Johnny Williams Eng U20's proof#3

WORLD RUGBY U’20 England U20s CHAMPIONSHIP 2016

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POOL B: ENGLAND 48-10 ITALY Hosts England, bidding to reach a fourth successive U20 Championship final, got their campaign off to a winning start against Italy, but only put the gloss on the scoreboard with five tries in the second half to the delight of the crowd at the Manchester City Academy Stadium.

Flanker George Nott got the scoreboard up and running after nine minutes but Italy then created a few opportunities of their own with winger Luca Sperandio looking lively. Italy did score next, but it was courtesy of a well-taken drop goal from fly-half Leonardo Mantelli who impressed on the night.

An overthrown lineout led to England’s second try when captain Harry Mallinder produced a kick out of the top draw to allow winger Sam Aspland-Robinson to take it without breaking stride to dot down.

Mallinder, who led by example on his U20 debut, added a penalty to send the hosts in with a 17-3 advantage at the break.England regrouped at half-time and Joe Marchant crossed for his side’s third try after good work again from his centre partner Mallinder, the bonus point being wrapped up with a penalty try just before the hour mark.

There was still time for hooker Jack Singleton - who had scored four tries against Italy in the Six Nations this year - and replacement Zach Mercer to get their name on scoreboard.

The final say, though, was Italy’s with flanker Lorenzo Masselli going over from close range in the last minute, much to coach Martin Haag’s disappointment that they “need to play for the full 80 minutes”.

Haag added: “We played some great attacking rugby, with some real intent which is what we are trying to do. At times it wasn’t as accurate as we would have liked it to be. As a group we have standards we are aspiring to and want to express ourselves in our play. We had the intent but we just weren’t quite accurate enough but that will come.

It was great to blow the cobwebs away and now we need to recover ahead of a big game on Saturday.”

POOL B: ENGLAND 44-0 SCOTLAND Hosts England had been outclassed by Scotland in the Six Nations in February, but it was a role reversal at the Manchester City Academy Stadium as to the delight of the home contingent in the crowd they ran in five tries for a convincing victory.

Scotland simply had no answer to the England pack’s power in the first half, conceding three penalties in seven minutes in the first quarter with fly-half Harry Mallinder kicking two of them. The Northampton Saint also added the conversion when captain Jack Walker dropped on the ball as the England driving maul splintered the Scottish defence with easy in the 22nd minute.

That would prove to be the final score of the first half, although Scotland could have been on the scoreboard had Blair Kinghorn, who switched to fly-half to cover Adam Hastings after he took a knock in the win over Australia, not missed two penalties in the first eight minutes.

The second half burst into life with two tries in as many minutes for England. First, in the 54th minute, Darren Atkins raced down the wing and flanker Will Evans was able to slide over, the TMO ruling he had just avoided the touchline. Then Sam Aspland-Robinson scythed

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through the defence and sent John Williams over for England’s third try.

The bonus point try came courtesy of replacement hooker Jack Singleton after Scotland were unable to cope with another driving maul with four minutes to go and there was still time for fellow replacement Max Malins to charge through a tiring defence to put the gloss on the win.

England coach Martin Haag: “We are happy enough, but there are some things to work on. The number of times we went into the opposition 22 and for ill-discipline, or whatever reason, didn’t convert.

However we are really pleased to get the win and the way we finished the game I thought was superb, attacking from our own line I thought was excellent. We just need a bit more precision at times but that’s something we can work on.”

POOL B: ENGLAND 17-13 AUSTRALIA England were in the driving seat going into their final match, knowing that avoiding defeat would guarantee them a place in the semi-finals.

In fact even a defeat to Australia, so long as they got one or two bonus points depending on the result, would have seen them through.

They certainly couldn’t have got off to a worst start as they fumbled the kick-off, allowing Australia to turn over the ball and mount a quick attack, fly-half Mack Mason beginning what would be an impressive display by finding full-back Jack Maddocks who danced his way over after just 27 seconds.

Mason added the conversion, but Australia quickly handed his opposite number Harry Mallinder a penalty attempt and he made no mistake to cap a frenetic opening four minutes to this Pool B decider at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Mallinder pulled a second penalty wide after 15 minutes which would have been just reward for England’s dominance of territory and possession, but Mason made no mistake with his own effort just before the half-hour mark to re-establish Australia’s seven-point buffer.

The two fly-halves traded penalties to give Australia 13-6 lead at halftime, a scenario which, had it remained that way at full-time, would have still seen England top the pool. The hosts, though, regrouped during the break and managed to shut their opponents out to seal

victory.

Mallinder’s deft kick through bounced up perfectly for centre Joe Marchant to dot the ball down, but his fly-half was off target again with the conversion to leave England still trailing 13-11 with 27 minutes to go.

He pulled his next penalty wide before finding his kicking boots again to kick two further penalties to ensure England finished the pool stages with three wins from three and the top seeding. The bonus point was scant consolation for Australia as they miss out on the semi-finals again.

England fly-half Harry Mallinder: “It wasn’t pretty at times but I’m chuffed to get the win. We will enjoy it tonight I think because we are through to a semi-final and that’s an achievement in itself, but we will review the game properly tomorrow. South Africa is going to be a massive challenge and even bigger challenge than today, but fair play to Australia they pushed us really hard and to the end.”

Australia coach Adrian Thompson: “We are disappointed that we could not get the required result against England and will once again have to face the battle for fifth. We started the match well but took the pressure off in parts of the match and England capitalised on those errors. I was impressed with the team’s character to hang in there for the full 80 minutes but ultimately we need to be better at finishing our opposition off when we have the chance. We will dust ourselves off and get ready for an incredibly strong battle to finish fifth with New Zealand, Wales and Scotland.”

SEMI-FINAL: ENGLAND 39-17 SOUTH AFRICA England and South Africa are no strangers to meeting at this stage of the U20 Championship, having done so on three previous occasions and the outcome was no different this time with the hosts in a mood to dominant from the outside.

They were rewarded with potentially the fastest ever try in a U20 Championship semi-final, scored in the third minute by scrum-half Max Green who was in support when centre Johnny Williams burst through the Junior Springbok defence after a turnover.

England could hardly believe their luck when a second followed inside eight minutes, quick hands creating space for hooker Jack Singleton on the wing only for him to be hauled down just short. The ball was quickly recycled and second-row Huw Taylor stretched his long arms out to dot down.

It got worse for South Africa with their captain Jeremy Ward sinbinned for a dangerous tackle and in his absence England added a third through when winger Sam Aspland-Robinson made it look far too easy to break the line.

Williams added a fourth try just past the half-hour mark and, despite Will Evans seeing yellow for a dangerous tackle on the stroke of halftime, there was one more try to come as Harry Mallinder’s kick was gathered by Joe Marchant, the centre putting Max Malins through.

England had the match all but wrapped up, but South Africa came out with some fight after what was sure to have been a few stern words from coach Dawie Theron. They were fortunate not to concede again when Williams made a break, instead going down the other to score

themselves. Mallinder’s use of the cross-field kick this time was easily telegraphed by winger Edwill van der Merwe, who caught the kick unchallenged and, showing the pace that has seen him compared to Springbok centurion Bryan Habana, sprinted virtually the length of the pitch to score.

A second try four minutes later through full-back Curwin Bosch gave a hint that a miraculous comeback may not be beyond the 2012 champions, but it was not to be as within minutes a Mallinder penalty calmed England’s nerves at 34-17 with 25 minutes to go.

It looked like that would be the final score despite both sides continuing to attack, but then eight minutes from time quick hands saw Malins slip through a lazy tackle and pass to replacement Max Wright on his outside for an easy run-in.

England man of the match George Nott: “The boys were amazing today and already I can’t wait for the final. I think we really showed what we could do, we were dangerous in attack and solid in defence.”

England coach Martin Haag: “With the way Ireland played today they have got to go into the final as favourites. This group of players keep on surprising me whenever they take to the field with their intent and the way they want to work hard for each other. We scored some good tries off the back of our defence and some of our attacking play was fantastic. The first half was outstanding. I think we played at a bit more pace, we scored a couple of good tries, transitioned well and started well. We didn’t finish the game as well as we would have liked but it was great rugby in that first half and that was job done really.”

South Africa captain Jeremy Ward: “All credit to England, they came at us hard and played to their strengths and they took advantage of our weaknesses. We didn’t play our best today and we will go back to the drawing board and go all out to get third place. We were a little bit flat in attack and their line speed was pretty good. The experience of the whole tournament has been amazing. We have all learned so much as players and as a team. We came here to win the competition but unfortunately that isn’t going to happen but I am proud of the guys nonetheless.”

FINAL: IRELAND 21-45 ENGLAND Harry Mallinder produced a man-of-the-match performance to lead England to a 45-21 victory over Ireland in the final of World Rugby U20 Championship 2016 at the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday.

The England captain and fly-half joined Joe Marchant in scoring two tries and he also landed five conversions and a penalty on a night when the hosts outplayed first-time finalists Ireland.

Ireland rallied well in the second half after trailing 21-0 at the break but they were left with too much to do against an England side who have enjoyed a remarkable turnaround in fortunes under head coach Martin Haag.

Haag acknowledged the role played by Premiership talent such as Mallinder, Marchant and centre Johnny Williams in turning England from U20 Six Nations also-rans into world champions.

“There were some outstanding individuals that came into the team to help it along. The individuals became a team and they bonded really well over the last few weeks. These guys have a bright future together, they’ve made friendships and some bonds that will last forever and it’s superb,” he said.

“The performance tonight was outstanding. We adapted well to the transititon between attack and defence and the way they handled the 80 minutes was a credit to the guys.” England dominated territory and possession from the off and took the lead when Marchant crossed after a brilliant run to the line from 30 metres out. Number eight Callum Chick added a second before second-row Huw Taylor was up in support to benefit from slick interplay between Mallinder and Williams. With Mallinder converting all three tries England were 21-0 up and flying. Ireland needed the first score of the second half to stand a realistic chance of mounting a repeat of the comeback that saw them defeat England in the Six Nations, but lovely handling again from midfield duo Williams and Marchant put Mallinder in for his first try two minutes after the restart.

Adam McBurney gave Ireland hope when he dotted down from close range but the joy was short-lived as Mallinder received a return pass from second-row Stan South to canter over the line.

Daly then had the crowd on its feet after he finished off Jacob Stockdale’s brilliant counter-attacking run from deep with a try in the corner.

Stephen Kerins’ yellow card just before the hour mark stymied Ireland’s progress, however, and it was game over when Marchant gathered in a cross-field kick from Mallinder at pace and spun out of the attempted tackle for England’s sixth try.

World Rugby U20 Championship 2016 Player of the Tournament Max Deegan grabbed a consolation try at the death but it was England who were left celebrating their third title in four years. “We felt we were beaten by the better side. They were very clinical, any chance they got they took and, at 21-0 down at half-time, it was always going to be an uphill battle,” said Ireland coach Nigel Carolan. “I’m extremely proud of the way these guys have conducted themselves over the last three and a half weeks, it’s been an immense tournament for them.”

England u-20 39 South Africa u-20 17: Juniors storm into World Championship final England made short work of South Africa and will now face Ireland CREDIT: PA 20 JUNE 2016 • 11:30PM Aglorious month for English rugby just keeps getting better.After Eddie Jones’ men secured a series victory in Australia and the Saxons triumphed 2-0 in South Africa, England’s juniorsstormed into their

fourth consecutive World Rugby Under-20 Championship final with a comprehensive semi-final victory against South Africa.

At times it was men versus the boys. The Premiership experience of Harry Mallinder, the Northampton playmaker, London Irish centre Johnny Williams and Leicester openside Will Evans shone through.

Loosehead prop Lewis Boyce and flanker George Nott also dominated the physical exchanges.

Max Malins was among the try-scorers South Africa were typically robust in the tackle, but were always one step tactically as Mallinder, who kicked nine points, expertly guided England around the pitch with boot and hand. The tries were shared around with Max Green, Huw Taylor, Sam Aspland-Robinson, Williams, Max Malins and Max Wright scoring.

It was not the perfect performance. The lineout in the absence of captain Jack Walker creaked while from a position of utter dominance at halftime England carelessly let South Africa back into the match. Head coach Martin Haag will have five days to iron out out those flaws before the face Ireland, 37-7 victors against Argentina, in the final on Saturday at the AJ Bell Stadium.

The Most Fanatical Rugby Region On EarthPlay!01:22 “We’re delighted to have got to the final,” Haag said. “They surprise me every time they rise to the challenge. We played some great rugby today and now we have to prepare for Saturday. Ireland were fantastic today against Argentina and looking at their result, they are probably favourites going into the final.”

From the off, England were on the front foot. Evans snaffled an excellent turnover and Williams stepped inside to give Green a clear run in. Within six minutes, England were two tries to the good as Taylor plunged over after good work by centres Williams and Joe Marchant.

After South Africa captain Jeremy Ward was sin-binned for taking out full back Malins in the air, England engineered an excellent team try, the ball moving at speed through the hands of Marchant, Malins and George Nott to wing Aspland-Robinson who finished in the corner.

In a manner of which Jones would no doubt approve, England went for the kill before halftime as Williams and Malins crossed in quick succession, the latter while Evans was in the sin-bin. At 31-3 that appeared to be that. Yet the second half was a far looser affair as Edwil Van Der Merwe and Curwin Bosch crossed to make it a two-score game before

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a breakaway Wright try settled any remaining nerves. England now have a final to look forward to.

England: M Malins; S Aspland-Robinson (O Thorley, 69), J Marchant, J Williams (M Wright 70), M Gallagher; H Mallinder, M Green (H Randall, 52); L Boyce (T West, 52), J Singleton (C Piper 71), B Walker (W Stuart 52), S South (A Kitchener 52), H Taylor, G Nott, W Evans (Jack Willis, 63) C Chick

England under-20s draw inspiration from seniors as they prepare for World Championship final against Ireland

24 JUNE 2016 • 5:34PM Telegraph.

After drawing inspiration from the feats of England’s senior and Saxons teams, captain Harry Mallinder says it is time for the under-20s to create history of their own in the World Championship final against Ireland on Saturday.

Martin Haag, the head coach, has named an unchanged team for England’s fourth consecutive final. Eight players from those previous three sides were part of the squad who have delivered a series victory in Australia, while others toured South Africa in the Saxons’ 2-0 series victory.

Englsnd will face Ireland at the A J Bell Stadium in Salford . The message is clear: If you are good enough, you are old enough. And that is being heard loud and clear by this generation. Where there was once a bottleneck of prodigious young talent that never truly realised its potential on the senior stage, now there is a pathway for which the much-maligned Rob Andrew, the Rugby Football Union’s outgoing professional rugby director, deserves a lot of credit.

Yet that is the long-term dream for a select few. For now, the only focus is this evening at the A J Bell Stadium in Salford and becoming the third English team to capture the Under-20 World Championship title after the Henry Slade class of 2013 and the Maro Itoje class of 2014.

That, for Mallinder, the son of Northampton’s director of rugby Jim, is all the incentive he needs.

Harry is the son of Northampton’s director of rugby Jim Mallinder “We have watched all the Saxons and the senior games together,” Mallinder said. “As players we really look up to them because that’s where we want to be in a couple of years. We want to continue that run. Those lads you have mentioned are great role models for us.

They have put in that hard work in years before to get to the position

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they are in. “That’s where we want to be ourselves. For us we are a new group and a different group. We are not dwelling on the championships they have had. We want to create history for ourselves on Saturday.” No one in the England camp is under any illusions about how difficult a task that will be against an Ireland side who have already provided the result of the tournament by beating champions New Zealand. They went on to thrash a much-fancied Argentina side 37-7 in the semi-finals, led by No 8 Max Deegan, who looked every bit the heir to Jamie Heaslip.

Ireland beat Argentina to reach the final .

Jacob Stockdale, the full-back, has scored four tries in as many matches and the prop pairing of Andrew Porter and Ben Betts are as dynamic in the loose as they are powerful in the tight exchanges.

Even with home advantage, Haag considers England to be underdogs.

“Ireland were fantastic against Argentina,” he said. “They were very physical, very direct, very good in the set-piece. Looking at their results they are probably favourites coming into this. We will have to prepare properly and focus on ourselves.”

Ireland were also victors in their Six Nations encounter, 26-20 at Newcastle, although both teams are much changed since. Nottingham and former Bath forwards coach Haag replaced Jon Callard in charge and players such as Mallinder, Will Evans and Joe Marchant were made available by their clubs.

Will Evans ran the game against South Africa. Evans bossed the breakdown in the semi-final victory against South Africa but there is no doubt that Mallinder is the brightest prospect after being shortlisted alongside Deegan as player of the tournament. A year ago, he was recuperating from a second operation on a shoulder and targeting involvement in the Under-20s Six Nations.

Yet an injury crisis at Franklin’s Gardens opened the door for him in the first team and it was an opportunity he seized, starting 11 games at centre and earning a nomination for the LV Young Player of the Year Award in the process. Coming into this tournament, Mallinder had to adapt again when Theo Brophy-Clews was injured, stepping in at fly-half, a role he has filled with aplomb.

“That senior experience has been really beneficial personally for the growth of my game,” Mallinder said. “It has helped me enormously.

A year ago today I was recovering from a major operation and I was watching the tournament on television.

“It just shows that you can come back, recover and I am just delighted to be involved in such a quality team in Manchester in front of friends and family.”

Under-20 World Championship semi-finals: England youngsters promise bright future

Harry Mallinder has been one of the stars of the tournament C19 JUNE 2016 • 5:09PM Telegraph The Under-20 World Championship has been a fertile breeding ground for successive vintages of England internationals and all indications are that this year’s batch will also provide Eddie Jones or his successors with rich pickings in years to come.

Today, England face South Africa in the semi-final at the Manchester City Academy Stadium after negotiating a group containing Scotland, Italy and Australia. Just as significantly New Zealand, the defending champions, have been eliminated after coming up short against Ireland, whose reward is a semi-final against Argentina. Neither team has reached the final before.

Few would have pegged Ireland as potential giant slayers after a thirdplace finish in the Six Nations. Then again, England finished fifth in the same tournament, their worst ever result after four defeats in five.

Since then Martin Haag, the former Bath and Nottingham coach, has succeed Jon Callard as head coach and he has benefited from the return of several key players.

Johnny Williams is highly regarded In a condensed season, few ¬Premiership clubs were willing to release their bright young things for the Six Nations and at junior level the absence of a team’s leading lights is disproportionately felt. Back into the fray for this tournament came Northampton centre Harry Mallinder and London Irish playmakers Theo Brophy Clews and Johnny Williams, although Brophy Clews has since been injured.

Haag can call on further Premiership experience in Gloucester wing Ollie Thorley, fellow speed merchant Joe Marchant, of Harlequins, and Leicester openside Will Evans. No previous England side has been able to call on more senior experience.

That Mallinder is already in prime contention for the player-of-the-tournament award will be little surprise to those who witnessed his rapid emergence at Northampton last season. Starting at fly-half in the 17-13 win over Australia, he scored 12 points and created the host nation’s only try with a perfectly weighted grubber to Marchant. If he continues his trajectory he is likely to figure in England’s tour to Argentina next year during the Lions series.

Will Evans has Premiership experience CREDIT: PA Others will no doubt follow in his footsteps. The vultures will be circling around Brophy Clews and Williams but in a season of first-team Championship rugby may be beneficial for both’s development. Jones is known to be keeping an eye on Evans, who has thrived in Leicester’s dog-eat-dog environment.

The high water mark remains the classes of 2011 and 2013. Each produced six senior internationals, the former featuring a Ford-Farrell midfield axis and the later containing Maro Itoje and current Wales international Ross Moriarty. Future progress is also contingent upon the success, or otherwise, of the senior side.

As ever in any confrontation against South Africa, the set piece battle will take on extra significance. After the success of Jones’ side in Australia and the Saxons in South Africa, the Under-20s are two victories away from completing a perfect month for English rugby.

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