SR U20s 2025
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@Mauss Great analysis again.
Often at age-group level the loose forward role seems to be geared to the player's strengths (mobility, speed, ball-carrying, etc). Even from his early years at HBHS Mathis was often stationed out wide to use his express pace. He was also a middle distance runner at school so has the endurance to go with the speed. If you look at photos Mathis is slowly adding weight with S&C since leaving school.
I've seen a lot of Mathis and Fale and they are completely different body shapes. Fale is shorter and muscular but is quick (refer to the try he set up in one of the NZ-Aust schools tests).
It will be interesting to see the SR U20 squads, and from a Chiefs perspective I hope the three players in the NZ Sevens programme are allowed to play in Taupō. Jayden Sa is definitely in the Chiefs U20s, but must be injured currently. As far as other loose forwards to throw into the mix, I'd add Randall Baker from the Blues.
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@Bovidae said in SR U20s 2025:
Often at age-group level the loose forward role seems to be geared to the player's strengths (mobility, speed, ball-carrying, etc). Even from his early years at HBHS Mathis was often stationed out wide to use his express pace. He was also a middle distance runner at school so has the endurance to go with the speed. If you look at photos Mathis is slowly adding weight with S&C since leaving school.
It definitely makes sense to focus on the strengths but seeing how Mathis approached some of those breakdowns at NZ Schools level did have me a bit worried for a while. I don’t think he’ll ever be a really conventional flanker but when you can do the things he does, I suppose you don’t have to be. Then again, the thing which also really stood out to me with Mathis, especially at NPC level, was his ability to repeat his technical actions, in the tackle, carry and clean. This might be a bit of a strange comparison, but his body control kind of reminded me of someone like Van der Flier. Just really accurate in his execution and ability to repeat.
Fale is going to be a very good player. Like Mathis, he’s put on a lot of weight and I suspect he still needs to readjust his conditioning somewhat. It was also noticeable at the Global Youth Sevens where he wasn’t really able to sustain the same level for the entire game. But I’m sure that’ll come in the next year or so.
I’m going to try and watch some more of Randall Baker. I’ve seen a few games in which he played but he hasn’t been that noticeable to me. But I’ll try to look a bit closer. I must admit I’m more excited by the current Blues U19 group: Cruiz Simpson, Aio Keith, Caleb Woodley and Noah Gregory all have really impressed me in the past year. Again, if they have a great SR U20 tournament, no reason they couldn’t make the NZ squad this year already.
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What happens between the U20 squads and the super rugby 2nd 15 like the Hunters?
Who takes priority if there are playera in both teams? -
@Left-Right-Out-0 said in SR U20s 2025:
What happens between the U20 squads and the super rugby 2nd 15 like the Hunters?
Who takes priority if there are playera in both teams?The U20 tournament is in about one months time so those players will be focused on preparation for that between now and then. It will be dependent on whether the SR U20 team has a warm-up game on the same day as a Development game. There will be a few that are now part of the main SR squad as injury cover (e.g., Letiu) that would exclude them from playing U20s, but generally they are available to play as it's only an 8-day tournament.
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@Bovidae thank you.
Will look forward to the teams being named. Interested in both the Chiefs and Canes inparticular. For no other reason than i live closeat to both and have seen both teams/provincial teams play over the past 6 months.
Chiefs forwards in particular look mighty impressive. Great tight 5. Canes backs look fast and solid on attack.
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Any updates on squads naming?
Cant find anything -
I haven't seen anything either despite the SM post by the Hurricanes.
From what I can see, most teams will be having warmup games on March 1 and 8. The Chiefs U20s are playing a BOP Wasps team at Rotorua BHS on the 1st. The Highlanders play an Otago/Southland selection on the same day.
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Any idea how the Hurricanes Chiefs u20 game went today?
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@Left-Right-Out-0 Was there definitely a game?
The Hurricanes U20s do play the Crusaders U20s at NZCIS on Saturday.
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I saw this. A lot of 2024 U18 players in the 1st half team, including some from outside the Chiefs region (Balenasia, Tasmania, Uini-Faiva, Masiri). The 2nd half team looks to have more of the expected U20 players but there are a few missing. Aisake Vakasiuola had an operation post-NPC and his arm was in a sling, so must not be fit yet.
1:30 pm Sat.
Their opposition.
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@Bovidae The graph intern has managed to butcher some of those names, wow. All three Feilding High players have their names spelt wrong. It's Balenaisa, Johnston, and Maisiri.
Also, is "Joey Tuamtine" supposed to be Joey Taumateine? Wouldn't he be with the NZ Sevens?
If I take my pedant cap off for a second - apologies to the graph intern - it's a great looking squad. The Chiefs U20s should be one of the favourites this year, even without Mathis and Vakasiuola.
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That was from the BOP FB page. The Chiefs may release an official team list with provincial affiliations. I was surprised to see so many ex-FAHS players in the team. Johnston moved to Taranaki but I'm not sure about the others.
Taumateine hasn't played for the AB7s in recent tournaments so it makes sense he plays XVs. Not just Mathis, also Vaenuku could be involved again. Waisake Salabiau isn't playing either.
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@Mauss great call out.
Any other teams named or games this week?
I know the Canes are playing Crusaders in Wellington on Saturday. No team list yet?
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@Bovidae said in SR U20s 2025:
Waisake Salabiau isn't playing either.
I also thought Salabiau would still be eligible this year but a few sites - like Itsrugby and Ultimaterugby - give his birth year as 2004. Do you happen to know whether that's accurate?
