Sam Lewis-England Template 2018 Proof#1

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Match Report, 30 May ENGLAND U20S DEFEAT ARGENTINA IN NARBONNE 30 May 2018, 19:17

• England: Tries – Olowofela 2, Walker 2, Smith Cons – Grayson 3, Hardwick Pens - Grayson, Hardwick • Argentina: Tries – Chocobares, Pedemonte Cons – Daireaux Pens - Daireaux, Mendía England U20s got their World Rugby U20 Championship campaign off to a winning start as they sealed a bonus-point 39-18 victory over Argentina in Narbonne.

England led 19-15 at half-time through two Jordan Olowofela tries, a try for Henry Walker and two James Grayson conversions.

Argentina had responded with tries via Santiago Chocobares and Bautista Pedemonte as well as five points from the boot of Juan Bautista Daireaux.

Second-half tries from Walker and Marcus Smith, both converted, as well as Tom Hardwick’s penalty helped seal victory for England with Joaquín de la Vega Mendía kicking Argentina’s only points of the half.

They will next play Italy in Perpignan on Sunday before ending their Pool B fixtures against Scotland in Beziers.

Olowofela double Argentina scored the first points of the game, latching onto a spilled ball in midfield and Chocobares had a clear run to the posts with Juan Bautista Daireaux sending over the extras.

England were straight back in the game, as Olowofela wriggled over and Grayson converted.

Daireaux kicked a penalty for 10-7 but Walker bundled over off the back of a collapsed maul for a second converted England try.

Gabriel Ibitoye was introduced midway through the half for Ali Crossdale and soon after Argentina had a second try with Pedemonte barrelling his way to the line from 5m out for 15-14.

A powerful maul and neat hands from England’s three-quarters

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put Olowofela in space for a second try as well as a third for Steve Bates’ side and a 19-15 half-time lead.

Wonderful Walker A Grayson penalty shortly after the break stretched the advantage and minutes later Walker charged over for a second try and the bonus point score.

Mendía’s penalty reduced the deficit to 11 points before Hardwick’s long-range effort restored the lead to 14. A late Argentine yellow card was capitalised on by England as Olowofela surged deep into Argentina territory before lifting an offload into the path of replacement Smith - who duly crossed the whitewash.

Reaction “There were some really good bits in there, we scored some good tries, we scrummaged well, we got the ball from the lineout and scrum regularly, so all in all we’ll look back on that and say that’s not a bad start to the tournament,” said head coach Steve Bates.

“There is plenty for us to work on but that’s a tough start, a physical start, so we’ve got to be careful with our recovery now and move forward.

“I think it is really important in this competition that you’re not chasing points all the time so winning, particularly the first game, is massive and it’s very important to start with that.”

Match Report, 03 Jun ENGLAND U20S DEFEAT ITALY AT WORLD RUGBY U20 CHAMPIONSHIP 03 June 2018, 17:18

• England: Tries – Smith 2, Parton, Loader 2, Ibitoye, Brand Cons – Smith 4 • Italy: Tries – Koffii England U20s sealed a second bonus-point victory after a seven-try win over Italy at the World Rugby U20 Championship.

Having beaten Argentina 39-18 in their opening fixture of the tournament, they followed that up with a 43-5 victory over Italy

in Perpignan on Sunday.

England led 26-5 at the break with tries from Marcus Smith, Tom Parton and two for Ben Loader, while Smith kicked three conversions as they secured the four-try bonus-point before half-time.

Italy, who defeated Scotland in their opening fixture, responded through Antoine Koffi but it was all they could muster in a half dominated by Steve Bates’ side.

Second-half scores from Smith, Gabriel Ibitoye and Rory Brand added gloss to an impressive performance from England but the game ended with lock Sam Lewis red carded for an illegal tackle.

The win gives England a maximum 10 points from two rounds and means that regardless of what happens when the pool stages conclude on Thursday they cannot be overhauled so have secured a semi-final spot.

Twitter Ads info and privacy England thought they had an early try after a penalty was kicked to the corner and after several phases Ben Curry barged over, only for it to be disallowed because of the grounding.

Soon after they were over, with Smith jinking his way to the try line and dotting down under the posts before converting his own score.

A second try came via Parton after neat handling and a Tom Willis break eventually released England’s full-back to go over with Smith again kicking the extras.

A neat break in midfield by Smith eventually saw Loader go over for a third converted try inside 30 minutes.

Koffi finished off an Italy break from inside their own half, but, before the break, Loader sealed the bonus-point after going over in the corner.

Hooker Gabriel Oghre and lock James Scott were introduced early in the second half as England’s dominance continued with Ibitoye producing a fine finish in the corner for a fifth try.

Smith collected a loose ball just inside Italy’s half to run in his second try, also converting the score for 38-5 while Brand nipped in at the corner.

Lewis was sent off late on for his high challenge but England saw out the rest of the game with ease.

England now end their pool B fixtures against Scotland on Thursday in Beziers (Thursday, 7 June, KO 8pm BST), with the game being streamed live by worldrugby.org.

“It was a really good first 50 minutes,” said Bates. “We put a lot of pressure on Italy, scored seven tries and probably could have scored a couple more.

“It was a really important step forward but we know we can improve and there is lots to come from this side.

“We know Scotland will be a really tough challenge, but so far so good.

“We are disappointed with the red card late on, and we will have to await the outcome of that.

“I thought we put them under a lot of pressure up front, we scrummaged really well and that set the platform. We took our opportunities in the first half and despite the game becoming slightly fragmented in the second period I’m still satisfied with the performance.”

Match Report, 07 Jun ENGLAND DEFEAT SCOTLAND AT WORLD RUGBY U20 CHAMPIONSHIP 07 June 2018, 21:52

• England: Tries – Ibitoye 2, Cutting, Scott, Kpoku, Williams Cons – Hardwick Pens - Hardwick • Scotland: Tries - Rowe Cons – Thompson Pens – Thompson England will play South Africa in the semi-finals of the World Rugby U20 Championship on Tuesday after a 35-10 bonus point victory over Scotland.

England led 17-10 at the break through tries from Gabriel Ibitoye, Beck Cutting and James Scott while Tom Hardwick kicked the one conversion.

Scotland responded with a penalty from Ross Thompson, as well as a converted try via Kyle Rowe just before the break.

Second-half scores for Ibitoye, Joel Kpoku, Matt Williams as well as a penalty secured the win over Scotland.

Steve Bates’ side had already been confirmed as winners of Pool

B following two bonus-point victories over Argentina and Italy, sealing their place in the last four of the tournament with a game to spare.

And they maintained their perfect run in the tournament with victory over Scotland in Beziers to go into the knockout stages as the tournament’s top seed.

They will take on South Africa in Narbonne at 6pm BST, live on ITV 4.

High scoring Ibitoye flew over in the corner after showing great power and pace to dot down for his second tournament try which Hardwick converted inside five minutes.

Thompson missed a penalty soon after but reduced the deficit to 7-3 for a later infringement.

England had a second try, hooker Cutting barging over off the back of a driving maul, following a penalty kicked to the corner.

Scott rolled over in the corner after England went through multiple phases, showing patience Twitter Ads info and privacy James Grayson was yellow carded for a high tackle as England were reduced to 14 men with 15 minutes of the half remaining.

Scotland had their first try of the game Rowe getting to Thompson’s kick behind the England defence which was also converted for 17-10 at the break.

Ibitoye scored a superb individual score in the corner, powering through three tackles before showing fine agility to touch down by the corner flag.

Hardwick landed a penalty just before the hour mark and with 10 minutes remaining Scotland were reduced to 14 men with Devante Onojaife sin binned for a high tackle.

And England capitalised on it, as Kpoku crashed over from close range before replacement Williams scored England’s sixth, sealing the deal.

Head coach Bates believes his side are getting better as the tournament progresses but feels there is still more to come from England.

“We’ve steadily improved over the course of the three games and today’s match was a further indicator of that,” said Bates.

“Credit to the players for putting together another good performance and for achieving a third bonus-point victory as well as sealing top spot.

“I’m not sure we’re at our full potential so we’ve got to raise it again for the semi-final.”

On the challenge of the semi-final, he added: “We played South

Africa a few weeks ago in Worcester, but I don’t think that result will have any bearing on Tuesday’s fixture. We know they will be physical, but we are a different side to the one we put out. It will heighten our focus but I don’t think it will affect us.

“This competition is really intense, you have four days inbetween matches, so we have to recover, analyse and prepare correctly so we are at our best for Tuesday’s game. We have to raise our performance to another level as we’re in the knockout phase of the tournament.”

Match Report, 12 Jun ENGLAND TO PLAY FRANCE IN FINAL OF WORLD RUGBY U20 CHAMPIONSHIP 12 June 2018, 19:44

• England - Tries: Parton, Hardwick, White, Olowofela Cons: Smith 3 Pens: Smith 2 • Junior Springboks - Tries: Sandi, Uys, Nortje, Rass, Ntlabakanye Cons: Lombard 3 England U20s will play hosts France in the final of the World Rugby U20 Championship on Sunday (KO 18:00 BST, live on ITV 4).

Steve Bates’ side progressed through after they defeated Junior Springboks 32-31 in Narbonne on Tuesday to reach their sixth-consecutive final.

England led 22-7 at the break with tries from Tom Parton, Tom Hardwick, Ben White and seven points from the boot of Marcus Smith while South Africa responded with Sazi Sandi’s converted score.

They sealed victory through Jordan Olowofela’s converted try, although South Africa did score tries from Muller Uys, Ruane

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Nortje, Manuel Rass and Asenathi Ntlabakanye to narrow the deficit in a thrilling second half.

For England it will be an opportunity to add a fourth title after successes in 2013, 2014 and 2016 most recently in Manchester.

They will meet hosts France in Sunday’s finals day in Beziers after their victory over reigning champions New Zealand in Perpignan.

South Africa had an early yellow card, with No 8 Muller Uys sent to the sin bin for a late tackle on Marcus Smith.

And England made the Junior Springboks pay the penalty with Parton going over in the corner for the first points of the game before Hardwick powered through midfield for a second during the period which Smith converted for 12-0.

There was better to come for England with White finishing off under the posts after a searing break by Gabriel Ibitoye on the right wing which Smith converted.

South Africa had their first points after Sandi bundled over from close range after a period of sustained pressure and Gianni Lombard’s conversion reduced the deficit to 19-7.

However, England had the final say of the half with Smith’s penalty giving them a 22-7 lead at the break.

The Junior Springboks had a second try shortly after the restart with Uys crashing over off the back of a driving maul but Smith kept the scoreboard ticking over with a second penalty.

South Africa had a third try, which Lombard converted but Olowofela ran in a loose ball on halfway, which Smith added the extras for a 32-19 lead.

Rass also went over to add more late drama and the Boks pressed further when James Scott was sin binned, and were rewarded with a try as Asenathi Ntlabakanye powered in from two metres out. The conversion made it 32-31 to England with four minutes to play.

England though managed to hold onto the majority of possession through the frantic closing stages as they sealed a narrow onepoint win over the Boks.

Steve Bates said: “It is a great achievement for these guys, they played some really good rugby in the first half but couldn’t quite get enough ball in the second which meant it ended up being a tight game.

“Jordan’s try in the second half proved to be decisive and now we have a tough game to prepare for on Sunday.

“The first half went as we planned, we played quickly and stretched them really well. We moved the ball well and also counter attacked well.

“From the forwards perspective that was a gruelling game, and this side’s spirit shone through in those final moments. Now we

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have to recover and prepare for Sunday’s final.”

RUGBY U20 CHAMPIONSHIP 17 June 2018, 19:45

over in the corner for a try in stoppage time.

Three Carbonel penalties, one from halfway, gave France a 23-8 lead inside the hour before Smith kicked a second penalty.

“Not many players our age can say they have played in front of 20,000 fans. We’ll learn from this experience” The boot of Carbonel continued to frustrate England with the fly half sending over a seventh penalty and despite Heyes’ powerful try from close range, France replacement Seguret gathered a clever grubber kick to dot down and secure the win.

England would have the final score of the game when Olowofela hit an excellent line to go over, and James Grayson slotted a second conversion, but it would be an eight point defeat for Bates’ side.

• England: Tries - Olowofela 2, Heyes Cons - Grayson 2 Pens - Smith 2 • France: Tries - Woki, Seguret Cons - Carbonel Pens Carbonel 7 England were beaten 33-25 by hosts France in the final of the World Rugby U20 Championship.

Steve Bates’ side trailed 14-8 at the break with France scoring a try through Cameron Woki and Louis Carbonel contributing nine points.

A Marcus Smith penalty and Jordan Olowofela’s try took them to within six points at half-time.

And despite a further Smith penalty and Joe Heyes’ try as well as Olowofela’s second, Carbonel kicked four penalties and Adrien Seguret touched down to give France their first ever U20 Championship title.

England were appearing in their sixth-consecutive World Rugby U20 Championship final but after victories in 2013, 2014 and 2016 they were not able to add to that.

They had progressed to the final in Beziers courtesy of three bonus-point victories in their pool, as well as a narrow 32-31 win over South Africa.

At a sold out Stade de la Méditerranée, Carbonel sent over an early penalty and a second midway through the half but Smith had England’s first points moments later.

France then had their first try, Woki showing great agility to squeeze over in the corner.

Smith missed a chance to reduce the deficit as Carbonel stretched France’s lead to 14-3 just before the break but Olowofela went

Reaction Head coach Steve Bates: “It’s tough to take when you’ve got a group of players who have worked so hard together and developed so much over the season.

“I thought it was a really good performance. Obviously we had one or two issues in the scrum which the referee penalised us for but I think in all other departments we can take a lot of positives and pride from the way the guys played.

“Our plan was to try and exploit their lack of scoring in the last 20 minutes of the game and we were just not quite close enough to do that, as we scored some good tries in that last quarter.”

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ENGLAND U20 2018 Josh Basham, Rory Brand, Will Butler, Aaron Chapman, Ali Crossdale, Ben Curry, Beck Cutting, Fraser Dingwall, Ben Earl, James Grayson, Tom Hardwick, Joseph Heyes, Ted Hill, Aaron Hinkley, Gabriel Ibitoye, Ciaran Knight, Joel Kpoku, Dino Lamb, Sam Lewis, Ben Loader, Sam Moore, Joseph Morris, Gabriel Oghre, Jordan Olowofela, Ehren Painter, Tom Parton, James Scott, Tom Seabrook, Alex Seville, Marcus Smith, Joe Snow, Marcus Street, Toby Trinder, Henry Walker, Ben White, Mathew Williams, Tom Willis gpfoto my photos, your story gerry@gpfoto.ie +353 (087) 2424123 © All rights reserved