...against Ireland. Very strong looking U20 matchday 23!
https://www.quins.london/news/smith-and-murley-to-start-for-england-u20s/SMITH AND MURLEY TO START FOR ENGLAND U20S
Wednesday, 30th January 2019 @ 10:00
YOUNG HARLEQUINS STARS TO SHINE IN CORK ON FRIDAY NIGHT
Marcus Smith and Cadan Murley have been selected in Steve Bates' England U20 side for the Six Nations opener against Ireland at the Irish Independent Park in Cork on Friday 1 February (KO 19.15 GMT).
Fly-half Smith, who is enjoying another excellent season at Harlequins making 19 appearances and scoring 155 points, enjoyed an excellent World U20 Championship last summer and he is joined in the backs by Murley who has enjoyed a fine start to first team rugby under Head of Rugby Paul Gustard this season.
Murley has made nine appearances for the Club this season, scored two tries and impressed Stoop supporters with his hard running and tough defence.
Bates's England side will be captained by Fraser Dingwall at outside centre and the team also includes full senior international Ted Hill at openside flanker, who is named as vice-captain.
As well as Smith, Dingwall and Hill, lock Joel Kpoku, flanker Aaron Hinkley, No 8 Tom Willis and centre Tom Hardwick were part of the side that lost to France in the final of the U20 tournament in Beziers last summer.
Prop Marcus Street will be appearing in his third U20 Six Nations Championship, while England’s replacements also include four players capped at this age group.
In the starting XV, prop Olly Adkins, hooker Nic Dolly, lock Alex Coles, scrum half Sam Maunder and wing Ollie Sleightholme will all make their U20s debut with Ben Atkins, Bevan Rodd, Rusiate Tuima and Ollie Fox set to do likewise as replacements.
Steve Bates said: “The message to the squad this week has been that this is a great opportunity for them to show how good they are at the start of another Six Nations campaign and they should play with confidence.
“This is a very exciting, talented group of players and they should not forget to play like it, we have to go out there on Friday and really express ourselves on the pitch but we know we have to respect the opposition who will be positive about their chances in this competition as well.
“This is a team full of experience, who are hugely talented and it is a shame we can only pick 15 as we’ve left out some very good players.
“The replacements will all be expected to make an impact on Friday, while the wider squad who will not be in Ireland, will also be required at various points in the competition and we need everyone to stay involved as they will play further down the line.”
England U20s starting XV
15. Josh Hodge (Newcastle Falcons)
14. Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints)
13. Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
12. Tom Hardwick (Leicester Tigers)
11. Cadan Murley (Harlequins)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
9. Sam Maunder (Exeter Chiefs)
1. Olly Adkins (Gloucester)
2. Nic Dolly (Sale Sharks)
3. Marcus Street (Exeter Chiefs)
4. Joel Kpoku (Saracens)
5. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
6. Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors)
7. Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester)
8. Tom Willis (Wasps)
Replacements
16. Ben Atkins (London Irish)
17. Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
19. James Scott (Worcester Warriors)
20. Rusiate Tuima (Exeter Chiefs)
21. Ollie Fox (Yorkshire Carnegie)
22. Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks)
23. Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors)
England U20 Six Nations fixtures
Ireland v England
Friday 1 February, KO 19.15 GMT
Irish Independent Park, Cork
England v France
Saturday 9 February, KO 12.05 GMT – live on Sky Sports
Sandy Park, Exeter. For tickets, please visit: englandrugby.com/tickets
Wales v England
Friday, 22 February, KO 19.05 GMT – live on S4C
ZipWorld Stadium, Colwyn Bay. For tickets, please visit: wru.wales/tickets
England v Italy
Friday, 8 March, KO 19.45 – live on Sky Sports
Goldington Road, Bedford. For tickets, please visit: englandrugby.com/tickets
England v Scotland
Friday, 15 March, KO 19.45 – live on Sky Sports
Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton. For tickets, please visit: englandrugby.com/tickets