Young Chiefs help England U20s to victory
By Mark Stevens
9/6/19
Exeter Chiefs forward Richard Capstick was among the try-scorers as England U20s defeated Italy in their second match of the World Rugby U20 Championship, winning 24-23 in a thrilling encounter in Sante Fe, Argentina.
Having lost to Ireland in their opening fixture of the tournament, Steve Bates' side got back to winning ways, but crucially missed out on a four-try bonus point.
England held a narrow one-point lead at the break through an Alex Coles converted try, while Italy sent over two penalties via Giacomo Da Re. However, Bates' side scored second half converted tries through Tom Willis and Capstick, with Italy responding via Cristian Lai, Ange Capuozzo and Paolo Garbisi but Josh Hodge's late penalty won the game.
England - who also included Exeter players Alfie Petch, Rus Tuima and Sam Maunder in their starting line-up - will next face pool leaders Australia who have maximum points from their opening two games with victories over Italy and Ireland.
Italy had the first points of the game with Da Re kicking an early penalty for Italy, and having gone close a couple of times England crossed on the half hour.
Coles touched down after a dominant England scrum barrelled its way to the Italy try line and Hodge increased the lead with a first conversion.
Da Re sent over a second penalty for 7-6 just before the break to narrow the deficit and soon after half-time Italy led as Lai was first to a loose ball to dot down.
Italy broke through England midfield soon after to set up a two-on-one and Capuozzo dived over for 16-7.
Willis charged over off the back of a driving maul to get England back in the game which Hodge converted to take the deficit to two points.
Italy came roaring back though with Garbisi searing through before Capstick went over in the corner for a third England try which Hodge again converted.
Hodge then sent over a late penalty for a one-point lead which they held until full time.
"It was a tough game, Italy played well but we put them under a lot of pressure but didn’t turn that pressure into points and they capitalised on the opportunities they had," said Bates, who in the second half gave an England Under-20s debut to Chiefs prop James Kenny.
"We will look back and say we made far too many individual mistakes, but credit to our guys for fighting back in the manner they did to get the victory and the guys should be proud of that," said Bates.
"The standard of rugby in this tournament is increasing each year and with every game and we’ve had two physically demanding games which the players have put everything into so the challenge will be for the players to recover and pick themselves up for the final pool match against Australia.
"It’s disappointing the position we’re in as we’ve come here to win the tournament but if you don’t play well then you are going to struggle as there are no easy games in this Championship.
"We will go into the Australia game looking to give a good account of ourselves and whatever happens after that we will deal with."
England U20s team:
15. Josh Hodge (Newcastle Falcons)
14. Tom Seabrook (Gloucester Rugby)
13. Connor Doherty (Sale Sharks)
12. Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, capt)
11. Arron Reed (Sale Sharks)
10. Tom De Glanville (Bath Rugby)
9. Sam Maunder (Exeter Chiefs)
1. Kai Owen (Worcester Warriors)
2. Will Capon (Bristol Bears)
3, Alfie Petch (Exeter Chiefs)
4. Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs)
5. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
6. Josh Basham (Newcastle Falcons)
7. Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester Rugby)
8. Rusiate Tuima (Exeter Chiefs)
Replacements
16. Nic Dolly (Sale Sharks)
17. James Kenny (Exeter Chiefs)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
19. Olly Adkins (Gloucester Rugby)
20. Joel Kpoku (Saracens)
21. Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors)
22. Tom Willis (Wasps Rugby)
23. Ollie Fox (Yorkshire Carnegie)
24. Luke James (Sale Sharks)
25. Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks)
26. Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints)
England U20 fixtures and results
4 June: England U20s 26-42 Ireland U20s
8 June: England U20s 24-23 Italy U20s
12 June: England U20s v Australia U20s (KO 7.30pm BST), live on World Rugby platforms.
Knockout stages on Monday, 17 June and finals day on Saturday, 22 June, live on ITV.