England Academy name squad to face France

[League Express]

England Academy coach Dave Elliott has named his 17-man squad to take on France Under-18s in La Reoule, France on Saturday May 25 (4.30pm). The Academy squad made the journey across the Channel earlier this week and will be hoping to emulate the success of the England Youth team at Easter by defeating their French counterparts.

Elliott has retained six players from the 2012 tour of Australia in his starting line, including Wigan Warriors half-back pairing George Williams and Ryan Hampshire while Leeds Rhinos forward Jordan Baldwinson will captain the side.

“We know France will be strong and we’re expecting a very physical game,” said Elliott. “French sides at this level have continued to improve over recent seasons and the majority of their players have come through good youth systems at Catalan Dragons.

“But we have some very talented players in this group and I am confident that they will be able to put together the sort of performance that is required to get a good result.

“Travelling to a different country and contending with different cultures and food is a big learning experience for a lot of these lads and gives the players a great introduction to the kind of challenges they will face at Super League and senior international level.”

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[audois]

Here is the French line up for the La Reole clash.

R. Andreucetti, Jullien, Jouffret, Yaha (Avignon), F. Bousquet (Limoux), Bouzinac, Madani, Meresta-Doucet, A. Miloudi, Perez, Rosemplatt (St Estève-XIII Catalan), Boyer, Chanet, Niès, Wajter, Yesa (Toulouse Olympique), Marcon (Tonneins), E. Ferret (Lézignan).

The French line up reflects how the game evolves around its three hubs, Perpignan, Toulouse & Avignon. The French lost last year at Bradford 38-18. This time they are a younger group than in 2012. Jullien in the centres scored a vital try in Avignon's Cup Final success at Elite 1 level the other week. France will I think expect big things from their second row Catalan pairing of Madini & Perez who have just completed a league& cup double for their club.

[RSN]

Looking at England's side it looks like Wigan have a heck of a lot of talent coming through as usual.

[Derwent]

The young lad at full back, Lewis Tierney, is Jason Robinson's son isn't he ?

[Pottsy]

The young lad at full back, Lewis Tierney, is Jason Robinson's son isn't he ?

Yes. Hope they lock him down before Sale come sniffing

Edited May 24, 2013 by Pottsy

[Father Ted]

He's too good for Sale.

[Exiled Wiganer]

Williams and Hampshire are real talents. Not seen Tierney so can't comment on whether he is a Keiron Cunningham or a (wide to) West in the sons of famous fathers stakes.

[Larry the Leit]

It's a real shame that Hampshire is at Wigan rather than Wakefield. 

[Exiled Wiganer]

Did we nick him from Wakefield? Wigan's youth set up can be widely acquisitive.

[Larry the Leit]

Did we nick him from Wakefield? Wigan's youth set up can be widely acquisitive.

 

I think he felt his development opportunities were better served at Wigan so he chose them in favour of other clubs.  Most of these lads won't make it, it'd be good if he did though as he's very highly thought of in Normanton/Wakefield.

[audois]

Convincing win for England 52-28. France slow starters & led 22-0 after just twenty minutes. Noted that the Catalan second row pairing Madini & Perez got a try each.

[audois]

MOTM to centre Jake Connor of Huddersfield with a hat trick of tries. Laurent Dupuy the French coach gave big raps to Toulouse prop Clement Boyer, the best front rower on view. The French also lost skipper Bouzinac with a bad knee injury. They where impressed with Englands size and strength. France need to play more of these types of games rather than just one offs.

Edited May 27, 2013 by audois