Hill ready for Cup battle

By Simon Larkins

Sam Hill says he is expecting a physical in England under-20s' Junior World Championships semi-final having been named in the side to face the Baby Black today.

Hill, who will play at No. 12, is one of four Exeter Chiefs named in the side with Jack Nowell, Henry Slade and Luke Cowan-Dickie also in the starting line-up.

England booked their place in the semi-final, to be played in Vannes, France, at 7.45pm (GMT), after finishing as the best runners-up out of the three groups.

They go into the match as underdogs having failed to reach the semi-finals of the competition in 2012 and never recorded a win against the Baby Blacks, but Hill says he is looking forward to the clash.

“It will be a massive game and they will be really physical,” he said. “England have never beaten them so there is a bit of pressure there, but everybody is really excited and with our form we have a chance of getting a good result. We have got to match what they do really, be as physical as them and play with tempo, be disciplined and playing in the right areas.”

Hill featured in the two group opening group games when they comfortably beat hosts France 30-6 before narrowly losing out to holders South Africa 31-24. He was rested for the 109-point win over the USA on Thursday at the Stade Henri Desgrange.

Hill admits that both South Africa, who play Wales in the other semi-final, and New Zealand will be favourites, but adds that England have improved significantly since winning the Six Nations earlier this year.

“I would imagine that the two favourites for the semi-finals will be New Zealand and South Africa – they are the ones who normally get to the final – but we have just got to concentrate on ourselves and play as well as we can,” said the Exeter Chiefs centre.

“I think we have improved massively since winning the Six Nations and we just want to keep building from there really.”