Quartet to start in JWC semi-final

By Mark Stevens

England Under-20s will include four Exeter Chiefs youngsters in their side to take on New Zealand in the semi-final of the IRB Junior World Championship tomorrow (7.45pm).

Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, together with backs Henry Slade, Jack Nowell and Sam Hill, will all start the game in Vannes, France.

All four sat out England's record-breaking 109-0 victory over the USA last time out, but coaches Nick Walshe and Ian Peel have made 11-changes from that side that scored 17-tries in their final Pool game.

Sadly Exeter's other representative in the England squad, flanker Joel Conlon, misses out on this occasion, this despite him scoring twice in the USA success.

England last played New Zealand in the 2011 Junior World Championship final, a game the Baby Blacks won 33-22.

Head Coach Walshe said: “We’re delighted to be in the top four and to have the opportunity to face New Zealand is a real honour. The boys have trained well in preparation for the game and they are really looking forward to making a good account of themselves. We’re under no illusions as to how hard the game will be but we just need to concentrate on ourselves and on our performance.”

Captain Jack Clifford added: “We’re really excited about this game. New Zealand have never failed to reach a Junior World Championship final and our job is to stop them. It won’t be easy – they’re a great side with a good pedigree and we have a lot of respect for them. But at the same time, we’re a good side, we’ve trained well and we’re ready to take them on.”

England Under-20s starting XV to play New Zealand

15 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
13 Harry Sloan (Harlequins)
12 Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
11 Ben Howard (Worcester Warriors)
10 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
9 Alex Day (Northampton Saints) 
1 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints)
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
3 Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
4 Elliott Stooke (Gloucester Rugby)
5 Dominic Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)
6 Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby)
7 Matt Hankin (Saracens)
8 Jack Clifford (Harlequins, capt) 

Replacements:

16 Scott Spurling (Saracens)
17 Alec Hepburn (London Wasps)
18 Tom Smallbone (London Irish)
19 Tom Price (Leicester Tigers)
20 David Sisi (Bath Rugby)
21 Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby)
22 Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby)
23 Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers)