Skipper: We must raise our game for Le Crunch
TIGERS’ ILIONE WANTS IMPROVEMENT AFTER DEFEAT TO SOUTH AFRICA
ENGLAND captain Emeka Ilione has called on his team to raise their game when they take on France in the Six Nations Under-20 Summer Series tomorrow, writes Ben Hart of Sportsbeat in Verona.
While England’s campaign started with a frustrating 30-22 defeat to South Africa, France swept past Ireland in style, beating the reigning Six Nations Grand Slam champions 42-21 on Friday evening.
Turning his attention to “Le Crunch” in Verona, Leicester Tigers’ openside flanker star Ilione has demanded an improved performance from his side and says they must cut out silly errors if they are to emerge victorious.
“We’re expecting a quality side that move the ball around and who will be much more clinical than we were against South Africa,” said Ilione, discussing the threat France pose.
“We’ve got to be better, take our opportunities, hopefully give ourselves a chance to
win the game and put our best foot forward as I don’t think we necessarily did that on Friday.
“We had a few too many handling errors, and our setpiece was not where we wanted it to be.
“We know as a group it can be better.
“South Africa are a quality side, but we feel we had the opportunities to win that game but a few errors in important moments maybe turned the tide against us.” Tigers’ Lewis Chessum started in the second row for England while
South Africa are a quality side, but we feel we had the opportunities to win that games Emeka Ilione
fly-half Jed Walsh was among the replacments.
One of the stand-out performers on an otherwise difficult afternoon was winger Iwan Stephens.
The Newcastle Falcons flyer had the beating of the Boks’ defence on a number of occasions, with only full-back George Hendy making more metres per carry for Alan Dickens’ side.
The majority of those promising runs came in the opening 20 minutes, England’s brightest spell in the game, and Stephens believes he could have done more to help his side when South Africa then grew into the contest.
“It’s on me to go and hunt and look for the ball,” said Stephens.
“We got in areas where I probably could have got on the ball more, but it’s just what it is, we didn’t execute plays and I thought that’s where we dropped off really.”
Mood in the camp is still high, however, and Stephens has enjoyed welcoming new faces into the squad, eight of whom made their debut for the U20s at the Payanini Centre on Friday.
“It’s always good to be with the lads in the camp, getting to know new boys and boys who have been here from last year,” he said.
“It’s nice to talk to them and help them if they don’t know what they’re doing. So I’m enjoying it.”
■ The Six Nations Under-20 Summer Series takes place from June 24 to July
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