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| Dowson Skippers England Saxons |
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| Phil Dowson capatins England Saxons |
| 6 February 2008, 10:11 am |
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| Newcastle Falcons skipper Phil Dowson will captain England Saxons on Saturday evening, as they face Italy A in Sicily. |
In total Falcons players make up more than a quarter of the match-day 22, with four Newcastle players in the starting XV and a further two on the bench.
Right wing John Rudd makes his Saxons debut, while scrum half Lee Dickson, blindside flanker Dowson and openside Ben Woods all keep their places from last weekend’s 31-13 victory over Ireland A.
Newcastle prop David Wilson is included as a replacement pending a citing hearing later today, while Falcons hooker Andy Long completes the club’s contingent as he takes up a place on the bench.
The Saxons team is coached by Falcons coaching and technical director Steve Bates, who said ahead of the game: “I’ve been impressed at how quickly the new faces have fitted in, and how quickly the squad has come together.”
Falcons director of rugby, John Fletcher, added: “We have ten players involved in the match-day 22s for England and the Saxons, plus James Grindal in the Saxons squad and a number of other players knocking on the door.
“That is a demonstration of the quality of talent we have at the club right now, and we wish all the boys well for the weekend.”
England Saxons team to play Italy A:
15. Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby)
14. John Rudd (Newcastle Falcons)
13. Delon Armitage (London Irish)
12. Alex Crockett (Bath Rugby)
11. Tom Biggs (Leeds Carnegie)
10. Adrian Jarvis (Harlequins)
9. Lee Dickson (Newcastle Falcons)
1. Alex Clarke (Bristol Rugby)
2. David Paice (London Irish)
3. Jason Hobson (Bristol Rugby)
4. Peter Short (Bath Rugby)
5. Nick Kennedy (London Irish)
6. Phil Dowson (Newcastle Falcons, captain)
7. Ben Woods (Newcastle Falcons)
8. Tom Guest (Harlequins)
Replacements:
16. Andrew Long (Newcastle Falcons)
17. David Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)*
18. Andrew Springgay (Bayonne)
19. Will Skinner (Harlequins)
20. Danny Care (Harlequins)
21. Mike Brown (Harlequins)
22. Topsy Ojo (London Irish)
*Subject to availability following a Six Nations Rugby disciplinary hearing this afternoon. |
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