Four Gloucester Rugby players have been named in the England under-20s squad ahead of tonight’s fixture against the Junior Springboks.
Cherry & White players Tom Seabrook, Alex Seville and Aaron Hinkley make the starting line up, whilst Henry Walker starts on the bench.
The warm up match, which kicks off at 19:30 at Sixways Stadium, is vital to England’s preparations ahead of the start of the U20 World Cup in France at the end of this month (30 May-17 June).
Set to make their England debuts are second row forward Joel Kpoku in the stating XV, whilst Sam Morley and Luke James will do like wise from the replacements’ bench. The home side’s front row is formed by Alex Seville, Gabriel Oghere and Joe Heyes.
James Scott will join up with newly capped Kpoku in the second row, while captain and scrum half Ben White partners Northampton Saints fly half James Grayson.
Seabrook, who broke the record for scoring the fastest try on a debut against Saracens last weekend, joins up with Ben Loader and Tom Parton in the back three, whilst Ollie Lawrence and Fraser Dingwell make up the midfield.
The baby Bokke have made six chances for their final game in their UK Tour, having already won against Scotland 41-3 and Wales 41-5. This match will be their third match inside of eight days.
David Coetze and Renan Kruger form a new half-back pairing, Coetzer comes in for Lubabalo Dobela who sustained a head injury in their last match against Wales three days ago.
Wandisile Simelane and Rikus Pretorious start in midfiled, whilst wing David Kriel comes in for Sihle Njezula who moves to the bench.
Lock Ben-Jason Dixon returns to the starting line-up in place of Ruan Nortje, having dropped to the bench against Wales through illness.
England have won their last two encounters against the Junior Springboks, both wins being in successive World Cup semi-finals, defeating them 39-17 in 2016 and 24-22 last year, so win for them this evening will set them up nicely ahead of their opening match against Argentina in Narbonne on May 30th.
Your England U20s team to face the @JuniorBoks at @SixwaysStadium tomorrow night.
Preview: https://t.co/cqKdbWsFUS pic.twitter.com/k8qDhUiJbc
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) May 10, 2018
Junior Boks v @EnglandRugby (15-1): Gianni Lombard, David Kriel, Wandisile Simelane, Rikus Pretorius, Tyrone Green, David Coetzer, Rewan Kruger, Muller Uys, PJ Steenkamp, Dian Schoonees, Ben-Jason Dixon, Salmaan Moerat (C), Sazi Sandi, Schalk Erasmus, Nathan McBeth @springboks pic.twitter.com/dM5X7RgRBf
— Junior Springboks (@JuniorBoks) May 10, 2018
Junior Bok bench v @EnglandRugby at Sixways Stadium on Friday: Daniel Jooste, Tiaan van der Merwe, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Phendulani Buthelezi, Ruan Nortje, Jack Hart, Lyle Hendricks, Sihle Njezula @Springboks Watch the game on streaming on https://t.co/lvc1RL19bb at 20h30 SA Time pic.twitter.com/5OzSYjmsec
— Junior Springboks (@JuniorBoks) May 10, 2018
