France and England set for U-18 clash

France and England square off at Cork Institute of Technology this Saturday, kick-off 2.30pm, in a game that's expected to produce some high quality rugby.

France are looking to bounce back from their two-point loss at the hands of Scotland on the opening day at the same venue while England are hoping to secure a second festival win after they convincingly beat Italy in their first outing.

The French team announcement has been delayed as management wait on news of two injured players. Prop David Tarroque and centre Adrien Domec are both being assessed and management have held off naming a starting line-up until late on Friday night.

Tarroque needed three stitches over his eye after the game against Scotland and he also suffered a sprained ankle and Domec twisted his knee in the same game.

England have named their team however and coach Alex Sanderson has made a number of changes including an all new front row and half-back combination.

There are also call-ups for centre Andy Forsyth of QEGS Wakefield and Leicester Tigers, wing Will Hurrell of Wyggeston & QE College and Leicester Tigers and full back Tom Catterick of Barnard Castle School and Newcastle Falcons. Sedbergh and Sale Sharks centre Tom Casson has again been named captain.

Sanderson said: "We have made several changes to the starting line-up. This is because we have to start every player in this tournament and also because of the very short time in between games, we have to keep all the players fresh and sharp. This is also a different game, a different opponent so some of the changes made are strategic as well."

He added that he expected France to be tough opponents.

England Under 18 team to play France: 1 Joe Marler (Richmond College & Harlequins) 2 Jamie George (Haileybury & Saracens) 3 Mako Vunipola (Millfield & Bristol Rugby) 4 Tom Holmes (Sandbach & Sale Sharks) 5 James Gaskell (Sandbach & Sale Sharks) 6 Rob Milligan (Rugby School & Northampton Saints) 7 Jacob Rowan (Bradford GS & Leeds Carnegie) 8 Alex Gray (Barnard Castle & Newcastle Falcons) 9 Jordi Pasqualin (The King's School Gloucs & Gloucester Rugby) 10 Rory Clegg (Barnard Castle & Newcastle Falcons) 11 Sam Smith (Cranleigh & Harlequins) 12 Tom Casson (Sedbergh & Sale Sharks) 13 Andy Forsyth (QEGS Wakefield & Leicester Tigers) 14 Will Hurrell, 15 Tom Catterick (Barnard Castle & Newcastle Falcons)

Replacements: 16 Lee Imiolek (Myerscough College & Sale Sharks) 17 David Blackwell (Hartpury College & Gloucester Rugby) 18 James Currie (Millfield & Bath Rugby) 19 Joe Quinn (St Wilfred's School & Leeds Carnegie) 20 Joe Trayfoot (Epsom College & Harlequins) 21 Joe Barker (QEGS Wakefield & Leeds Carnegie) 22 Sam Harrison (John Cleveland College & Leicester Tigers)

23 Freddie Burns (Bath College & Bath Rugby) 24 Tom Homer (Milton Abbey & London Irish)

25 Christian Wade (RGS High Wycombe & London Wasps) 26 Jack Wallace (RGS High Wycombe & London Wasps)

France: (From) David Tarroque, Baptiste Gay, Adrien Alazard, Teddy Iribaren, (all Toulouse), Anthony Maury (Montferrand), Mickael Ivaldi, Sonny Falconetti (both Toulon). Kevin Legeun, Adrein Gach, Amaury Geneste (all Begles). Paul Oliver (Beziers), Victor Muret, Julien Petrod (both Bourgoin), Sullivan Guyon (Orleans), Joris Archimbeau (Montpellier), Florent Brunet, Gilles Arnaudies, Joran Salgues (all Perpignan), Antoine Erbano (Agen), Julien Cabannes (Mont de Marsan), Clement Baldy (La Reunion), Raphael Eymond, Lucas DuPoint (Grenoble), Adrien Domec (Biarritz), Camille Canivet (La Rochelle), Valentin Tourenne (Brive).