WR U20 Championship 2025
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@Mamuka said in WR U20 Championship 2025:
Hello , what are the heights of Vakasiuola and Sa?
Tengblad is easily the tallest of the locks chosen. I've seen Vakasiuola listed as about 1.97 m (more with the Ardie hair), and Sa is a little shorter.
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@Bovidae said in WR U20 Championship 2025:
My top XV would be this:
1 Pole
2 Oudenryn (it will be Letiu)
3 Wallace
4 Vakasiuola
5 Tengblad
6 Sa
7 Mathis
8 Bason
9 Pledger
10 Simpson/Cole
11 Vaenuku
12 Wiseman
13 Cameron
14 Kunawave
15 SolomonThe loose forward and midfield combinations will be hotly contested. I would select Sa as a 6, not a lock.
My own preferences are pretty similar to this, including Sa as a blindside option.
One thing I'll say though, after watching way too many defensive sets from the U20 TRC, is that Xavier Treacy and Cooper Roberts put in big defensive shifts during that tournament. I'm not sure you can leave them out. Treacy was also a very reliable lineout option.
I would probably put Vakasiuola on the bench, to provide impact in the final 20-30 minutes. I'd like to see Cameron have a shot at 12 since I'm just intrigued to see what he can offer there.
I'm a bit miffed at Tofilau not being selected, I thought he did more than enough to earn his spot. Ahloo, on the other hand, can probably count himself a bit lucky, as I didn't think he had a good tournament. He's still a promising player, so hopefully he has an improved showing in Italy.
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Milton Haig has stepped down. Credit to the person that suggested it yesterday.
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"I do not feel I’m fully aligned with the coaching group around things like playing style, so have made the difficult decision to step aside to give the team its best chance of reaching its full potential".
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England lost Wales when Pollock got called up to the senior team. He will be away with the lions so England won't be as strong as the looked early in the 6 nations. France will lose some players to the NZ tour. Players like tuilagi will probably be with the seniors in NZ. NZ have a great chance of winning this with a easy group. Ireland came last in the 6 nations
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@zedsdeadbaby said in WR U20 Championship 2025:
Milton Haig has stepped down.
Is it time to parachute in the Professor for another quick fix?
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in WR U20 Championship 2025:
@zedsdeadbaby said in WR U20 Championship 2025:
Milton Haig has stepped down.
Is it time to parachute in the Professor for another quick fix?
Isn't he with the black ferns?
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@Mauss said in WR U20 Championship 2025:
I'm a bit miffed at Tofilau not being selected, I thought he did more than enough to earn his spot. Ahloo, on the other hand, can probably count himself a bit lucky, as I didn't think he had a good tournament.
As I said when the RC squad was named, I don't think they've got their prop selections right. Nothing has really changed, even with the addition of Wallace. Italy and Georgia will be a test for the scrum.
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@hikastags said in WR U20 Championship 2025:
I would've thought Joey Taumateine and Tito-Harris would have been there.
Taumateine might still be injured.
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Logan Wallace is training with the Canes atm and looks to have beefed up a bit, hopefully this helps with our scrum.
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I don't understand why New Zealand teams in Super Rugby U20 were so weak in defense. I have only seen highlights, because in Georgia we didn’t have access to full broadcasts, but it's still very noticeable that they don't focus on defense. That's why European teams are better. It's very sad. I think New Zealand rugby should revise their priorities in the style of playing. I also think defense will be the first problem for New Zealand at the World Cup.
