RugbyRebels

England U18s got their summer development tour off to a winning start with a 24-8 victory over France in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

The U18s led 19-3 at the break through tries from Will Porter, Will Capon and Cadan Murley along with two Kieran Wilkinson conversions in a clinical first half of rugby by John Fletcher’s side.

France responded shortly after the break with a try from Mathis Lebel but Murley’s second late on sealed victory.

It was the opening match of their three-game development tour in South Africa, where England will also play Wales and South Africa Schools.

The U18s opened the scoring with scrum-half Porter spotting a gap before jinking his way through for the first try of the game

Louis Carbonel sent over a penalty with England punished for offiside to reduce the deficit, before Capon bundled over off the back of a maul after a line-out was driven to France’s try line.

Murley then flew over in the corner after the three-quarters had created an overlap for the Harlequin back to cross before half-time.

Lebel then went over shortly after the restart to get France back in the game and reduce the deficit to 11 points.

England had Beck Cutting sent to the sin bin in the 59th minute before a period of brave defence kept France at bay and with three minutes remaining, Murley went over to give England an unassailable 24-8 lead.

'A great way to start the tour'
"It's a great way to start the tour and always nice to get a win and try and we look forward to the next challenge against Wales," said Capon.

Murley added: "I thought the guys came together really well, France are always a physical test and it's great to start the tour with a victory."

England U18 team to face France:

Nick David (Worcester Warriors & Warwick), Arron Reed (Sale Sharks & Kirkham Grammar), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints & Bedford School), Sam Spink (Wasps & Wellington College), Cadan Murley (Harlequins, Bishop Wordsworth's School), Kieran Wilkinson (Sale Sharks & Kirkham Grammar), Will Porter (Wasps & Merchant Taylors), Sam Moore (Sale Sharks & Sedbergh School), Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester & St Peters), Tom Willis (Wasps & Henley College), James Scott (Worcester Warriors & Malvern College), Joe Tunney (Wasps & Dr Challoners), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers & Wyggeston & QEI College), Will Capon (Bristol & Bristol Grammar), Tom Rowland (Bristol & Bristol Grammar).

Replacements: George Head (Harlequins & Tonbridge School), Beck Cutting (Worcester Warriors & Bromsgrove), Nick Rigby (Worcester Warriors & Warwick), Josh Basham (London Irish & Wellington College), Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs & Exeter College), Ollie Fox (Yorkshire & New College Pontefract), Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks & Sedbergh), Tom de Glanville (Bath & Beechen Cliff).

Results & fixtures

Friday 11 August: England U18 24-8 France - Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch (1.15pm BST).

Tuesday 15 August: England U18 v Wales - Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl (1.15pm BST)

Saturday 19 August: England U18 v SA Schools - City Park, Athlone (1pm BST)

And Wales beat SA schools for the first time

Epaminondas Pules wrote:And Wales beat SA schools for the first time

Yep and captained by a Tigers player too.

Epaminondas Pules wrote:England U18s got their summer development tour off to a winning start with a 24-8 victory over France in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

The U18s led 19-3 at the break through tries from Will Porter, Will Capon and Cadan Murley along with two Kieran Wilkinson conversions in a clinical first half of rugby by John Fletcher’s side.

France responded shortly after the break with a try from Mathis Lebel but Murley’s second late on sealed victory.

It was the opening match of their three-game development tour in South Africa, where England will also play Wales and South Africa Schools.

The U18s opened the scoring with scrum-half Porter spotting a gap before jinking his way through for the first try of the game

Louis Carbonel sent over a penalty with England punished for offiside to reduce the deficit, before Capon bundled over off the back of a maul after a line-out was driven to France’s try line.

Murley then flew over in the corner after the three-quarters had created an overlap for the Harlequin back to cross before half-time.

Lebel then went over shortly after the restart to get France back in the game and reduce the deficit to 11 points.

England had Beck Cutting sent to the sin bin in the 59th minute before a period of brave defence kept France at bay and with three minutes remaining, Murley went over to give England an unassailable 24-8 lead.

'A great way to start the tour'
"It's a great way to start the tour and always nice to get a win and try and we look forward to the next challenge against Wales," said Capon.

Murley added: "I thought the guys came together really well, France are always a physical test and it's great to start the tour with a victory."

England U18 team to face France:

Nick David (Worcester Warriors & Warwick), Arron Reed (Sale Sharks & Kirkham Grammar), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints & Bedford School), Sam Spink (Wasps & Wellington College), Cadan Murley (Harlequins, Bishop Wordsworth's School), Kieran Wilkinson (Sale Sharks & Kirkham Grammar), Will Porter (Wasps & Merchant Taylors), Sam Moore (Sale Sharks & Sedbergh School), Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester & St Peters), Tom Willis (Wasps & Henley College), James Scott (Worcester Warriors & Malvern College), Joe Tunney (Wasps & Dr Challoners), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers & Wyggeston & QEI College), Will Capon (Bristol & Bristol Grammar), Tom Rowland (Bristol & Bristol Grammar).

Replacements: George Head (Harlequins & Tonbridge School), Beck Cutting (Worcester Warriors & Bromsgrove), Nick Rigby (Worcester Warriors & Warwick), Josh Basham (London Irish & Wellington College), Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs & Exeter College), Ollie Fox (Yorkshire & New College Pontefract), Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks & Sedbergh), Tom de Glanville (Bath & Beechen Cliff).

Results & fixtures

Friday 11 August: England U18 24-8 France - Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch (1.15pm BST).

Tuesday 15 August: England U18 v Wales - Paarl Gymnasium, Paarl (1.15pm BST)

Saturday 19 August: England U18 v SA Schools - City Park, Athlone (1pm BST)

Played golf with Fraser's dad yesterday! Huge praise for the environment the lads are playing in.

England U18s ended their summer development tour with a 52-22 victory over South Africa Schools.

England had won one against France and later lost to Wales in their previous games of the U19 International Series in South Africa.

England led 19-0 at the break through tries from Ollie Hassell-Collins, Josh Basham and Sam Moore.

South Africa scored second-half tries from Muller du Plessis (2) and Henco Martins as well as seven points from the boot of Qamani Kota.

But tries from Nick Rigby, Tom Willis, Cadan Marley, Sam Spink and Nick David as well as three Kieran Wilkinson conversions sealed victory.

After South Africa missed two early penalties England looked to have opened the scoring with Arron Reed collecting Cameron Redpath’s cross kick to dot down in the corner. However, it was disallowed for an earlier knock on.

Soon after though, England did cross with Hassell-Collins diving over in the corner after England did well to create an overlap on the left wing.

Tom Seabrook prevented a certain try with a last-ditch tackle and a penalty soon after inside England's 22m saw the pressure averted.

From the resulting line-out England broke up field and after several phases Basham burst through for the second try of the game which Redpath converted.

Captain Moore scored a third England try which Redpath converted for 19-0 in what were the last points of the half.

South Africa were back in the game with a try after the break after du Plessis jinked his way down the left wing and over in the corner.

A second try followed shortly after with Martins crossing and Kota's conversion took the score to 19-12.

Kota sent over a penalty for 19-15 but England had a fourth try through Rigby who barged over from close range and Redpath's conversion extended the lead further.

A fifth try followed moments later after Willis was the beneficiary of some fine offloading in contact by his team mates.

Du Plessis had a second try scything through for South Africa's third try which Kota converted taking the score to 31-22.

However, England settled matters with Murley darting through and Wilkinson's conversion extended the lead further.

Spink and David scored late on, which Wilkinson converted taking the final score to 52-22.