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| Dowson to start against USA in Churchill Cup |
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| Falcons captain Phil Dowson |
| © Sportsbeat Images |
| 16 May 2007, 4:45 pm |
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| Phil Dowson will start for the England Saxons in the relatively unfamilar position of blind side flanker against the USA this friday at Edgeley Park (live on Sky Sports, kick off 7.45pm). |
The new Falcons skipper for next season may be joined by up to three of his club team mates as Lee Dickson, Matt Thompson and Ben Woods will all be considered for the bench.
London Irish prop Neal Hatley will captain the Saxons for the opening Barclays Churchill Cup game. Hatley, who will become the Exiles' Academy Manager next season, has been given the task of leading a squad light on international experience but brimming with youthful talent and Premiership experience, by coaches Jim Mallinder and Rugby World Cup winner, Dorian West.
Whilst the uncapped Hatley, an inaugural 2003 Barclays Churchill Cup winner, provides the experience up front, the backline features two capped players in London Irish’s Shane Geraghty, who lines up at inside centre, and Dan Scarbrough of Saracens, who will wear the number 15 shirt. The match also provides an opportunity for Sale Sharks’ scrum half Richard Wigglesworth to take the pitch in front of his home crowd.
Said England Saxons coach Jim Mallinder, "Despite our youth and lack of international experience, this is a side with a great deal of Guinness Premiership experience. Many, like Neal Hatley, Kevin Sorrell, Dan Scarbrough, Delon Armitage, Topsy Ojo and Ryan Lamb, have been regulars for their clubs throughout the season and have performed consistently well at that level.
“Like us, all the players are excited by the challenge of coming together to take on an experienced side like the USA. They are a tough team who have already qualified for the Rugby World Cup in September.
“We’ve chosen Neal to lead the team. He is vastly experienced and, following another very successful season at London Irish, is well respected by all the squad. His experience and leadership will be crucial to us on the pitch.”
England Saxons team to play USA
Friday 18 May, kick off 7.45pm, Edgeley Park
15 Delon Armitage (London Irish)
14 Dan Scarbrough (Saracens)*
13 Kevin Sorrell (Saracens)
12 Shane Geraghty (London Irish)*
11 Topsy Ojo (London Irish)
10 Ryan Lamb (Gloucester Rugby)
9 Richard Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks)
1 Neal Hatley (London Irish) CAPTAIN
2 David Paice (London Irish)
3 John Brooks (Northampton Saints)
4 Richard Blaze (Worcester Warriors)
5 Jim Evans (NEC Harlequins)
6 Phil Dowson (Newcastle Falcons)
7 Will Skinner (NEC Harlequins)
8 Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers)
The replacements bench to be selected from
Chris Brooker (NEC Harlequins from 1 July 2007)
Jack Forster (Gloucester Rugby)
Nick Kennedy (London Irish)
Tom Mercey (Saracens)
Kieran Roche (London Irish)
David Seymour (Saracens)
Matt Thompson (Newcastle Falcons)
Ben Woods (Newcastle Falcons)
Lee Dickson (Newcastle Falcons)
Paul Diggin (Northampton Saints)
Adrian Jarvis (NEC Harlequins)
Nils Mordt (London Irish)
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