Three Chiefs Named in 23 for England U20s Last Pool Clash

Joe Bailey and Ben Coen have been named to start with Kane James included on the bench for England's final U20s World Championship pool clash.

Head coach Mark Mapletoft has revealed his England U20 Men’s matchday squad to face tournament hosts South Africa for the side’s third and final pool fixture of the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship.

England will take on the Baby Boks at Athlone Stadium on Tuesday 9th July (18:00 BST kick-off), and will be available to watch live and free on RugbyPass TV.

England are currently top of Pool C with 10 points after triumphs over Argentina (41-20) and Fiji (48-11), and will be seeking victory to guarantee a place in the semi-finals. Following Argentina’s win over South Africa on Thursday, Los Pumitas and the Baby Boks are level on 5 points apiece.

Mapletoft has made 11 changes from the starting XV that defeated Fiji in the side’s previous pool fixture, showcasing the strength in depth of his squad. Jack Bracken returns to the side after a hat-trick on debut against Argentina on Matchday 1, meanwhile Under-20 Six Nations Player of the Tournament Henry Pollock regains his place as openside flanker.

Finn Carnduff continues to lead as captain, while Ollie Allan and Ben Coen remain as Mapletoft’s chosen half-back combination. Mapletoft and assistant coach Andy Titterrell’s starting XV have 109 U20 caps to their name.

Forward Harvey Cuckson suffered an injury against Fiji and will be replaced in the 30-man squad by Tom Burrow, who captained the side in a friendly against Coventry earlier this year as well as the U19 Men in their two 2024 Tests.

England have won eight of the previous 12 meetings against South Africa in the World Rugby U20 Championship, with Tuesday's fixture the first pool stage meeting in 11 years. Ten of the 12 meetings have been decided by less than 10 points.

Mark Mapletoft said: “Whilst still needing to refine parts of our game, the team have built momentum excellently coming into Matchday 3 with two results we’re proud of.

“I’ve been incredibly impressed with the resolve and mental attitude of our team, they have rewarded our trust in selection throughout both games. Relentlessness in our processes has been a key pillar of our tournament so far.

“Playing South Africa on home turf is no easy feat, and we’re under no illusions of the magnitude of what awaits us. The boys know what is at stake, and they will enjoy that, but focus remains firmly on the task at hand when showtime rolls around on Tuesday night.”

England:

15 Ben Redshaw (Newcastle Falcons, West Park Leeds RFC, 6 caps)

14 Jack Bracken (Saracens, Barnet Elizabethans RFC, 1 cap)

13 Ben Waghorn (Harlequins, Chipstead Rugby Club, 8 caps)

12 Sean Kerr (Harlequins, Sutton and Epsom Rugby Club, 5 caps)

11 Alex Wills (Sale Sharks, Droitwich Rugby Club, 9 caps)

10 Benjamin Coen (Exeter Chiefs, Teignmouth RFC, 2 caps)

9 Ollie Allan (Leicester Tigers, Hungerford RFC, 2 caps)

1 Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks, Broadstreet RFC, 16 caps)

2 Craig Wright (Northampton Saints, Braintree Rugby Club, 7 caps)

3 Billy Sela (Bath Rugby, Royal Wootton Bassett RFC, 6 caps)

4 Joe Bailey (Exeter Chiefs, Newton Abbot RFC, 6 caps)

5 Junior Kpoku (Racing 92, Saracens Amateurs, 6 caps)

6 Finn Carnduff (c) (Leicester Tigers, Market Harborough RFC, 17 caps)

7 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, Buckingham Rugby Club, 7 caps)

8 Nathan Michelow (Saracens, Brentwood Rugby, 11 caps)

Replacements:

16 James Isaacs (Saracens, Hemel Hempstead Camelot RFC, 4 caps)

17 James Halliwell (Bristol Bears, Thornbury RFC, 10 caps)

18 Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester Rugby, Bishop Wand School, 13 caps)

19 Olamide Sodeke (Saracens, Blackheath Rugby Club, 6 caps)

20 Kane James (Exeter Chiefs, St Peters RFC, 6 caps)

21 Lucas Friday (Harlequins, Bromley RFC, 2 caps)

22 Angus Hall (Saracens, Sevenoaks Rugby Club, 1 cap)

23 Ioan Jones (Gloucester Rugby, Minchinhampton RFC, 6 caps)