Mark Mapletoft backing for Asher Opoku-Fordjour
Mark Mapletoft has noticed an air of confidence around recent England call-up Asher Opoku-Fordjour this year and expects the Sale Sharks man to rise to the challenges of Test rugby.
U20s head coach Mapletoft, who will take charge of England A against Australia next Sunday, led Opoku-Fordjour and co to a historic Six Nations and World Championship double this year and is proud of the versatile prop’s journey into the senior setup.
Called into England camp this week to replace the retiring Joe Marler, Opoku-Fordjour has progressed rapidly since his first involvement with the U20s in 2023.
“Asher didn’t play for the U18s, he started to poke his nose through at U20s and has since gone from strength to strength,” Mapletoft told The Rugby Paper.
“I noticed a massive change in him having coached the 2023 U20 Six Nations and then the 2024 programme.
“He wasn’t in all our training camps this year because he was playing for Sale in the Premiership, but when he did come in, you wouldn’t have known he’d been away – he just got about his business and put the work in. That showed maturation.”
Opoku-Fordjour, below, will likely play for England A if not selected for the senior squad match against South Africa and is part of a young squad bursting with Premiership talent.
Back Row Options
One area in which England are especially over-resourced is the back row, with Tom Pearson, Henry Pollock, Tom Willis and Ted Hill included thanks to superb form in recent weeks.
Mapletoft admits he was shocked with the abundance of talent at his disposal. He said: “The back row is so competitive, especially if you consider some players that aren’t in this squad.
“Willis, Pearson and Hill are playing supremely well in the Prem, and Greg Fisilau was with the U20s not too long ago.
“These lads are serious operators. These guys being available just goes to show how well regarded the guys at the top are.”
Henry Pollock
Northampton flanker Pollock has had an exceptional year, integral to England U20s and now regularly featuring for Saints in the Premiership.
Having captained the academy at age-group level, Mapletoft says the explosive Pollock will add more to the playing group than the searing pace for which he is known.
He said: “Henry is an energy giver of the highest order. Every environment with him that I’ve been in would be worse if he wasn’t there.
“He’s up for it every training session, every meeting and always has something to add.
“His start to this season has been fantastic. He’s getting better every week, and I hope he’s able to make the most of this opportunity.”
Pollock’s teammate Archie McParland is also part of the squad and Mapletoft is delighted with how the scrum-half has bounced back from missing the World Championship through injury.
He added: “Archie is one of the most passionate people about rugby you will ever meet. I was disgusted for him to injure his elbow in Georgia and miss out on the World Cup. He’d gone from strength to strength during the Six Nations and his performance in the last game against France was exceptional.
“I had a good chat with Phil (Dowson) at Saints and we both felt it was one of his best, if not the best games last Friday against Leicester in the Premiership Cup.”
Former England Saxons captain Mapletoft is relishing the opportunity to lead the A side and expects a tough challenge from Australia. He added: “I’m hugely honoured, can’t wait to get going.”
ENGLAND A SQUAD
FORWARDS: Joe Batley (Bristol), Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester), Greg Fisilau (Exeter), Joe Heyes (Leicester), Ted Hill (Bath), Emmanuel Iyogun (Northampton), Nathan Jibulu (Harlequins), Curtis Langdon (Northampton), Gabriel Oghre (Bristol), Tom Pearson (Northampton), Henry Pollock (Northampton), Vilikesa Sela (Bath), Tom Willis (Saracens)
BACKS: Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester), Oscar Beard (Harlequins), Joe Carpenter (Sale), Fraser Dingwall (c) (Northampton), Gabriel Ibitoye (Bristol), Archie McParland (Northampton), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Max Ojomoh (Bath), Will Porter (Harlequins), Tom Roebuck (Sale), Jamie Shillcock (Leicester)
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