England Saxons announce their match-22 for first match of 2011 Churchill Cup – Rugby news
England Saxons have announced 22 players that will be in the starting line-up for their first match of the 2011 Churchill Cup against the USA Eagles. Saxons will take on the Eagles at Franklin’s Garden, Northampton on Saturday, June 4.
England Saxons head coach, Stuart Lancaster, announced the match 22 on Thursday, June 2, and Newcastle Falcons scrum half Mickey Young and Saracens fullback Alex Goode are the only two survivors from the Saxons’ last year’s Churchill Cup campaign. Saxons
defeated Canada 38 – 18 to clinch the title in the eighth edition of the Churchill Cup.
Saxons announced that captain Luke Narraway will not participate in their Saturday clash against the Eagle. Narraway is yet to recover from a calf injury he sustained earlier. Leicester Tigers number eight, Jordan Crane, will captain the side in absence
of Narraway.
Lancaster has termed the side a good combination of old legs and fresh blood. He expects that the seniors will play their part with the knowledge and technique while the youngsters will play at full throttle.
Lancaster said, “There's lots at stake for all of them, whether they're pushing for places in this World Cup this year or the next one in 2015, but the most important thing is to get off to a good start against what we're expecting to be a very smart USA
side on Saturday.”
When asked about the Saxons chances of defending the tile with this relatively young squad, Lancaster replied, that he wants his squad to recapture the title once again. He was positive of the results but was wary of opponents like the USA and Tonga, who
are strong international sides.
Lancaster further added, “We have got a good mix of players including seven of those who did well against an experienced Barbarians side at Twickenham and there are more players who've joined us after taking part in big club games at the end of the domestic
season.”
The England Saxons squad announced for their Saturday’s match with USA Eagles includes-
Starting XV: 15 Mike Brown (Harlequins), 14 Topsy Ojo (London Irish), 13 Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby), 12 Billy Twelvetrees (Leicester Tigers), 11 Miles Benjamin (Worcester Warriors), 10 Rory Clegg (Harlequins), 9 Micky Young (Newcastle
Falcons), 8 Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers, captain), 7 Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), 6 James Gaskell (Sale Sharks), 5 Dave Attwood (Gloucester Rugby), 4 Mouritz Botha (Saracens), 3 Matt Stevens (Saracens), 2 Joe Gray (Harlequins), 1 Matt Mullan (Worcester
Warriors).
Replacements: 16 David Paice (London Irish), 17 Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), 18 Graham Kitchener (Worcester Warriors), 19 Jamie Gibson (London Irish), 20 Paul Hodgson (London Irish), 21 Alex Goode (Saracens), 22 Charlie Sharples (Gloucester
Rugby).
Saxons will play their second pool match against the Tongan national rugby union team on June 12, 2011 at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester.
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