U-20s clinch Six Nations title

By Jamie Hopkins
11/3/17

Exeter Chiefs duo Josh Caulfield and Marcus Street both featured as England Under-20s clinched the 2017 Six Nations title after a 33-5 win over Scotland at Franklin's Gardens.

The hosts were kept at bay in the opening stages of the match by a well-organised Scotland side but broke the deadlock through a try from second row Jack Nay after 20 minutes.

Captain Zach Mercer then showed a moment of brilliance to set up scrum-half Harry Randall just before half-time.

England had all the momentum in the second half with winger Dominic Morris capitalising on their dominance to sprint over in the corner.

Scotland responded straight away with a try of their own through Darcy Graham before Mercer scored after an error from Scotland's fly-half Josh Henderson, giving England the bonus point.

Theo Brophy Claws made sure England finished the match in style when he stayed on the shoulder of Joe Cokanasiga, taking the offload to sprint over in the corner.

England had to wait until the result of Wales U20s match against Ireland to find out if they had won the championship, with Wales's 41-27 win confirming England as the competition's winners.

England U20 coach Tom Williams said: “I was excited when we were preparing for this game as I knew it would be a challenge. Scotland didn’t provide us with too many problems defensively, however they were very effective with their game plan and we found ourselves frustrated at times.

“We have sown up the Six Nations title this evening but we all want the Grand Slam – that is what we set out to achieve at the start of the competition. Ireland are going to be a real handful next week and it will be a massive game playing for the Grand Slam on St Patrick’s Day.”

England U20:

15. Tom Parton (London Irish)
14. Joe Cokanasiga (London Irish)
13. Max Wright (Yorkshire Carnegie)
12. Will Butler (Worcester Warriors)
11. Dominic Morris (Saracens)
10. Max Malins (Saracens)
9. Harry Randall (Gloucester Rugby)
1. Ollie Dawe (Bristol Rugby)
2. Curtis Langdon (Sale Sharks)
3. Ciaran Knight (Gloucester Rugby)
4. Josh Caulfield (Exeter Chiefs) 
5. Max Davies (Newcastle Falcons)
6. Jack Nay (Saracens)
7. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
8. Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby, capt)

Replacements:

16. Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons)
17. Ralph Adams-Hale (Saracens)
18. Marcus Street (Exeter Chiefs)
19. Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors)
20. Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby)
21. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
22. Theo Brophy Clews (London Irish)
23. Jacob Umaga (Wasps)