Five England players to watch at the World Rugby U20 Championship

Our final visit to the home nations ahead of the World Rugby U20 Championship takes us to England, with the perennial challengers looking to make their sixth-straight final at the tournament.

Although shorn of the likes of Nick Isiekwe, Ben Earl and Tom Curry, all of whom travel to South Africa with the senior squad, England have more than enough talent in their ranks to compete again this year and we look at five of the key men in their bid for success.

Marcus Smith, Harlequins

For much of the season, it looked as though Smith, too, would be heading off to South Africa with the seniors, but the form of Danny Cipriani has momentarily halted the rise of the young apprentice and instead he’ll turn out with the U20s in France.

He’s an exciting addition to the group, having shone at senior level with Harlequins this season, and apart from a couple of appearances off the bench during his final year of school, he has yet to properly play for the U20s. That experience in the Aviva Premiership should help Smith significantly at this level.

His vision, ability to exploit space and intricate kicking game from hand are all reminiscent of Beauden Barrett and the chance to take the lead in an U20 tournament, after a season of apprenticing for England seniors, should do him the world of good.

Gabriel Ibitoye, Harlequins

A nominee for World Rugby Junior Player of the Year last season and one of the standout players of the 2017 tournament, Ibitoye will be hoping to go one better this season after England’s thumping at the hands of New Zealand in last year’s final.

He displayed his pace and finishing ability repeatedly last season but if you’re looking for a point of difference at this level, it may well be his defensive reading of the game, where his decision-making and positioning shine, whether deployed on the wing or at outside centre.

Alongside Ben Loader, Tom Parton, Ali Crossdale and Jordan Olowofela, England will have one of, if not the fastest back three in the tournament and if they can generate quick ball at the breakdown and keep the tempo up, Ibitoye will be the spearhead of a very impressive group.

Joel Kpoku, Saracens

For the second year in a row, the England lineout – when Isiekwe has been with the seniors – has been, at best, inconsistent. After having missed out during the U20 Six Nations, England will be hoping the presence of Kpoku in the engine room solidifies the group over the next few weeks.

A mountain of a man, Kpoku not only brings a much-needed target at the lineout, he also brings physicality as a carrier, tackler and rucker. He has a good pair of hands, too, and won’t detract from the all-court game that England have been trying to instil throughout their age-grade pathway.

Kpoku is just the latest in a growing list of Saracens second-rows to represent England at this level, following hot on the heels of George Kruis, Maro Itoje and Isiekwe. No pressure, then.

Ehren Painter, Northampton Saints

This old school tighthead rose to prominence late in the Premiership season, as he made multiple impactful appearances off the bench for Northampton.

Painter may not be the quickest or most expansive tighthead to have come through this England U20 side over the last decade, but in terms of scrummaging, he’s a match for any of them and arguably more formidable than most. His handling and play in the loose are certainly no weaknesses, either, but it may be refreshing to England rugby fans to see a true out and out scrummager coming through.

If he can back up his impressive end to the season for Northampton with a strong showing at the U20 Championship – and there’s no reason why he won’t – then he could quickly play his way into Chris Boyd’s plans next season.

Ben Loader, London Irish

Another wing blessed with a potent combination of speed, finishing ability and deceptive strength, Loader could be a dark horse for player of the tournament, with opposition sides potentially guilty of over-focusing on Ibitoye, given his performances last season.

Loader has been on the cusp of Irish’s senior squad this season, making a handful of appearances in the Premiership and Challenge Cup, and has seemed to take to senior rugby like a duck to water in his first year out of school.

In addition to the offensive weapons in his armoury, Loader is also an adept player of the ball in the air and has experience at full-back, although based on the composition of the squad, it looks as though he will be predominately in line to play on the wing, with James Grayson a further option at full-back following Smith’s arrival at 10.