JWC: Clark, Freer start for England
Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:49
Leeds Carnegie pair Calum Clark and Scott Freer have been named in the starting line-up for the opening game of England's campaign at the International Rugby Board (IRB) Junior World Championship - against Fiji on Friday.
Clark became the youngest forward to appear in the Guinness Premiership when he made his debut against Saracens at the age of 18 years and 102 days last September, making 15 impressive appearances in total.
Now the Doncaster-born flank will make his first at Under-20 international level at Rodney Parade on Friday.
Clark is joined in the side by Freer, a powerful hooker who appeared as a replacement for the Grand Slam winners in all five of their Under-20 Six Nations games this season.
In all there are five changes to the side that completed the Six Nations clean sweep against Ireland in March under the direction of coaches Nigel Redman and Mark Mapletoft.
Miles Benjamin is back on the wing after his try-scoring feats in the top flight with Worcester Warriors, Ben Thomas (Saracens) returns in the second row after suspension and influential centre Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins) is back after injuries ruled him out of the last two legs of the Grand Slam.
Mark Odejobi, who scored the seventh of England's tries against Ireland, moves from the wing to outside centre in an exciting backline packed with dangerous runners with leading try-scorer Noah Cato starting at full back.
Odejobi's London Wasps teammate Hugo Ellis continues to lead the side from number eight and on the bench, Alex Tait (brother of England centre Mathew) is back in the squad after injuries and Premiership commitments with the Newcastle Falcons.
England: 15 Noah Cato (Saracens), 14 Seb Stegmann (Harlequins), 13 Mark Odejobi (London Wasps), 12 Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins), 11 Miles Benjamin (Worcester Warriors), 10 Alex Goode (Saracens), 9 Joe Simpson (London Wasps), 8 Hugo
Ellis (London Wasps, captain), 7 Calum Clark (Leeds Carnegie), 6 Jon Fisher (London Irish), 5 Ben Thomas (Saracens), 4 Scott Hobson (Cornish Pirates), 3 Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), 2 Scott Freer (Leeds Carnegie) 1 Nathan Catt (Bath Rugby).
Replacements: 16 Joe Gray (Northampton Saints), 17 Billy Moss (Bath Rugby), 18 Gregor Gillanders (Leicester Tigers), 19 Matthew Cox (Worcester Warriors), 20 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), 21 Rob Miller (Newcastle Falcons), 22 Alex Tait (Newcastle Falcons).
Date: Friday, June 6
Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport
Kick-off: 19.00 (18.00 GMT)
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Touch judges: David Wilkinson (Ireland), David Jones (Wales)
