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The 2018 World Rugby U20’s Championship begins on Wednesday. Argentina open their campaign by facing England, a candidate to win the Junior World Championship.
Los Pumitas will be up against a Ben Curry captained England. Twelve months ago Eddie Jones selected him for England’s tour to Argentina. Curry is one of a number of highly gifted players set to face Los Pumitas. So strong is the roster taht Harlequins’ fly half Marcus Smith has been named on the bench.
The English starting line-up contains four players who are playing in their second Junior World Championship. They are hooker Henry Walker (Gloucester), fly half James Grayson (Northampton Saints), winger Ali Crossdale (Saracens), and fullback Tom Parton (London Irish).
In addition to Smith the bench also features prop Alex Seville (Gloucester) and wing Gabriel Ibitoye (Harlequins), players also appearing in their second Junior World Championship for England.
Argentina is captained by Joaquín de la Vega. Head Coach José Pellicena has named de la Vega and Santiago Ruiz in a powerful flanker combination. Ruiz will start opposite Curry in his second Junior World Championship campaign.
Involved last year in the final fixture against Samoa were prop Rodrigo Martínez, hooker Lionel Oveido, lock Lucas Paulos, fly half Juan Bautista Daireaux. All start against England on Wednesday. A lot of eyes will be on Daireaux who is being groomed as a possible successor to Nicolás Sánchez.
England’s u20’s have reached the final in the past five editions of the Junior World Championship. During these years England was crowned champion on three occasions – 2013, 2014 and 2016. Last year England made the final only to be hammered 64-17 by New Zealand.
Los Pumitas enter Wednesday’s match as firm underdogs. England not only has superiority from past matches but simply has a roster packed with professional players. Argentina’s side does contain PladAR athletes and could pull of a surprise though England ought to win by 15 points.
ENGLAND
15 Tom Parton, 14 Ali Crossdale, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Tom Hardwick, 11 Jordan Olowofela, 10 James Grayson, 9 Ben White, 8 Josh Basham, 7 Ben Curry (capt.), 6 Ted Hill, 5 James Scott, 4 Joel Kpoku, 3 Ehren Painter, 2 Henry Walker, 1 Toby Trinder
Replacements: 16 Beck Cutting, 17 Alex Seville, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Sam Lewis, 20 Tom Willis, 21 Rory Brand, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Gabriel Ibitoye
ARGENTINA
15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Pablo Avellaneda, 13 Juan Pablo Castro, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Juan Bautista Daireaux, 9 Manuel Nogues, 8 Bautista Pendemonte, 7 Santiago Ruiz, 6 Joaquín de la Vega (capt.), 5 Lucas Paulos, 4 Salvador Ochoa, 3 Mayco Vivas, 2 Lionel Oveido, 1 Rodrigo Martínez
Replacements: 16 Agustin Milet, 17 Gonzalo Hughes, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Federico Lavanni, 20 Juan Molina, 21 Gonzalo García, 22 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía, 23 Leopoldo Herrera
