3 Changes as EnglandU20's hunt first win

There are three changes to the side, looking to bounce back after a 35-27 defeat against Ireland in their opener, which will be captained by full senior international Ted Hill for the game against the reigning Under-20s Six Nations champions.

He takes the armband from Fraser Dingwall, the Northampton Saints centre, who is forced out of the out of the team due to injury and is replaced by Ollie Lawrence.

Tom Hardwick drops down to the bench with Cameron Redpath named in the No.12 jersey, while Arron Reed will make his England U20s debut on the wing, replacing the injured Cadan Murley.

Worcester Warriors prop Kai Owen is named as a replacement and could make his England age-grade debut, while Bath back Tom de Glanville could appear at U20s level for the first time having also been named on the bench.

England’s pack is unchanged as is their half-back combination with both Sam Maunder and Marcus Smith starting the game.

The starting XV includes five players who faced France in the final of the World Rugby U20 Championship last June.

Bates said: “There was a lot of disappointment at the start of the week off the back of Friday’s result but we’ve trained really well and the players are looking forward to getting out there on Saturday and performing in front of a vocal Sandy Park crowd.

“The game against France in the final of the World Rugby U20 Championship will have a little bearing at the weekend but the nature of U20s rugby is that it is ever evolving and players change rapidly so although a portion of our squad would have played in that final our motivation is to kick-start our Under-20s Six Nations with an important victory.

“We know we didn’t look after the ball well enough last week, played from too deep and lacked a bit of organisation which you would expect from a new group at this stage in the Championship.

“So we’ve worked hard on our understanding and our teamwork. We’ve had a good preparation and want to go out and continue to play high-tempo, high-intensity rugby but get the balance right.

“Home advantage will be really important, we’re hoping for a large crowd and we have to get them on our side by playing some good rugby but controlling the game a little bit more.

“We’ve got to excite that crowd by having confidence to play what we’ve practised because we feel that’s the best way for these guys to perform and if we do that and do that consistently the crowd will enjoy it.”

England U20s (v France U20s at Sandy Park, Saturday, February 9, kick-off at 12.05pm, live on Sky Sports Action, from 11.45am)

15. Josh Hodge (Newcastle Falcons)
14. Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints)
13. Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors)
12. Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks)
11. Arron Reed (Sale Sharks)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
9. Sam Maunder (Exeter Chiefs)

1. Olly Adkins (Gloucester)
2. Nic Dolly (Sale Sharks)
3. Marcus Street (Exeter Chiefs)
4. Joel Kpoku (Saracens)
5. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
6. Ted Hill (c) (Worcester Warriors)
7. Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester)
8. Tom Willis (Wasps)

Replacements:

16. Ben Atkins (London Irish)
17. Kai Owen (Worcester Warriors)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
19. James Scott (Worcester Warriors)
20. Rusiate Tuima (Exeter Chiefs)
21. Ollie Fox (Yorkshire Carnegie)
22. Tom Hardwick (Leicester Tigers)
23. Tom de Glanville (Bath Rugby)

via SixNationsRugby.com