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« Tweet Treats - Volume XV | | Shortlist shortcomings » February 28, 2011 Posted on 02/28/2011 Mark your card
What with the compelling nature of this year's Six Nations battle and England's charge for the Grand Slam you could be forgiven for missing the next generation taking their latest steps towards the big stage. England U18s swept Italy U19s aside in emphatic style at Worcester's Sixways Stadium on Sunday - running in nine tries on their way to a 64-0 victory. The likes of Dominic Barrow, Tom Jubb, Mark Jennings and Henry Slade - amongst those that powered the hosts to victory - may not be household names but using history as your guide you should perhaps mark your card as many of them will no doubt be stars of the future with the 2015 Rugby World Cup looming large for all involved. Fans of Ask John will need little reminding of the bountiful nature of the England age-grade set-up. In his latest Q&A for our site resident historian John Griffiths highlights the outstanding class of 1997. That year the U18 group swept to a Grand Slam of their own - their third in four years - boasting future England internationals such as Jonny Wilkinson, Iain Balshaw, Mike Tindall, Tom May, David Flatman, Lee Mears, Andrew Sheridan, Steve Borthwick and Alex Sanderson. Add in familiar names such as Tony Roques, Simon Amor and James Grindal and you have a talented bunch that have helped shape English rugby in the decade or so since. But as star-studded that group turned out to be, it was not the only fertile year in terms of development. Many came before and others have followed since with current stand out Courtney Lawes and rising star George Ford two of the more recent names to have graced the U18 group - the latter when he was aged just 15. The injection of youth has propelled the current England senior squad to the brink of great things - with Ben Youngs, Ben Foden, Chris Ashton and Dan Cole leading the way - and it looks as though they will not be the last to roll off a well-worn production line. Comments
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