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Tyler Offiah returns for Kepu Tuipulotu-led England U20s
By Jon Newcombe
Mark Mapletoft has made six changes to his starting XV and one positional switch as England look to keep their semi-final hopes alive with a bonus-point win against Australia in Verona on Wednesday.
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Last Friday’s 32-22 defeat to the Junior Springboks means England can no longer win Pool A, and they are now reliant on other results, as well as needing to bag all five points against the Junior Wallabies, to make it through to the last four as the best runner-up.
The match will be streamed live and for free on RugbyPass TV in the UK and Ireland.
Mapletoft has kept faith with the front row that took to the field from the first whistle against South Africa, with Ralph McEachran and Vilikesa Sela propping the scrum either side of hooker Kepu Tuipulotu.
Tuipulotu has been given the honour of captaining the team for the first time, as he maintains his ever-present U20 record this season. Having made his senior club debuts for Bath in successful domestic and European competitions, Tuipulotu featured in all five 2025 U20 Six Nations outings and both World Rugby U20 Championship fixtures to date.
Olamide Sodeke and Junior Kpoku, who is promoted from the bench, make for a powerful second-row pairing, while in the back row, Aiden Ainsworth-Cave is rewarded for his impact off the bench against the Junior Boks.
Ainsworth-Cave’s inclusion at blindside has resulted in Connor Treacey, one of England’s standout performers in round two, moving to the seven jersey. Sale’s Kane James is once again entrusted with the number eight role.
Saracens’ Noah Caluori earns his first start at U20 level after making his debut on Friday, one of four changes to the backline with Campbell Ridl (Exeter Chiefs), Tyler Offiah (Bath) and Archie McParland (Northampton Saints) introduced.
Versatile Northampton Saints forward Aiden Ainsworth-Cave is awarded his starting debut in Mapletoft’s set-up at blindside flanker, with Junior Kpoku (Racing 92) called into action in the second row.
Seb Kelly (Sale Sharks) and Ollie Streeter (Harlequins) are poised to make their debuts off the bench.
“We were disappointed in how the last game transpired against South Africa, as we left many opportunities out there,” backs and skills coach Will Parkin said.
“With that said, our leadership group have rallied to refocus our players’ efforts over the last three days. The squad’s ownership to recognise there are big improvements to be made has been vital, as well as impressive.
“The squad have raised our performance levels in training and put an emphasis on refining our efficiency in the opposing 22 against what will be another strong challenge in Australia.”
England U20 vs Australia U20s:
15 Josh Bellamy (Harlequins)
14 Noah Caluori (Saracens)
13 Campbell Ridl (Exeter)
12 Nic Allison (Exeter Chiefs)
11 Tyler Offiah (Bath)
10 Ben Coen (Exeter Chiefs)
9 Archie McParland (Northampton)
1 Ralph McEachran (Sale Sharks)
2 Kepu Tuipulotu (cc) (Bath)
3 Vilikesa Sela (Bath)
4 Olamide Sodeke (Saracens)
5 Junior Kpoku (Racing 92)
6 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (Northampton)
7 Connor Treacey (Bath)
8 Kane James (Exeter)
Replacements :
16 Alfie Longstaff (Sale Sharks)
17 Oli Scola (Northampton Saints)
18 Ollie Streeter (Harlequins)
19 Tom Burrow (cc) (Sale Sharks)
20 Seb Kelly (Sale Sharks)
21 Jonny Weimann (Northampton)
22 Jack Bracken (Saracens)
23 Will Knight (Gloucester)
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