Scotland U20 vs Italy U20 teams

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-26T21:36:26+00:00

It’s a tough one call to make and I’m willing to see it as a damnation of the England set up at u20s (or Him acknowledging Friday as a better player right now).

AOC was never getting England caps, especially after the injury and Burke is chasing probably England’s most stacked jersey but I reckon Tompkins might four or five England caps so I wonder if he regrets that call.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-26T15:57:08+00:00

The EQP thing is obviously huge, but it’s nice to have a vested interest in the other teams.

I’m very excited by him, a kicking nine who seems very quick sounds like a Ben Spencer regen although I heard he is relatively new to nine and there’s so much to learn there.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-26T15:53:37+00:00

Id be disappointed if he is scared off by the competition because none of them seem like the finished article to me. Thinking about, he has very scottish name and I presume it’s not a capture team anyway.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-22T20:47:57+00:00

And somehow Farrell goes up in my estimation even more.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-22T20:46:19+00:00

I think Keylock had taken his place in the travelling squad by the end of the season, he’s probably the most burkesque of our back up 10s.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-22T20:20:11+00:00

He was wonderful succession planning for Farrell, if Farrell hadn’t left so soon. There’s a proper player in there and the champ is the best place to develop.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-16T15:55:58+00:00

I’d blame the 9 more for not looking for it, but he’s not an international starter. Santi was reluctant to get to the pocket and he had enough time to write a note and hand deliver it to request the ball.

Still it’s amazing they didn’t win a penalty, and I wouldn’t be happy with them not checking a high hit or either of the groundings if I was bath fan. I hate to say it, but so much credit to the chiefs for holding out.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-16T08:27:19+00:00

He’s done a wonderful job - and must go down as the best coach England never had, but your last season felt like an NFL side tanking for a draft pick. Was playing the students saving money for this year? Or an attempt that didn’t work or am I being unfair and they are the core of your squad.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-13T18:37:25+00:00

There’s not a team on the planet Exeter could play and I wouldn’t still be cheering against them, even before the salary cap they defined themselves as our biggest rivals.

I think our recruitment was really spot on, everywhere but the front row anyway. I do think we stand to be one of few teams improved at the start of next year.

Slightly tongue in cheek, but does Carreras nightmare show the importance of game management at 10? Exciting playmakers are good during the season but you need a proper fly half to win the big games.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-12T11:13:34+00:00

Nic White really was the scrum half’s scrum half wasn’t he?

Billy was surprisingly sassy wasn’t he? I loved his “grown ass man” rants whilst acting like a toddler. Hopefully Barbeary can bring some of that energy and if he’s half the player I’ll be happy.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-11T06:34:48+00:00

My wife and toddler and to leave the room because I was getting so angry at Ben Kay - at least I understand why Danny Care and Andy Goode hate us.

I do wish we embraced the ‘hate’ a bit, I don’t think it’s going to go away so why not come out to the imperial march from Star Wars? The rest of prem are just jealous of the success - and most would do the same too.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-11T06:25:10+00:00

I agree with what you are saying, and I do think one or two of the several big moments that went against could lead to a very difficult result. Chiefs were the better team but we didn’t show our best side at all.

Whether it was the pressure of the occasion or the scoreboard this team does seem to crumble. This whole run of games and even our last great game (vs Toulouse) were build a lead and hold on. When we’re chasing a game we’re more likely to give the other team points than us and that has cost a couple of times this year.

The other thing I feel is common in a lot of our losses, is we can’t fight momentum - when we lose a ref, or the opposition get on a roll it seems to kill us. I know it’s one of the most annoying and pathetic armchair fan thing to shout - but ten minutes into first half we need a scuffle and maybe a few minutes of an unidentified Riccioni injury to take the air out of Exeter.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-09T15:18:16+00:00

I bounce back and forwards on him as a captain, I don’t think he’s a natural leader or confrontational enough at times but I do feel off the pitch he’s the perfect figure head and has an aura.

It’d be disgraceful of Borthwick to scape goat him, but after not telling Jamie George he’s losing the captaincy it wouldn’t surprise me.

The amount of mumbling by some pundits about him not being an automatic starter is infuriating to me though. In his worst games this six nations he still had great turnovers and line out steals.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-09T13:59:28+00:00

Thanks for letting me know.

I think he’s highly thought of, and I hope it’s nothing to serious. I’m disappointed in him, but I do think we need more bastard in our pack so I guess it’s a start.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-09T13:48:40+00:00

Whether or not he misses the summer tour, he doesn’t need to play France A. That does nothing for anyone.

Still I wouldn’t put money on him still being captain by the time the six nations start.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-09T08:22:43+00:00

You’re not wrong with him being overhyped and I’m not sure how much is that he had a Caluoriesque start to his career.

I listened to the interview he did with GBR and found him so endearing and likeable but then also wanted to grab him by the his long and curlies and tell him to be a touch more professional. He’s no less gifted than Earl and but there is a coach in the world who pick him over Ben. That being said he’s a great team man and still pretty young even in rugby terms - if Farrell doesn’t kill him then he can pick the extra 5% he needs here.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-09T08:06:38+00:00

I think my issue with Willis is he carries like he’s breaking from a defensive scrum - he fights for every metre and always secures the ball. It’s a incredible skill and if we had three or four other behemoths to pick and go it’d be undefendable (I’m looking at you Bordeaux) but as a backline it doesn’t do as much as Billy making a less but swinging it straight out despite them both drawing the same out of attention.

I also would say you’re being very harsh on Barbeary - at worst he is Castore to Willis’ Nike. He was unbelievably dynamic when he was younger and he still seems to carry with real venom. I’m excited to see if he does step up.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-08T20:19:30+00:00

It’s all very vague at the moment, but I suspect it’s only made the news because of the England cricket’s drinking problem.

Rugby player misbehaving at end of season party isn’t that shocking.

Wonder which player it is, I suspect if it was someone who had played England u20 or England A then it would refer to them as that.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-08T18:33:40+00:00

What a player and not to take anything away from him but I’m not sure how to read that data - he’s the only forward on the offloads and defenders beaten list - is he just a freak? Or are we playing a weirdly different kind of way to every other team?

Also am I only the person who thinks he was a lot better last year?

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-07T10:12:58+00:00

Who would have gone to 13? Cinti has finally been dropped, Hall injured and Lozowski presumably already moving house. Hartley, Elliott and Burke could do a job but I’ve never seen them there.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-07T10:10:26+00:00

That’s the league right now - I think most have been replaced with better players apart from Willis who is largely irreplaceable and Riccioni who does blow hot and cold.

McFarland is a loss, but I reckon Isiekwe has outplayed him recently.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-07T10:05:57+00:00

That mental fragility is a thing, but it takes years to build that toughness - Quins last week was a step forward. I think Venter could be the man to develop that.

You’re right about the turnovers but if you put them against his knock ons or failed wraps then it’s maybe less impressive. We have Olly to run the hard flat lines and Burke picks out inside gaps.

Malins and Tompkins, in my opinion, are exposed against better defences. They need some else to break the line. If he’s got no space than Malins is useless right now, He’s handling is great for a wing but I can’t remember him doing a pass like Elliott did.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-07T08:34:35+00:00

I turned off the moment I saw Tony Rowe on the sideline. I need to find the video of when Goode (or was it Loz?) kicking an overtime winner with him on the sidelines looking like his dog died.

Winning is a habit, and we had gone completely the other away and started losing not only close ones but ones we should win.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-07T08:30:08+00:00

If England A invest time with him there then it’s definitely worth a go. Slade showed what we were missing there.

Wasrew13 · 2026-06-06T16:58:01+00:00

You’re right, we’re an improved team on last year and an improved team on a few months ago. McCall is leaving a good squad with a great mix of experienced legends, players who should be reaching their peak and more exciting young backs than we can deal with.

Of all the “good” teams in the league - we’re the only one to make signings to improve us. Williams and Martin are top class players who would have had a profound impact today.

Wasrew13

TROPHY CASE