Stuart Lancaster makes four changes to Saxons squad for Churchill Cup clash against Tonga – Rugby news
England Saxons have made four changes to their squad for their 2011 Churchill Cup match against Tonga. England Saxons coach, Stuart Lancaster, has announced the Saxons squad for their match against Tonga on Friday, June 10. The Saxons will play their second
match of the ninth edition of the Churchill Cup at Kingsholm Stadium, Gloucester on Sunday, June 12.
Gloucester Rugby’s winger Charlie Sharples, and London Irish scrumhalf Paul Hodgson and hooker David Paice and Saracens fullback Alex Goode, are named in the match 22. The players have replaced Worcester Warriors’ Miles Benjamin, Newcastle Falcons’ Micky
Young, Harlequins’ Joe Gray and Harlequins Mike Brown respectively.
Miles Benjamin scored three tries in Saxons first game against the USA Eagles on June 4, at Franklin’s Garden, Northampton.
Commenting on the changes made in the squad, Stuart Lancaster said, "We've rotated our squad for this game to give other players opportunities to demonstrate their abilities as we see the tournament very much about development as well as being a competition
in its own right.” He further added, that the player ruled out of the game did not mean that they will be taken out of the final.
Saxons are defending their title and would be eyeing a win in Sunday’s clash to book a Churchill Cup final spot with the last year’s runner up Canada on June 18 at Worcester.
Lancaster has termed the Tonga outfit as formidable and a strong physical unit. He said, “They played with good shape in attack and defence against the USA. For us it's important that we improve our execution, particularly in the first half, and that this
young England Saxons side measures up to the physical challenge.”
The England Saxons squad for the Sunday’s game includes-
England Saxons: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Charlie Sharples, 13 Henry Trinder, 12 Billy Twelvetrees, 11 Topsy Ojo, 10 Rory Clegg, 9 Paul Hodgson, 8 Jordan Crane (captain), 7 Tom Johnson, 6 James Gaskell, 5 Dave Attwood, 4 Mouritz Botha, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 David Paice,
1 Matt Mullan.
Replacements: 16 Joe Gray, 17 Kieran Brookes, 18 Graham Kitchener, 19 Jamie Gibson, 20 Micky Young, 21 Jordan Turner-Hall, 22 Mike Brown.
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