Jon Callard has named an experienced England Saxons team to play the Irish Wolfhounds on Friday night, with Sam Burgess set to don the white of England for the first time. The code-hopper starts at inside centre, forming a tantalising centre partnership with Wasps’ Elliot Daly.
Lee Dickson captains the side from scrum-half, while Chris Pennell is included at fullback despite plying his trade this season in the Championship.
The Wolfhounds won last year’s fixture 14-8 at Kingsholm, while the year previously the Saxons won 14-10 in Galway.
Jon Callard, the Saxons Head Coach, said: “The game tomorrow night against the Wolfhounds will be a difficult and tough match for us but the group is excited about it and the opportunity to put on an England shirt.
“The team is one of the strongest Saxons sides selected and every player knows the importance of this match with potential of claiming a spot in the senior squad for the RBS 6 Nations campaign and the World Cup later in year.”
Meanwhile, Kieron Brookes has been called into the senior squad as cover for Dave Wilson who is being treated for a nerve impingement.
Saxons team to play Wolfhounds:
15 Chris Pennell (Worcester Warriors)
14 Chris Ashton (Saracens)
13 Elliot Daly (Wasps)
12 Sam Burgess (Bath Rugby)
11 Marland Yarde (Harlequins)
10 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
9 Lee Dickson, captain (Northampton Saints)
1 Matt Mullan (Wasps)
2 Rob Webber (Bath Rugby)
3 Henry Thomas (Bath Rugby)
4 Matt Garvey (Bath Rugby)
5 James Gaskell (Wasps)
6 Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs)
7 Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby)
8 Thomas Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs)
Replacements
16 Luke Cowan Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
17 Alex Waller (Northampton Saints)
18 Jake Cooper-Woolley (Wasps)
19 Maro Itoje (Saracens)
20 Carl Fearns (Bath)
21 Joe Simpson (Wasps)
22 Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby)
23 Christian Wade (Wasps)
24 replies on “England Saxons team to play Irish Wolfhounds named”
I would have thought it better, from England’s perspective, to have given Wade the start – everyone knows what Ashton can do.
Surprised he has picked Ashton over Wade. Also surprised he hasn’t picked Simpson based on form but if Dickson is seen as captain then it obviously makes a little more sense.
Incredibly exciting back line – Slade/Burgess/Daly could be brilliant to watch!
Really mobile pack too – all the locks in the squad have spent loads of time in the back row so I expect England to move the ball around a lot. All in all – well balanced squad.
Assume this game is on TV somewhere?
Jacob, its on Sky Sports 2!
Sky Sports 2. Ashton over Wade is a surprise indeed.
That is a big ball carrying back row isn’t it. With Itoje and Fearns on the bench too.
Disappointed that Nick Auterac isn’t in the squad. He is one of the best/strongest young props around and needs to be brought on quickly as he is certainly a full England prospect for the near future.
Wade on the bench?!?! Is there ANY justice in the world for this guy?! Jesus wept.
Sky sports 2 at 7.45 Friday
Thanks for all the replies about the channel it’s on! Much appreciated!
On Ashton playing – be interesting to see him run lines off of Burgess. I know we all mock him now but there was a time that Ashton was devastating running off shoulders. We know Burgess will break the gainline and we know he can offload! Could be quite a clever selection after all!
Tbh on current form I would swap Yarde for Wade not Ashton… Shame Ashton and Wade are more out and out right wingers.
exciting line-up, looking forward to seeing Itoje play – could be an outsider for the 6 nations if these injuries continue!!
Agree with everyone else on Wade. Poor guy must wish he was a Kiwi
Also agreed about Auterac – he looks very promising indeed
Nice to see Carl Fearns get a chance – I rate him highly
Still can’t make my mind up about Daly
Strong team – though it will need to be having seen the Ireland side!
Auterac is an interesting one – he certainly looks promising. But would you have him over Alex Waller? LH is probably the strongest position that England have with Corbs, Marler and Vunipola in the first team squad now. Plus Mullan involved too who is in unbelievable form for Wasps this year.
Point being, yes he looks good but not sure how you can select him over the current pool of players at this stage.
You’re right on the LH issue Jacob. Auterac though, does seem to have something about him in the loose, whilst appearing to be strong in the tight.
Not sure that Mullan will be fourth choice for long.
Agreed Jacob. Personally I would rate him over Waller and Mullan but the others are all above him in the pecking order which is why he is perfect Saxons material for a couple of seasons. Whenever he and Thomas come on for Bath the scrum is immediately more stable and I think more powerful, a pushover against Glasgow is no mean accomplishment.
Tough isn’t it? So much choice at loosehead.
Mullan and Waller are both great but there seems to be something about Auterac that makes you sit up and pay notice when he’s playing – he looks like a future international.
He’s only young, so it may not play out that way but we know what Mullan and Waller can do. I’d get Auterac in and involved with the England set-up, even if its just off the bench for the Saxons
Am slightly surprised that Sinckler has been omitted from the Saxons
BTW – also excited by the choice of Pennell at fullback.
That is a hell of a team!! Two locks who’ve played a lot in the back row, and a back row who love to carry the ball!! That’s five major ball carriers in the pack, not including Webber, who loves a carry himself. Plus look at the bench, Itoje, Fearns, Cowan-Dickie!! WOW.
And then we have a back line which at the moment would probably be better that the senior squad. Slade, Burgess and Daly should cause havoc in the midfield, and then Yarde and Ashton sitting on their shoulders waiting for an opportunity to finish off. Then you have three more out and out pace burners on the bench.
Maybe Callard should be picking the senior team as well?!
I’ve never disguised the fact that I’m no Ashton fan but what must Wade do? Lancaster needs to realise that ‘Stuart and Chris’ is just a dream and must move on.Otherwise it’s a great looking side..perhaps a wee bit back row at second row
,bit It’s great to see Pennell there.
Does it not concern anyone that we are (rightly) drooling over this team and reps but slightly less than enthused about what we imagine will be the “first team” for the welsh encounter?
Teecee Very good point!I can only describe the 1st team as workmanlike whoever we select whereas this Saxons selection has a feeling of excitement about it.I don’t know why but the Saxon lads give me an impression of greater hunger and desire
It’s not concerning – it’s really normal. A side full of only “exciting” players wouldn’t win many test matches.
I think we’d all agree that this Saxons XV would lose miserably to the side that’ll play Wales.
Not sure I entirely agree Jacob. No,you wouldn’t select a team composed largely of tyros to play a full strength Wales in Cardiff.However,It strikes mw as odd that the players considered to be the elite in English rugby generate less excitement about how they may perform than the up and comers.I never said all the Saxons were pulse racers,just analysed the comments of the majority of people on here and found there to be more positive anticipation than the EPS gets.
Interested to see how Pennell gets on. Seeing Chris Ashton starting is almost like Lancaster is hoping he plays well, so he can force his way into the eps and maybe the rwc squad, which i do not want.
Will be interested in our centers, flankers & Wade when he comes off the bench.
Having seen the Irish team, I’m glad that we have gone for some experienced players rather than all untested, as they have put out a heck of a second string. Apparently 325 caps! Am not after Robshaw to be changed but really looking forward to seeing what Kvesic can do in exalted company. He’s having a great season and hope he can help secure quick ball as we do have some ball carriers in this team.
English rugby is in good health when Wade (factoring injury to Roko) is our 7th best winger!!
Anyway good team on paper, hopefully they can perform as a team. The ‘part time’ nature of the Saxons coaching set up is the weakest link in my opinion.