England Under-20s breeze past Scotland as heat takes toll on players

Jack Bracken prepares to touch down for England Under-20s against Scotland - Luca Sighinolfi /World Rugby

England Under-20s defied sweltering conditions to start their World Championship defence with a 56-19 victory over Scotland.

A frenetic first half produced eight tries, before the heat in Verona seemed to overwhelm both sets of players in a game that coughed and spluttered to an entertaining last 10 minutes.

England’s battled their way to last year’s world title through brute force and set-piece dominance, but were forced to explore other options on Sunday as Scotland’s dominant set-piece ruffled some feathers early on. England did so with aplomb, tries coming cross-field kicks, offloads and superb individual athleticism.

“We’re feeling ultra-positive”, said England captain Tom Burrow post-match. “There were a lot of new caps and returning players, so we’re really pleased. We knew Scotland would pose a greater threat than they did during the Six Nations [when England won 57-13], so really pleased to get back to our systems and finish strong.”

Scotland twice took an early lead, through Noah Cowan and a maul penalty try, but a pacey Jack Bracken finish, a penalty try and a Kane James pick-and-go steadied the ship for England.

No 8 James broke the line on the half-hour mark and rounded winger Fergus Watson for a Henry Pollock-esque score. Clinical team tries from Will Knight and Bracken ensued, and earned the defending champions a 42-12 lead going into the break.

Defending champions survive red card

England head coach Mark Mapletoft was proven right in his warning that the intense heat might cause the game to break down, with the sides producing 30 minutes of discontinuous rugby in the second half. England found it especially hard to capitalise on their territorial advantage after flanker George Timmins was red-carded for an elbow on prop Ollie Blyth-Lafferty.

Fatigue eventually led the floodgates to open, and England crossed twice more to reach a half-century of points, partly thanks to impeccable kicking from Ben Coen and Josh Bellamy. The latter benefitted from an ambitious quick tap before helping Ben Redshaw to score a spectacular long-range effort.

“All credit to England, in that second half with 14 men they did really well,” said Scotland captain Johnny Ventisei. “You can see why they’re world champions, they’re a great side. We can take that first 15-20 minutes to Australia [Scotland’s next opponents on Friday] – we were flying. We’ll review that last 60 and see what we can fix”.

Scotland did register a consolation score through Hector Patterson’s sublime chip-and-chase, but the result was sealed in a breathless first half, when the pace of play was too fast for the players to maintain. With South Africa having thumped Australia 73-17 elsewhere in the pool, England’s attention turns to a potential pool-decider against the junior Boks, also on Friday.

Despite the heat, Burrow’s side will start preparations early: “The focus is straight to South Africa. We know they’re an excellent side at all levels, so there’s a lot of prep to do. One day of rest and we’ll be ready to go again.”

04:46 PM BST

Thanks for reading

That’s that then! A comprehensive win to open England’s title defence, tries scored from all areas and real resilience shown to keep at it in the second half despite an abundance of heat-induced errors. I’m sure what will please them most was the resolve in the first half - a back pedalling set piece has become a rarity under Nathan Catt’s stewardship of the 20s pack, so to move past unfamiliar territory in that regard deserves credit. 

Onto South Africa next Friday!

04:31 PM BST

England co-captain Tom Burrow:

“Ultra-positive, there were a lot of new caps and returning players, so really pleased. We knew Scotland would pose a greater threat than they did during the Six Nations, so really pleased to get back to our systems and finish strong. 

“The focus is straight to South Africa, we know they’re an excellent side at all levels so a lot of prep to do. A day of rest, some prep and we’ll be ready to go again.”

South Africa thumped Australia 73-17 today, meaning next Friday’s match could be the pool decider. 

04:27 PM BST

Scotland captain Johnny Ventisei

“All credit to England, in that second half with 14 men they did really well. You can see why they’re World Champions, they’re a great side. Lots for us to work on. 

“We can take that first 15-20 minutes to Australia, we were flying. But last 60 we weren’t great, so we’ll review that and see what we can fix up for next week.”

Scotland face Australia next Friday 4th July, before facing South Africa on Wednesday 9th. 

04:22 PM BST

Full time: England 56-19 Scotland

England threaten a ninth try, but Ben Redshaw is held up and Bellamy throws forward to Tyler Offiah. And that’s game. 30 minutes of really hard work under the sun preceded a hugely entertaining last ten minutes, and succeeded a box office first half. Reaction to come. 

04:17 PM BST

76 mins: England 56-19 Scotland

Try Scotland! A good sub-genre of sport: how players react after scoring a worldie whilst losing heavily. Scotland break through the middle and substitute Hector Patterson chips, gathers and dots down for Scotland’s third. Great skill. 

04:16 PM BST

75 mins: England 56-12 Scotland

The floodgates are open! This could be the best try of the day in a satisfyingly congested field. England attack from deep from the kick off, and Bellamy pokes through a deft midfield grubber for Ben Redshaw. The Falcons winger claims and shows Matthew Urwin and Jack Hocking a clean pair of heels down the left.

04:13 PM BST

71 mins: England 49-12 Scotland

A try! Josh Bellamy at last! The 14 men of England win a scrum penalty and, akin to Finn Russell’s assist for Elliot Daly against Western Force yesterday, they go quick. The fly half/fullback Bellamy chips and chses, gathers, and jinks past covering defence to score. Converts himself, England 49-12 to the good - deservedly so. 

04:11 PM BST

70 mins: England 42-12 Scotland

Another overthrow! England work through the phases, and what do you know, another knock on. This is bruising stuff in the heat, jerseys are soaked through and no doubt the ball is like a bar of soap. Becoming one for the purists.

04:09 PM BST

69 mins: England 42-12 Scotland

New props for England, but Oliver Scola and Vilikesa Sela concede the penalty. We exit the Scottish 22 for the first time in seven minutes. 

Overthrow! Classic, pressure back on. England grubber and Jack Hocking cleans it up wonderfully, another penalty. Maybe we might see the England half soon. 

04:07 PM BST

67 mins: England 42-12 Scotland

The maul is well-repelled but England retain possession. The ball is never clean and finally Scotland turn the ball over, some crafty not-quite-illegal work at the ruck by Mark Fyffe forcing a poor pass and dropped ball. Scrum Scotland, still no points in the half...

04:05 PM BST

66 mins: England 42-12 Scotland

England go cross field to Weimann again, it’s a gilt-edged chance that’s dropped over the line, that kick deserved finishing. 

Alas there was another penalty advantage, and England tuck it up the jumper this time. Another penalty! Not releasing, surely a yellow is imminent. Once more unto the driving maul, dear friends...

04:02 PM BST

62 mins: England 42-12 Scotland

Olamide Sodeke threatens to inject some life into this half after Scottish scrum half Noah Cowan cannons a box kick into one of his own players, but the sweaty ball is spilled forward. 

Hybrid player alert! Archie McParland is on at nine, but his clubmate Johnny Weimann is shifted to the wing as Jack Bracken kisses goodbye to his hattrick aspirations. A sumptuous offload from Weimann having gathered a cross field kick almost sets up Ben Redshaw, but the ball is spilled once again. Back we go to a 5m lineout. 

03:56 PM BST

56 mins: England 42-12 Scotland

Changes for England as they look to compensate for Timmins’ absence with ballast - the sizeable figures of Olamide Sodeke and Aiden Ainsworth-Cave on for Tom Burrow and try scorer Kane James. Burrow’s leadership absence is filled by squad co-captain, Ben Redshaw of Newcastle Falcons.

As predicted pre-game, we’re now stopping for the designated water break, not two minutes after a water break during the Timmins red card check. Easy for me to say in this nicely air-conditioned room, mind. 

03:50 PM BST

Red card for George Timmins

A TMO check for what initially seemed to be a poor clearout on George Timmins by Scottish tighthead, Ollie Blyth-Lafferty.

We’re actually looking at Timmins’ reaction. The footage is grainy but you can see Timmins lead with an elbow before the camera moves on. The incriminating piece of evidence is a cut on Blyth-Lafferty’s eye, and Timmins gets a permanent red card. None of this 20 minute red card palaver.

03:47 PM BST

54 mins: England 42-12 Scotland

Tuipulotu breaks well from the lineout but England surrender possession, and Scotland probe at the broken England defence before opting to clear. As predicted in this heat, the game is wondering from set piece to set piece, as opposed to the all-action start to the first half. 

Maybe this water break can reinvigorate the players. 

03:44 PM BST

52 mins: England 42-12 Scotland

A robust Reuben Logan has forced Louie Gulley off with a shoulder knock, on comes on of the great hopes of this side, Kepu Tuipulotu.

England win a kicking battle, Scotland kicking on opposition terms after a monster shot by Nick Lilley. A lineout on the Scottish 22...

03:42 PM BST

50 mins: England 42-12 Scotland

Change at hooker for Scotland, Seb Stephen on for Joe Roberts. Stephens debuted for Glasgow vs Leinster, no less, this season - he’s one of just five Scottish players to have played senior rugby - a number dwarfed by England. He falls for the classic ‘first job is to throw-in’ trope and England have possession. 

03:40 PM BST

48 mins: England 42-12 Scotland

Sloppy stuff from England, a lineout penalty following one at the scrum to give Scotland reprieve. Scotland’s running lines are producing space but their handling is noticeably less crisp than England’s and another English infringement spares them from kicking possession away. 

03:37 PM BST

44: England 42-12 Scotland

England earn a penalty close to the Scottish line and go quick, but the lesser-seen mid-phase maul is held up to produce a Scottish scrum. Scotland change loosehead, Glasgow’s Oliver McKenna coming on for clubmate Jake Shearer. 

03:35 PM BST

Second half imminent

Reuben Logan leads the Scotland team out. He’s off to Sale Sharks next season, as exclusively, and accidentally revealed by his mum, Gabby, in The Telegraph. 

03:33 PM BST

Half time: England 42-12 Scotland

I’m sure there are many of you reading this from deck chairs, cooler box and ice cream at the ready; conditions are similar in Verona and aren’t ideal for rugby. Here’s what England head coach Mark Mapletoft said about it in this week’s press conference:

It’s unusually hot, lads. I’m not going to lie to you. I don’t mind a bit of sun, but this is different level. We’ve got a plan, but as with all plans, they’re brilliant, until you start playing and maybe things go your way, maybe things don’t go your way.

I mean, there wasn’t really much choice was [in how we played last year], I’m thinking particularly the South Africa game in the rain and mud. I think actually, in a weird way, it will be similar this weekend as the heat and the sweat will determine the level of continuity you can have and how you conserve energy, how you play in the right areas of the field.

03:19 PM BST

Half time: England 42-12 Scotland

And breathe! Some first half, England pulling through a tricky, and frantic, opening quarter to open a surely unassailable lead. Scotland’s set piece caused some strife early on, but an England side littered with Premiership experience seemed more comfortable in the heat at the end of the half. 

If Scotland can start the next half as they started the first, it could be game on. 

03:15 PM BST

38 mins: England 42-12 Scotland

What a try!! Jack Bracken gets his second, magnificent team work. 

That wild start is starting to manifest itself now, this Scottish side look tired, kncoking the ball on from front foot ball on the half way line - that Will Knight try saw some over-zealous defence, over-compensating for a tired looking maul defence.

This one is all-court brilliance from England. The ball stays in play for a while, and England gain possession after a huge double hit by second rows Tom Burrow and Junior Kpoku. They spread wide, forwards and backs alike looking to play ambitiously, and Offiah once again feeds Bracken for a walk in. 

03:10 PM BST

33 mins: England 35-12 Scotland

Another try!!! Will Knight for England this time, the defending champions are running out of sight now. The debutant 18-year-old strolls in from good lineout platform, benefitting from some lovely delay on the pass by Johnny Weimann as he took the ball from the maul. Jubilant celebrations with the bench behind the sticks.

03:06 PM BST

28 mins: England 28-12 Scotland

It is! Kane James flies through a gap after some deft handling by Ben Coen close to the line. The no.8 rounds winger Fergus Watson with apparent ease, could have been a shot for shot remake of his predecessor Henry Pollock’s try vs Leinster!

03:04 PM BST

28 mins: England 21-12 Scotland

Try Kane James?? We’ll have to check but this would be some score!!

03:03 PM BST

26 mins: England 21-12 Scotland

Scotland take another scrum after the ball hits the referee Marcus Playle from an overthrow, good fortune! Perhaps some naivety from scrum half Noah Cowan as he withdraws the ball from a rampant drive, and a grubber gives England possession back

03:00 PM BST

22 mins: England 21-12 Scotland

Perhaps not, England no. 8 Kane James breaks 40 metres, past four defenders into Scottish territory. A knock on produces Scottish set piece platform and Fergus Watson makes a bust of his own. England infringe in the midst of it and Scotland kick to the corner. 

02:58 PM BST

20 mins: England 21-12 Scotland

A moment of calm, perhaps? Watson and skipper Johnny Ventise combine to break down the left but Oliver Duncan enters from the side, and England win the game’s first penalty in a side’s own territory. Gulley is back on.

02:56 PM BST

18 mins: England 21-12 Scotland

England have found some purchase in the set piece and Kane James scores an Exeter Chiefs try, dotting down from centremetres out after Kepu Tuipulotu broke from a maul. 

Coen adds the extras, England have a nine point lead as Fergus Watson re-enters the fray.

02:54 PM BST

17 mins: England 14-12 Scotland

England win a scrum penalty now with just seven men, Kepu Tuipulotu on the field for George Timmins during Gulley’s sin bin. 

They win a penalty from the consequent lineout, and work their way to the Scottish line, stretching the Scottish defence down both flanks. They have to settle for a kick to the corner as a biog overlap down the left is squandered by a forward pass.

02:50 PM BST

15 mins: England 14-12 Scotland

Jack Bracken scores now, what is happening?! Hard to tell as RugbyPass have neglected to include a scoreboard and timer. England win a lineout, thrown by no. 8 Kane James, and England take their turn cross field kicking. 

Tyler Offiah claims it but is straggled as he steps outside. He pops up to Bracken, working off his wing as promised in this article, who finishes with express pace down the left. What a start to this match!

02:46 PM BST

10 mins: England 7-12 Scotland

This game is moving at a relentless pace, you wonder how long that can be kept up in this heat - England head coach Mark Mapletoft hinted at a game plan that resembled last year’s wet weather dominance to manage heart rates. 

Scotland win a turnover from the kick off chase, and kick to the corner. Louie Gulley collapses the maul, and goes to the bin for his troubles - penalty try Scotland!

02:43 PM BST

9 mins: England 7-5 Scotland

Immediate response by England, who keep the ball despite a back-pedalling scrum. A nicely worked move sends birthday boy Tyler Offiah down the left flank, but his dive for the line is intercepted by Fergus Watson.

There are no arms, however, and Watson goes to the bin. Penalty try, England lead

02:40 PM BST

7 mins: England 5-0 Scotland

A huge feature of England’s World Cup win last year was their scrum - they pulled away from France in last year’s final when back row Arthur Green dotted down from the back of a rampant scrum. Part of the reason they caught so much attention was that scrum, at a time when Will Stuart hadn’t found his current form and England’s scrum was rolling backwards in New Zealand. 

Scotland have made a huge early statement, however, with two early scrum penalties earned by clean, forward drives. 

From the second they win the lineout and retain some ball through phases. Fly half Matthew Urwin kicks cross field to Fergus Watson, who pops up to scrum half Noah Cowan for the opening score. Conversion missed, statement made!

02:33 PM BST

Kick off

As we await kick off, the swear dripping off the chin of England fly half Ben Coen, we hear that there will be water breaks at the 20 and 60 minute marks. Assume that means water will stay on the sideline during set piece and kicking breaks!

Contrary to the last post, Louie Gulley throws crooked at the first lineout, and Scotland opt for the scrum.

02:30 PM BST

Expect some “cellies”

Jack Bracken may not wheel out the ‘Ash-splash’, but expect some boisterous celebrations from this England 20s side. Tyler Offiah has already trademarked a “T-time” celebration - as if he were asking for a review in a cricket match - when scoring. Co-captain Tom Burrow displayed a more old-school approach in this week’s press conference:

I think a few of the boys are prepping celebrations, Tyler loves his ‘T-time’. We don’t half hear about that. I think they should be more worried about catching and putting it on the line for me.

When asked about hooker Louie Gulley side-stepping back-three Ben Redshaw on England’s social media, his approach was similarly refreshing:

Hopefully, he’ll be throwing his line out, scrummaging first, but if he gets a chance in space, keep your eye out.

02:23 PM BST

Some familiar names

Eagle-eyed viewers will have spotted some familiar names on the wings in the England lineup. Jack Bracken is son of England’s 2003 World Cup winner Kyran, whilst Tyler Offiah is son of crosscode legend Martin.

As you can read in full here, neither parent has been shy of showing some clips of their glory days, but both children cite one Chris Ashton as their inspiration:

“There was also Chris Ashton; how he scored lots of tries and always wanted to be involved. It was hard to watch a Chris Ashton game without seeing a Chris Ashton try and I really liked that.” Says Tyler.

“He always seemed to have an impact on the game and his celebration stood out to me – not that it’s something I’d try to copy – but his work-rate off the ball was always impressive.” Says Jack.

Kyran’s other son, Charlie, is also forging a successful career, having stepped in for Jack van Poortvliet in England camp a couple of weeks ago.

02:15 PM BST

How England might be preparing

Our very own Charlie Morgan gained unprecedented access to the England u20s camp in the build up to their ultimately unsuccessful grand slam decider vs Wales in this year’s Six Nations. I wonder if they’re persisting with their super-hero theming, surely Iceman (I’ve checked, he does exist) would be the one of choice given the sweltering conditions - temperatures are at a low of 25°C overnight in Verona. 

Keep an eye out as well for England’s “hammer” defence - Mark Mapletoft’s youngsters persisted with the Felix Jones-style blitz defence that caused such a stir in the senior set up’s 2024 in this year’s Six Nations.

England’s team announcement before their decisive Six Nations game vs Wales

02:06 PM BST

Can Scotland break duck?

In contrast to the England’s dire record in the Calcutta Cup in recent years, England u20s are currently enjoying an eight-game winning streak against today’s opponents that dates back to the 2018 u20s Six Nations. A Scotland side boasting Kyle Rowe, Stafford McDowall, and Rory Darge on the bench beat an England side containing Ted Hill, Cadan Murley, Ollie Lawrence, and a bench with Joe Heyes, Tommy Reffell, Ben White, and Fraser Dingwall by 24-17. 

England overturned that result with a 35-10 in that year’s World Cup, and haven’t lost since, including a 57-13 hammering this year - 19 of that day’s England 23 play today. 

No better time to break precedent than the opening game of a World Cup!

01:59 PM BST

Scotland’s 23

Scotland u20s:

15. Jack Brown - Edinburgh

14. Nairn Moncrieff - Edinburgh

13. Johnny Ventisei (C) - Glasgow Warriors

12. Kerr Yule - Glasgow Warriors

11. Fergus Watson - Glasgow Warriors

10. Matthew Urwin - Glasgow Warriors

9. Noah Cowan - Brunel University/Ealing Trailfinders

1. Jake Shearer - Glasgow Warriors

2. Joe Roberts - Glasgow Warriors

3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty - Edinburgh

4. Bart Godsell - Loughborough University

5. Dan Halkon - Glasgow Warriors

6. Charlie Moss - Montpellier

7. Oliver Duncan - Edinburgh

8. Reuben Logan - Northampton Saints/Sale Sharks

Replacements:

16. Seb Stephen - Glasgow Warriors 17. Oliver McKenna - Glasgow Warriors 18. Jamie Stewart - Edinburgh 19. Dylan Cockburn - Melrose RFC 20. Mark Fyffe - Edinburgh University 21. Oliver Finlayson-Russell - University of St Andrews 22. Hector Patterson - Edinburgh 23. Jack Hocking - Edinburgh

01:55 PM BST

England’s 23

England u20s:

15. Josh Bellamy - Harlequins

14. Jack Bracken - Saracens

13. Nick Lilley - Exeter Chiefs

12. Will Knight - Gloucester

11. Tyler Offiah - Bath

10. Ben Coen - Exeter Chiefs

9. Jonny Weimann - Northampton Saints

1. Ralph McEachran - Sale Sharks

2. Louie Gulley - Exeter Chiefs

3. Tye Raymont - Sale Sharks

4. Tom Burrow (C) - Sale Sharks

5. Junior Kpoku - Racing Metro 92

6. George Timmins - Bath

7. Sam Williams - Leicester Tigers

8. Kane James - Exeter Chiefs

Replacements:

16. Kepu Tuipulotu - Bath 17. Oliver Scola - Northampton Saints 18. Vilikesa Sela - Bath 19. Olamide Sodeke - Saracens 20. Aiden Ainsworth-Cave - Northampton Saints 21. Archie McParland - Northampton Saints 22. Campbell Ridl - Exeter Chiefs 23. Ben Redshaw - Newcastle

That makes Bristol Bears the only non-represented Premiership team in the lineup!

01:45 PM BST

Preview: Can England defend their title?

Hello and welcome to our live blog of England u20s opening match of the World rugby u20 Championship, where they begin their title defence against Scotland. Kick off is at 14.30 BST in sweltering conditions at Payanini Centre, Verona, Italy. Temperatures sit at 34°C so it’s nothing the players aren’t used to, hailing from tropical England!

England’s 20s programme is riding a wave of momentum developed by a World Championship win last year, with a squad including one Henry Pollock, and other now-prominent names like Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Afolabi Fasogbon and Ben Waghorn beating France 21-13 in South Africa to coronate what’s been dubbed as a golden generation of English rugby.

The 2025 World Rugby u20s Championship presents England with the opportunity to win a fifth title, and a second title defence, as co-captains Tom Burrow and Ben Redshaw aim to follow in the footsteps of a Jack Clifford-led side in 2013, a Maro Itoje-led side in 2014, and a Harry Mallinder-led side in 2016.

Last year’s 20s squad, who also won the grand slam earlier that year, really seemed to capture the country’s imagination, no doubt due to the influence of seemingly test-ready players like Pollock and Opoku-Fordjour - here’s an obligatory reminder that Pollock is still eligible for this 20s team! Six of the 23 that won last year feature today, names that have garnered plenty interest in their own rights: Junior Kpoku, Olamide Sodeke, Jack Bracken, Ben Coen, Archie McParland, Vilikesa Sela, and Ben Redshaw.

Despite the turnover in players, this current crop boast fresh big game experience, the learnings from their gut-wrenching, grand slam-denying defeat to Wales earlier this year likely looming in hearts and minds. They’ll look to transfer that pain to a Scotland side who were thrashed 57-13 in this year’s Six Nations - it’s set up to be a magnificent game in the Verona sun, stay tuned!

Campbell Ridl opens the scoring during England u20s 57-13 victory over Scotland u20s in the 2025 Six Nations - Owen Humphreys/PA

Sign up to the Front Page newsletter for free: Your essential guide to the day's agenda from The Telegraph - direct to your inbox seven days a week.