Potential England Saxons and South Africa A

The Rugby Football Union confirmed last week that the England Saxons would be going on a two-game tour of South Africa this summer, taking on a South Africa A side.

The two matches will take place in Bloemfontein and George in June and will give both sides the opportunity to experiment with new players, something which should prove particularly beneficial with both teams under the guidance of new head coaches. It will also afford England the opportunity to tie down dual-nationals, something which representing the England U20 side currently does not do.

We take a look below at the two XVs which could take the field in two months’ time.

There have been suggestions that this would be an U23 tour for England, under the guise of the Saxons, so alternatives have been provided for players making the XV who are over 23. If England do play by those guidelines, it’s likely South Africa would also do so, so the same applies to their XV.

England:

15. Mike Haley, Sale Sharks

The exciting young full-back is unfortunately facing a steep pecking order to climb with England, but with Ireland reportedly interested in his services, England would be wise to offer him a place on the South Africa tour. Should he not wish to play for the Saxons and therefore rule himself out of contention for Ireland, Newcastle’s Simon Hammersley would do a fine job.

14. Christian Wade, Wasps (or Will Addison, Sale Sharks)

No one doubts Wade’s electrifying attacking ability, but his defence remains an area where his critics deride him. This would be a significant step up for Wade and provide Eddie Jones with valuable intel over his potential to move up to test rugby.

13. Luther Burrell, Northampton Saints (or Sam James, Sale Sharks)

Burrell has put his Rugby World Cup disappointment behind him and played at a consistently high level for Northampton throughout the second half of the season. Henry Trinder would be another option following his return to fitness or Exeter’s Sam Hill, who may find himself at 13 next season with Henry Slade and Ollie Devoto eying the Chiefs’ 12 jersey.

12. Kyle Eastmond, Bath (or Ollie Devoto, Bath)

Despite Bath’s struggles this season, Eastmond has continued to impress and showcase a skill set which would be enticing to see at test level. Devoto isn’t the only U23 option available, with Harry Mallinder and Johnny Williams also shining, but their eligibility to still play U20 rugby could see them feature at the World Rugby U20 Championship instead.

11. Alex Lewington, London Irish (or Tom Collins, Northampton Saints)

If Eastmond shining in the Bath team was noteworthy, then the performances of Lewington in a very poor London Irish side are even more impressive. A clinical finisher and very adept in the air, Lewington needs to be tested at the next level.

10. Danny Cipriani, Sale Sharks (or Alex Lozowski, Wasps)

Cipriani could enhance his international ambitions ahead of his move to Wasps by shining for the Saxons, especially if Jones is content with taking Slade, Owen Farrell and George Ford to Australia with the senior team.

9. Ben Spencer, Saracens

The multi-talented scrum-half looks set to make the Saracens nine jersey his own next season and can confound defences as a distributor, a runner or a kicker. Dan Robson is an over 23 option who has been a driving force behind Wasps’ recent successes.

1. Ross Harrison, Sale Sharks

A lynchpin behind the strong Sale set-piece this season, Harrison narrowly sees off competition from the two Waller brothers at Northampton and Bath’s Nick Auterac.

2. Tommy Taylor, Sale Sharks (or George McGuigan, Newcastle Falcons)

The Wasps-bound hooker was called up to the England team following Jamie George’s injury, but with George set to be fit, Dylan Hartley captaining and Luke Cowan-Dickie all likely to be Australia-bound this summer, Taylor may have to suffice with a trip to South Africa. Keeping McGuigan out of Ireland’s hands would also be an advisable move.

3. Kyle Sinckler, Harlequins

The Junior World Championship-winning tighthead has been learning from Adam Jones all season and is ready to test himself against a higher level of opposition.

4. Ed Slater, Leicester Tigers (or Dom Barrow, Leicester Tigers)

Slater is one of the several unlucky English locks to play in an era when talent abounds at the position. The likes of Graham Kitchener, Matt Symons and James Gaskell also fall into the same category.

5. Charlie Ewels, Bath

Injuries provided Ewels with an opportunity at Bath and he has taken that opportunity with both hands. Last year’s England U20 captain looks to the manor born in senior rugby at just 20 years of age, and his exemplary leadership skills would make him a solid choice for captain.

6. Jackson Wray, Saracens (or Sam Underhill, Ospreys)

Wray gets through an incredible amount of unseen work for Saracens and rarely gets the credit he deserves. Jamie Gibson and Sam Jones are two others to consider, whilst the highly-rated Underhill could be tied to England with his selection and as it’s the Saxons, not the senior team, would not require consideration as an ‘exceptional circumstance’.

7. Luke Wallace, Harlequins (or Harry Thacker, Leicester Tigers)

Will Fraser and Brendon O’Connor are two other names to keep an eye on, but Wallace fulfils the requirements of a Jones openside to a tee, being able to influence breakdowns in both attack and defence.

8. Teimana Harrison, Northampton Saints

The New Zealand-born back rower has been ripping up trees for Northampton this season, providing them with a jackaling threat at eight that can also carry powerfully in open play.

South Africa:

15. Warrick Gelant, Bulls

An injury has disrupted his debut Super Rugby campaign over the last two weeks, but he should be fit again in time for the Saxons tour and has impressed enough already to merit inclusion in the South Africa A side. The Stormers’ Cheslin Kolbe would also be an option.

14. Ruan Combrinck, Lions (or Sergeal Petersen, Cheetahs)

The Lions have struggled for inclusion at Springbok level recently but they should feature heavily in the secondary side. Combrinck is a dangerous runner and brings a full-back’s skill set to the wing position.

13. Lionel Mapoe, Lions (or Johnny Kotze, Stormers)

Mapoe arguably deserves to be in contention for the Springbok 13 jersey but has thus far been ignored in that respect.

12. Burger Odendaal, Bulls

As with the senior team, there are plenty of options at 12 for South Africa, but relatively few at 13. Odendaal is a powerful runner capable of breaking the gain line with ease and sees off competition from Howard Mnisi, André Esterhuizen and Shane Gates.

11. Leolin Zas, Stormers

Zas is enjoying a fine debut Super Rugby campaign and should be fast-tracked into a position like this to see if he has what it takes to ultimately be the successor to Bryan Habana on the Springbok wing. The Kings’ Malcolm Jaer and Bulls’ Jamba Ulengo are two other options.

10. Elton Jantjies, Lions (or Robert du Preez, Stormers)

Injuries could push Jantjies into Springbok contention but if not, he’d be a guaranteed starter in the South Africa A side. Stormers’ fly-half du Preez faces a race against time to be fit for the Saxons’ arrival and if he cannot return to fitness in time, the Cheetahs’ Fred Zeilinga is an option.

9. Faf de Klerk, Lions (or Stefan Ungerer, Sharks)

The lively scrum-half has to oust Ruan Pienaar, Rudy Paige and Cobus Reinach in the senior team pecking order and these two games could be the perfect opportunity to propel himself up that ladder.

1. Oli Kebble, Stormers

Kebble’s rise last season went somewhat under the radar given Vincent Koch’s meteoric ascent, but he distinguished himself as a fine young loosehead. The Cheetahs’ Ox Nche is hot on his heels, but Kebble has a year or two of experience on Nche.

2. Malcolm Marx, Lions

The Lions hooker is another who could be wearing the Springbok jersey this summer but with plenty of options available in that position, Marx may have to make do with a spot with South Africa A. The 21-year-old has been one of the standout South African performers in Super Rugby so far this year.

3. Thomas du Toit, Sharks

The transition of du Toit from loosehead to tighthead and evaluation of his ability at his new position could be expedited by throwing him in at the deep end against the Saxons.

4. RG Snyman, Bulls

Like Zas and Gelant, Snyman has hit the ground running in his debut Super Rugby season and has showcased the phenomenal physical gifts which had him so highly-touted at age-grade level over the last few years.

5. Jason Jenkins, Bulls

Jenkins is the latest in a long line of physically dominant second rows coming out of Pretoria. He is still quite raw but an exciting prospect who South Africa will want to tie down and keep out of the clutches of European clubs.

6. Oupa Mohojé, Cheetahs (or Jean-Luc du Preez, Sharks)

After winning eight Springbok caps over the last two years, Mohojé has fallen out of contention slightly but has all the attributes required to work his way back into the mix. Playing in a struggling Cheetahs side certainly doesn’t help the 25-year-old.

7. Jaco Kriel, Lions (or CJ Velleman, Kings)

How Kriel is uncapped is one of the greatest mysteries in the rugby world. The flanker was in resplendent form last season and has continued to deliver that same industry and skill in this campaign.

8. Nizaam Carr, Stormers (or Dan du Preez, Sharks)

With Duane Vermeulen and Warren Whiteley presumably duking it out for the Springbok eight jersey, Carr can further his own ambitions with a strong showing for South Africa A.