatively new in the Premiership and definitely in the Heineken Cup as it’s only our second season. Again we’re going to learn massive things playing games against the likes of Toulon, Cardiff and Glasgow.”

With a trip to the Parc Y Scarlets first up for Steenson and the Chiefs, the talented No.10 says getting out onto the pitch offers the Chiefs the ideal opportunity to try new things, particularly as it is tougher in training when team-mates are familiar with what is coming.

“It is important because we’ve been trying things that we want to see work against opposition who don’t know what is coming,” said Steenson. “It’s always hard whenever you’re training against your own guys, who are obviously trying to achieve things themselves, but everyone knows what we’re trying to do.

“I suppose when you put it into a match environment you test these things and see what works and what doesn’t work, so from that point of view it’s great that we’ve got the Scarlets, Bristol and the Glasgow games coming up. It’s also a great opportunity for some of the guys to get that jersey for the first game against Northampton at the start of the season.

“After all we’ve done this pre-season I can’t wait to start, this time of the year you are itching to get going now. We’ve had a good break and we’ve been working really hard and now we’re really looking forward to putting our first hit in.”

The post Steeno is raring to go appeared first on Exeter Chiefs.

Picture: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter says the decision to change the club’s captain ahead of the new 2013/14 campaign was “very tough”, but he was quick to pay tribute to the contribution put in by Tom Hayes.

Baxter confirmed last week that Australian international Dean Mumm would be taking on the captaincy role following detailed discussions with Hayes.

Irishman Hayes not only skippered the Chiefs during their Championship winning season in 2010, but he has also been the on-field leader of the Devon club for all three of the club’s Premiership seasons to date.

Explaining the decision, Baxter said: “It was a very tough decision. There are a few reasons for it, obviously Tom has done a fantastic job in the time he has been captain, but we’re still a little bit unsure of his injury situation.

“He’s just had a relatively major back operation at the end of last season and even though his rehab has gone well – and he’s pretty much back in training full on – there are still some issues of when we’re going to get him back to 100 per cent and that’s had an effect on our decision because we’re getting close to the start of the season now and it’s important we get our leadership situation sorted

“Since arriving Dean has shown some fantastic qualities and he’s an experienced captain, so I think now the time is right for making the change.”

Baxter added: “There are no negatives against Tom, he’s done a fantastic job for us and I spoke to him at a length about it, but I think we’re all comfortable with that situation and now it’s a great opportunity for Dean. He can now step in step in and become an Exeter Chiefs captain in the Premiership.”

As Mumm (pictured) himself pointed out following the announcement, the Chiefs have a wealth of experience within their squad and Baxter is keen to utilise every last ounce of that over the forthcoming season.

“It’s one part of the leadership of the side,” he continued. “We have a pretty big leadership group on a week by week basis, all of whom offer a lot of detailed input into our plans for that week.

“Often we have a meeting early in the week with the leadership group and it sometimes can be seven or eight players strong. It’s not just the captain we involve, guys like James Scaysbrook, Haydn Thomas and Gareth Steenson, they are all in there when we talk about how we want to play the game.

“It is a relatively big group and I think we’ll probably include a younger player in our leader group because we do have a large number of very good players and I think involving them in our leadership discussions will be very important.”

And whilst Hayes may not have the official title of club captain to his name this term, Baxter still expects plenty from his experienced talisman.

“Yes, it’s a great reward for Dean, but at the same time I think it’s very important everyone appreciates what a great job Tom has done,” added Baxter. “I’ve no doubt he will be a key part of the leadership group here at the club as we look to move on.”

The Chiefs kick-off their pre-season programme this Saturday when they travel to Wales to face the Scarlets at Parc Y Scarlets on Saturday (3pm). Following that fixture, Baxter’s troops will then engage in successive home friendlies against Bristol (Aug 24, 3pm) and Glasgow Warriors (Aug 31, 3pm) before their Premiership campaign gets underway at Northampton Saints on (Sept 7, 3pm).

The post Baxter’s praise for Hayes appeared first on Exeter Chiefs.

Pictures: Exeter Rugby Club/Pinnacle Photo Agency

South West Communications Group is preparing for the 20th year of its sponsorship of Exeter Chiefs with a celebratory photo shoot with the club’s England U20s Junior World Championship winners.

The Exeter-based telephone systems and data networks and Internet service providers, first paid for the Exeter Rugby Club’s first team shirts for the 1993/94 season when they were known as South West Telecoms.

South West Communications Group’s involvement with the club has grown year on year throughout the next two decades, incorporating the Exeter Chiefs rebranding, and their move to Sandy Park, promotion to the Premiership and qualification for the Heineken Cup.

The 20-year milestone, which exceeds any other main first team shirt sponsor’s deal in the Premiership, was marked with a photo shoot involving former Chiefs player and South West Communications Group’s managing director Harry Langley and the club’s England U20s players, Joel Conlon, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Sam Hill, Jack Nowell and Henry Slade.

The quintet, who helped their country win the Junior World Championship this summer, were all born around the first year of South West Communications Group’s first association with the club.

Mr Langley, who also posed for a picture with the club’s new first-team captain Dean Mumm, said: “It is amusing to think our sponsorship deal is older than some of these players who will undoubtedly be a large part of Exeter Chiefs’ future, but it’s also a very clear illustration of the length of time we have continued to support to the club.

“Exeter Chiefs is a proud, traditional club that has risen through the leagues to compete against the very best in English and European club rugby. We have been proud to have been the Chiefs’ main sponsor for all this time and to watch it develop into the top flight team it has become.

“We certainly link our own success to this long-term commercial sponsorship. During that time, we have grown by 500%.”
Exeter Chiefs finished sixth in the Aviva Premiership last season and qualified for the Heineken Cup for a second year in a row with pool games against champions Toulon, Glasgow Warriors and Cardiff Blues in store this season.

Keiron Northcott, Exeter Chiefs’ deputy chief executive, said: “South West Communications Group’s dedication to this club is remarkable. What started as a throwaway request in a rugby club bar has developed into a full-scale sponsorship package that has stood the test of time. The team is proud to run out with the ‘sw comms’ branding on its shirts, as it represents an Exeter firm that has loyally stood by the club throughout its professional existence.”

The post SW Comms celebrate 20 years with Chiefs appeared first on Exeter Chiefs.

Pictures: Getty Images

By Ben Wiltshire

Exeter Chiefs players Stuart Townsend (top) and Luke Chapman (bottom) have both been named in the England Under-18’s squad that will face South Africa Schools today in Cape Town.

Townsend, who featured for the Chiefs in the recent JP Morgan Sevens Series at Gloucester, has been given the number nine shirt, while Cornish prop Chapman has been named amongst the replacements.

The inclusion of the two players is yet more good news for the Chiefs’ Academy as both Townsend and Chapman will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Sam Hill, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Joel Conlon, Henry Slade and Jack Nowell, all of whom formed part of England’s triumphant Under-20s side that lifted IRB Junior World Championship this summer.

England last faced the Baby Boks 12 months ago when they fell to a 36-29 defeat at the University of Western Cape – and coach John Fletcher say that he is expecting another physical contest.

He said: “We know that they are a strong side, they tend to be big up front and have some quick backs.

“But saying that, we have a big pack and we’re looking forward to the game massively. It’s been pretty wet since we got here, but the lads have trained well. It’s a good experience for them, and it’s a new experience for most of them. This is the first of our three games and we’re looking to start well.”

Captain James Chisholm added: “We’re really pleased to be here and excited about play our hosts. South Africa in South Africa is about as tough as it gets, but we’re ready and we can’t wait to get out there.”

England Under-18 starting XV against South Africa

15 Howard Packman (Moulton College & Northampton Saints)
14 Tom Howe (Shiplake College & London Wasps)
13 Nick Carpenter (Filton College & Bristol Rugby)
12 Max Clark (Bryanston & Bath Rugby)
11 Nathan Earle (Oaklands & Saracens)
10 Sam Olver (Oundle School & Northampton Saints)
9 Stuart Townsend (Ivybridge Community College & Exeter Chiefs)

1 Alex Lundberg (Hampton School & London Wasps)
2 Cameron Neild (Manchester Grammar & Sale Sharks)
3 Paul Hill (Prince Henry’s Grammar & Leeds Carnegie)
4 Tom Ellis (Millfield & Bath Rugby)
5 Charlie Ewels (Bryanston & Bath Rugby)
6 Hayden Stringer (Oaklands & Saracens)
8 James Chisholm (Brighton College & Harlequins, capt)
7 Lewis Ludlow (Hartpury College & Gloucester Rugby)

Replacements:

16 Jack Walker (Prince Henry’s & Leeds Carnegie)
17 Luke Chapman (Truro College & Exeter Chiefs)
18 Ciaran Parker (St Ambrose & Sale Sharks)
19 Josh Peters (Oundle School & Northampton Saints)
20 Ellis Genge (Hartpury College & Bristol Rugby)
21 James Mitchell (Lymm School & Sale Sharks)
22 Will Owen (QE Leicester & Leicester Tigers)
23 Josh Sharp (Oaklands College & Saracens)
24 Rory Jennings (Bryanston School & Bath Rugby)
25 Josh Skelcey (Moulton College & Northampton Saints)
26 Tom Fowlie (St Pauls Catholic College & London Irish)

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