England eager to improve on last year’s u18 International series campaign
PAARL. – England u18 head coach Jonathan Pendlebury says his side are looking to go the extra mile and improve on last year’s performances when they commence their u18 International series against France in Paarl on Friday.
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England, who will also face South Africa, and the Western Province Invitational side during their time in the Mother City and Paarl will look to put right some of the errors that cost them the series last year.
This time around, however, the English side took the flight down to South Africa with a new looking team plus a number of players in the 26-man squad yet to turn 18-years-old.
Despite that, the side is still graced with a pool of talented players selected from clubs like Saracens, Harlequins, the Sale Sharks, and Exeter Chiefs, just to name a few.
In last year’s edition, the team in red and white made multiple errors against South Africa in their first match. Irregardless of the tricky conditions , Pendlebury’s side struggled under the high ball, and their scrums not functioning well, didn’t do them any justice.
The visitors showed up in the second encounter against the SA team, putting in a much more composed and clean performance, and almost caused an upset, losing that match by three points.
In the end, the side would’ve been gutted to lose both fixtures by 40 points and more, despite managing to pick up a victory against the SA U18 ‘A’ side in a nail-biting (36-34) win.
This year, however, the series has come with a different format, one that will see England at this level play France for the first time on African soil.
The two Northern Hemisphere nations are no stranger to the International stage having faced each other in the U18 Six Nations tournament before. Earlier this year, France edged England in the opening round by one point, to claim a (23-22) win.
To correct that result in Cape Town, England will need to use their strong pack, and incorporate their attacking backline flair with good decision making, and taking every opportunity that presents itself. 
“The team put in an incredible shift in 2022 and their development as a collective, as well as individuals, was evident – we’re aiming for more of the same this August,” said Pendlebury via England Rugby.
“The boys we have at our disposal are a group with a lot of potential. We have selected from a wide range of clubs, schools, colleges and academies which will only add to the unique blend we are forming here.”
“Our games against France, South Africa as well as Western Province, will offer these players room to express themselves and to explore together as a unit. We can’t wait for what’s in store,” Pendlebury added.
As for the “Les bleus,” they arrived in the Western Cape with no shortage of confidence after a stellar showing during the Six Nations campaign.
France were the only side unbeaten in the three-round campaign, defeating England, Scotland (50-7), and Italy (57-17).
Their record from last year’s series also fairs better than that of England’s even though it may be argued that they defeated a second-string South African side twice.
Those arguments may be entertained; however, what France has managed to do in just a space of a year can never be overlooked.
The junior side will also be looking to draw inspiration from their U20 side that recently won the World Rugby Championship title in the same City.
The series will provide an opportunity for the side to stake their claim, and to even prove that their two victories against the SA ‘A’ side last year were in no way luck. The French will also be banking on the experience of Thomas Marceline, who has faced England three times in his young career already.
The two teams will get the series underway this Friday in Boland Landbou (Paarl) at 15:00.
The teams:
England u18 squad:
Forwards: Tayo Adegbemile (Saracens, St Albans), Will Conduit (Midlands West, Stourport College), Ronan Daniell (Harlequins, Hurstpierpoint College), Sam Graham (Newcastle Falcons, Durham), Junior Kpoku (Exeter Chiefs, Finborough), Jack Lightbown (Sale Sharks, The Sixth Form Bolton), Alfie Longstaff (Yorkshire Academy, Woodhouse Grove), Jamie Miller (Harlequins, Whitgift), Billy Sela (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff), Solomon Shand (Gloucester Rugby, Hartpury College), Olamide Sodeke (Saracens, Gravesend Grammar), Connor Treacey (Bath Rugby, Beechen Cliff), Kepueli Tuipulotu (South Central London Academy, Harrow), Charlie West (Saracens, St Albans).
Backs: Toby Baker (Bristol Bears, St Peter’s, York), Jack Bracken (Saracens, St Albans), Ollie Davies (Sale Sharks, Kirkham Grammar), Lucas Friday (Harlequins, Trinity), Charlie Griffin (South Central London Academy, Harrow), Angus Hall (Saracens, The Judd School, Tonbridge), Dom Hanson (Sale Sharks, Stockport Grammar), Nick Lilley (Exeter Chiefs, Exeter College), Finn Newton (Saracens, Haileybury), Louie Platt (Yorkshire Academy, Mount St. Mary’s), Toby Wilson (Sale Sharks, Kings Macclesfield), Finlay Wiseman (South Central London Academy, Hampton).
France u18 squad:
Thomas Alary (Stade Toulousain), Quentin Algay (CA Brive Corrèze), Temanatua Boichot (Stade Rochelais), Liam Couturier (ABCD XV), Adrien Drault (CABBG), Eliott Duthil (US Colomiers), Tom Emery (US Colomiers), Gabin Garault (Stade Rochelais), Ellyjah Ibsaiene (CABBG), Edouard-Junior Jabea Njocke (RC Massy Essonne), Samuel Jean Christophe (RC Toulon), Diego Jurd (Stade Rochelais), Luka Keletaona (CA Brive Corrèze), Dany Kevin Lamataki (SU Agen), Tom Leveque (Aviron Bayonnais), Nathan Llaveria (Stade Toulousain), Thomas Marceline (Lyon OU), Romeo Martin Bonnard (Stade Toulousain), Marceau Marzullo (Stade Toulousain), Charly Mignot (Lyon OU), Jérémy Nemor (Stade Toulousain), Pierre Cren Ourtaud (Castres Olympique), Ruben-Diego Pargade (CABBG), Bastien Rasal (Aviron Bayonnais), Melvyn Rates (FC Grenoble), Noé Theraube (FC Grenoble), Ethan Tia (Stade Français), Quentin Valentino (Stade Niçois), Luka Keletaona (CA Brive Corrèze), Dany Kevin Lamataki (SU Agen.
U18 International Series fixtures:
Friday, 11 August
Venue: Boland Landbou (Paarl)
15h00: England U18 vs France U18
Tuesday, 15 August
Venue: Stellenberg High School (Durbanville)
13h00: England U18 vs WP U18 XV
15h00: SA U18 vs France U18
Saturday, 19 August
Venue: Paarl Boys High School (Paarl)
13h00: France U18 vs WP U18 XV
15h00: SA U18 vs England U18
