WHAT IS WRONG WITH ENGLAND AT U20 LEVEL?

Having discussed the damaging impact of increasing English and French club money on the international game, it is worth a look at the U20 Six Nations table after four weeks. Unlike last year, when England followed up their U20 RWC victory with the Six Nations Championship, Wales sit on top, having won 4 from 4, France are second, having won 3 and lost just one game, Scotland and Ireland are next with 2 wins, 2 losses followed by England and Italy propping up the table with only 1 win and zero wins respectively. England have had a dreadful season, losing to Scotland for the first time at this level, and also conceding 40 points to Wales, the first time they have lost to Wales in England. I am not sure whether you can blame the structure, as it was good enough for a clean sweep last season, or the coaching team, although there are changes afoot. Some blame the fact that despite fewer professional clubs in the Celtic nations, the lack of foreign stars in the Pro 12, allows U20 players to get more game time at a higher level, whereas in England a lot of them get farmed out on loan to Championship clubs like Bedford and Jersey. It maybe that last year's crop were golden, which will benefit England's adult team over the next few years, but, with the system & resources (especially playing numbers) that England have, you don't really expect them to have this problem.

England, jubilant after last year's U20 Six Nations victory