England Saxons to play in February

England Saxons will meet Scotland A at Newcastle Falcons’ Kingston Park on Friday, February 1, the second of two internationals taking place in the North East this winter.

After the Falcons have played a Tonga VX on Tuesday, November 13 – part of the Pacific Islanders’ four-game European tour this November – England’s second-string will have the chance to impress in their only home game of the season.

Rob Andrew, former director of rugby at the club and now professional rugby director at the RFU, is excited about the prospect of top-class rugby in Newcastle and pointed to the important developmental aspect of these games.

Andrew, who won 71 England caps, said: “The Saxons play an important role in our player development and this, our only home game, will be a good gauge of where the next level of players below the seniors are at.

“Kingston Park is a fantastic ground with passionate supporters and I’m sure they will come out in force.”

The match, which kicks-off at 8pm, is on the eve of the RBS 6 Nations opener between England and Scotland at Twickenham, with a string of high profile names in the Saxons Elite Player Squad looking to stake their claim for involvement later in the tournament.

The announcement of the two internationals comes on the back of the Falcons’ blistering start to their RFU Championship campaign, spearheaded by director of rugby Dean Richards. Winning all of their first seven games in all competitions, there is a real feel good factor for rugby in the North East and Cumbria at present.

And with the homecoming of former Falcons player and current Chairman and President of the Tongan Rugby Union Epi Taione providing a fitting backdrop to the fixture, Richards said: “It is fantastic that Kingston Park will be staging two high profile internationals and I am very much looking forward to both occasions.

“It will be great to welcome Epi back to the North East with Tonga next month, and it is the perfect opportunity for families to come to Kingston Park and enjoy top class rugby.

“Tonga will provide us with a strong challenge as we look to continue our momentum in the RFU Championship.”

sickofwendy wrote:They should try and set up more games against the crap ....sorry I mean the second tier nations.good for us and good for them.on a side note Scotland A destroyed the salons last year in awful conditions,be nice to turn the tables on them.

Would you prefer they were called England Angles instead or perhaps Jutes takes your fancy?.

TrailApe wrote:

Would you prefer they were called England Angles instead or perhaps Jutes takes your fancy?.

Well if we look at it from a politically correct angle, a modern team from a multicultural and ethnically diverse country has no relevance to a tribe that inhabited the South of England over 900 years ago.

And if we look at if from a historic viewpoint, the Saxons were just one of the various peoples that lived on this part of the Island that was to become England, and if you look at the name of the country, the name of our nation and the language that a lot of people use in this land, Saxon influence seems to be minimal. Now the fact that they inhabited the area that the Old Farts of the RFU probably come from is no reason to use that name.

What's wrong with England A? - or if you want a Ye Olde name, what about Anglecynn?

DaveM wrote:So, who could we be seeing?

Vunipola
Youngs
Harden
Savage
Kitchener
Craig
Kvesic
Vunipola
Spencer
Ford
Yarde
Burrell
Trinder
Wade
Miller

Now one problem with this is that lots of these players aren't currently in the Saxons (I think the Saxons squad is slightly disappointing at present, with some players clearly on their way down). Another issue is the backline may not find ideal conditions. Still, I quite like the look of this side.

beshocked wrote:Why does the Saxon squad have 6 wingers?

Would love to see the Vunipola bros in the same XV.

I can see Will Fraser getting a call up for the Saxons as he's been in good form for Sarries.

What's happened with Elliot Daly for Wasps?

Cumbrian wrote:
Team I would personally pick:

01. Mako Vunipola (I think he has already overtaken Nathan Catt. Matt Mullan may get called up)
02. Tom Lindsay (Youngs and Gray potentially away with England)
03. Shaun Knight (Henry Thomas is getting no game time and PDJ could be with England)
04. Graham Kitchener
05. George Robson
06. Tom Savage
07. Jamie Gibson/ Matt Kvesic
08. Billy Vunipola (Others will be called up)

09. Joe Simpson
10. Freddie Burns

11. Jonny May
12. Luther Burrell/ Dom Waldouck (Only cot one 12 and he is likely to be called up!)
13. George Lowe
14. Christian Wade
15. Rob Miller

DaveM wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:
Team I would personally pick:

01. Mako Vunipola (I think he has already overtaken Nathan Catt. Matt Mullan may get called up)
02. Tom Lindsay (Youngs and Gray potentially away with England)
03. Shaun Knight (Henry Thomas is getting no game time and PDJ could be with England)
04. Graham Kitchener
05. George Robson
06. Tom Savage
07. Jamie Gibson/ Matt Kvesic
08. Billy Vunipola (Others will be called up)

09. Joe Simpson
10. Freddie Burns

11. Jonny May
12. Luther Burrell/ Dom Waldouck (Only cot one 12 and he is likely to be called up!)
13. George Lowe
14. Christian Wade
15. Rob Miller

Simpson is a fair call, and the choice between Burns and Ford will be a tight one. I'm not sure what the poijt of playing Robson is, he'll never be a regular international where-as Savage might be so I'd make him focus on lock. May is a wonderful talent but I think Yarde would help with the balance of the side. May at OC would be interesting. I don't think there is much between Knight and Harden at present, although the former is obviously the better prospect. Last night though Harden was highly destructive.

Another very interesting possibility is Eastmond, although what position he'll be playing by the early Spring I'm not sure. I hope he'll end up settling in the centres, although FB is another possibility.

Incidentally I picked Craig because I think he's a nailed on future international. Not sure if his best position is lock or 6, but at present I'm thinking of him as Tom Croft with added physicality. Hopefully he'll be fit soon.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Is Simpsons basic skills good enough?

Cumbrian wrote:
I picked Robson because I assumed that if he is available he will be picked by the Saxons' coaches (John Callard?). Mind you I should probably apply that to the tight head position with Rupert Harden as well.

Craig is an interesting pick, do you really rate him that highly? It's quite a bold claim. I haven't seen him play in ages, but he did look to be turning into a decent player at the arse end of last season.

Again, Eastmond is an interesting pick too, I suppose it depends on where he ends up playing. He started the season on the wing, but he's been moving closer to the action in recent games.

DaveM wrote:

Cumbrian wrote:
I picked Robson because I assumed that if he is available he will be picked by the Saxons' coaches (John Callard?). Mind you I should probably apply that to the tight head position with Rupert Harden as well.

Craig is an interesting pick, do you really rate him that highly? It's quite a bold claim. I haven't seen him play in ages, but he did look to be turning into a decent player at the arse end of last season.

Again, Eastmond is an interesting pick too, I suppose it depends on where he ends up playing. He started the season on the wing, but he's been moving closer to the action in recent games.

But I thought you said it was the team you'd personally pick? Robson is an excellent club player, but he's not international class so why waste Saxons caps on him? Let's see how Savage copes with representing his country at lock.

I do rate Craig that highly. Hopefully the injury hasn't held him back too much.

If Eastmond is still on the right wing in the spring then he may be worth a look in that position. I expect him to have moved inside. Hipkiss is decent but Eastmond is unusually gifted and I could see him playing in the centres. It could be even more interesting if he got a run at IC for Bath.