Young Gun – Tom Woolstencroft – Bath & England U20s hooker

England's problems at hooker in New Zealand are not just limited to the senior squad, the U20s have already called up reinforcements of their own for the JWC.
But in Bath's Tom Woolstencroft the England age-group outfit have a man who has already proved he is capable of stepping into any occasion.
The 19-year-old flew to New Zealand after his England U20s teammates as injuries to Rob Webber and Ross Batty meant he was on standby for Bath's Amlin Cup final.
Woolstencroft trained with the 1st XV all week and, although he did not make his first-team bow in Cardiff, the experience of training was a huge boost for a man who converted from a back-rower only last season.
And with Leicester's Harry Thacker ruled out of this year's JWC with injury and Cameron Neild called up as a replacement, there is a chance for Woolstencroft to step into England's No.2 jersey.
“To be involved with the Bath first-team was just fantastic,” said Woolstencroft, who made his England U20s bow off the bench against France this year.
“Any kind of chance you get to train with them is such good experience.
“Just to be involved in front-row training was brilliant and to be around that sort of quality you cannot help but improve.
“That experience gives me a lot of confidence in what I can do and training has been going well with the guys in New Zealand.
“This is a clean slate for us. The boys last year did fantastically to win it but we as a team have our own goals. It's about performance rather than result and if that means that we bring the trophy home then that would be great.”
In order to get some game time under his belt in preparation, Woolstencroft spent time after the Six Nations on loan at Rosslyn Park in National One. Famed for their pack power, Park proved to be Woolstencroft's perfect finishing school which he believes will stand him in great stead down the line.
“The plan was to go out on loan to Coventry but that was delayed by the Six Nations and I never actually got to play for them which was a shame,” he said.
“But I wanted to be playing games and be ready for this summer and the JWC so, after the Six Nations, I went to Rosslyn Park to get some game time.
“That was a great experience, they finished second in the end and I loved my time there.
“National One is a fantastic level, what the guys might lack in skill they more than make up in physicality, it was something else!”
The transition from back to front-row was suggested by former England international Danny Grewcock when he joined Bath's academy.
And with lineout guru Simon Hardy to work on his throwing once a week and Neal Hatley teaching him scrummaging's dark arts, it is a change that is going well thus far.
“This is my first proper year as a hooker,” he said.  “Partly down to my body shape and also the way I played, Danny (Grewcock) and the guys decided it would be best.
“I knew in the end I wasn't going to make it as a back-row, partly because of my height.
“Throwing, in particular, has been tough for me but working with someone like Simon Hardy has been fantastic.”