Trio celebrate Six Nations joy

Exeter Chiefs trio Jack Innard, Sam Skinner and Stu Townsend helped England Under-20s to win the 2015 Under-20s Six Nations with a two-try 24-11 win against France at Brighton’s Amex Stadium.

In front of over 12,600 fans Joe Marchant and George Perkins scored the decisive tries while Rory Jennings added 14 crucial points with the boot.

Head Coach Jon Callard said: “I’m extremely proud of all of the players and the management. It was a challenging game – France were extremely well drilled –  but the players fronted up in the second half and ultimately deserved that win. We didn’t get going in the first 40 but we kept in the game and kicked on well. It’s great to win and to lift the trophy and it’s just reward for their efforts.

“We’re half way through our season with the junior world cup coming up in June, and we’re looking forward to heading out to Italy to defend the trophy. We have a talented group of players and a huge amount of credit must go to the clubs and the academies who put a lot of work into their guys.”

After an early long-range Aaron Morris penalty went wide, Jennings and France's Thomas Ramos exchanged kicks for 6-6 after 30 minutes.

France were applying pressure and saw a try disallowed for a knock-on in the build-up, but they did get their first score on 32 minutes when No. 8  Fabien Sanconnie barged over.

Two quick-fire Jennings penalties put England 12-11 ahead early in the second period and they kicked on to take the game beyond France.

First Townsend charged down his own box kick which Marchant gathered superbly before pirouetting on the try line to score.

And minutes later England made the game safe. A break from Jack Walker eventually fell to Skinner who showed excellent presence of mind to offload to Perkins who dotted down.

Captain Charlie Ewels said: “It’s an unbelievable feeling to lift the trophy. Last year we missed out on it and that hurt, so to come here and put in a second half performance like that was really pleasing

“We knew that it would be a challenge and huge respect to France who were very good from minute one to 80. We had to address a few things at the break but thankfully we did and came through to get the win.”

England Under-20s starting XV against France

15 Aaron Morris (Saracens)

14 George Perkins (Saracens)

13 Tom Fowlie (London Irish)

12 Joe Marchant (Harlequins)

11 Howard Packman (Northampton Saints)

10 Rory Jennings (Bath Rugby)

9 James Mitchell (Sale Sharks)

1 Sebastian Adeniran-Olule (Harlequins)

2 Jack Walker (Yorkshire Carnegie)

3 Paul Hill (Yorkshire Carnegie)

4 Kieran Treadwell (Harlequins)

5 Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, captain)

6 Charlie Beckett (Leicester Tigers)

7 Will Owen (Leicester Tigers)

8 James Chisholm (Harlequins)

 

Replacements:

16 Jack Innard (Exeter Chiefs) 

17 Owen Hills (Leicester Tigers) on for Sebastian Adeniran-Olule 19 mins

18 Ciaran Parker (Sale Sharks)

19 Joe Batley (Gloucester Rugby) on Kieran Treadwell 72 mins

20 Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs) on for Charlie Beckett 60 mins 

21 Stuart Townsend (Exeter Chiefs) on for James Mitchell 55 mins 

22 Tom Howe (Wasps Rugby)

23 Piers O’Conor (Wasps Rugby) on for Aaron Morris 69 mins