Rugby Union: Juniors revel in Elliott's freedom
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.England Under-21. . .37
Italy Under-21. . . .12
IT MIGHT be expecting too much for the young men who reach this exalted level to cast care aside, not when they have set foot on a path that leads towards the full England side, but this is the idea. To be selected for England Under-21 is, in theory at least, to be liberated.
So it came to pass in the Leicester curtain-raiser, where England somehow emerged from a fairly agonising first half with a 17-point advantage and steadily lost all inhibition in the second half. Italy are perennially strong at age- group levels and to put six tries past them was a fair achievement.
And entirely to the point. The Under-21 management want to switch their emphasis from the end of the season to the beginning, are keen for varied and interesting opposition, and, although all the home unions place importance on their Under-21 set- up, are dead set against anything smacking of a mini-Five Nations' Championship.
'In an ideal world without fixture congestion we'd like to play all the home countries but the last thing we want is something that places even greater pressures on players who have quite enough fiercely competitive rugby as it is,' John Elliott, Under-21 team manager and senior selector, said.
'In our games they must feel free to express their abilities fully and if we had any form of championship it would undoubtedly hold them back from trying things. We constantly tell them that we will be more critical if they are inhibited and lacking ambition than if they attempt something which goes wrong.'
England's first try encapsulated this official sense of adventure, Mark Mapletoft scorching on to Matthew Dawson's short pass. The move had two names: 'Dolly One', said one coach, Tony Lanaway; 'I'll be amazed if this one works,' said another, Steve Smith. (He was only joking.) Mapletoft, the Rugby full-back, went on to 19 points and, having had a fortuitous first half, England had no need of luck thereafter.
England: Tries Mapletoft 2, O'Leary, Bramley, Sleightholme; Conversions Mapletoft 3; Penalties Grayson, Mapletoft. Italy: Tries Re, Falcone; Conversion Visentin.
ENGLAND UNDER-21: M Mapletoft (Rugby); J Sleightholme (Wakefield), M Dawson (Northampton), D Edwards (Loughborough Students), D O'Leary (Saracens); P Grayson (Waterloo), K Bracken (Bristol); C Clark (Swansea Univ), M Regan (Bristol), D Crompton (Bath), R Bramley (Wakefield, capt), R West (Gloucester), A Diprose (Saracens), M Rennell (Bedford), A Morris (Sheffield). Replacement: A Handley (Waterloo) for Grayson, 11.
ITALY UNDER-21: M Ravazzolo (Calvisano); M Amore (Catania), N Aldrovandi (Bologna), P Residore (Valpolicella), U Re (Padua); M Visentin, A Troncon (Treviso, capt); P-G Menapate (Padua), M Alfonsetti (L'Aquila), A Castagna (Lazio), M David (Rovigo), S Stocco (Roma), A de Rossi (Livorno), S Falcone, C Caione (L'Aquila).
Referee: B Stirling (Ireland).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments