NZ Schools Rugby 2025
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Both games shouldn't have been as close as they ended up. A glorious day for afternoon rugby.
The NZS named two CCs - Siale Pahulu and Jake Hutchings.
A few comments about the NZS squad looking ahead to the games against Aust U18.
- Still have problems in the scrum despite new props.
- Both hookers struggled to throw straight at times.
- Neither starting lock is that tall, nor the 6 and 7. The reserve lock (Jacob Carter) is the tallest of their locks. Both NZ Barbarian locks are taller.
- So set piece could be an issue, which will have flow-on effects for possession.
- Plenty of speed in the outside backs.
But hey, at least Tito finally won a game at this level.
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@Bovidae said in NZ Schools Rugby 2025:
Still have problems in the scrum despite new props.
Cody Renata isn't a loosehead prop and the issues really started when Qaranivalu went off early in the second half. Hunter didn"t fare much better there either - though Tulimanu, the Barbarian reserve tighthead, is very solid in the scrum - so I'm not sure what the play is, as far as reserve loosehead is concerned.
I thought Marco Miln was the standout player of the game, some good snipes around the ruck and clever decision-making. Jimmy Taylor was also tidy in his execution at first five, although goal-kicking will be a worry. The NZS backline still doesn't work for me: I would put Stanley at 12 and either Guerin, Pahulu or Morey at 13.
The lineout will probably be the biggest work-on. Platt and Weaver worked hard around the field but lack height. Similarly with Katoa and Lawrence, although I was impressed with the physicality and game-breaking abilities of both players.
For the Barbarians, I thought Nathan Stephens looked very threatening throughout the game, while the bench players really lifted the quality. You can easily make the argument that all of Coulthard, Solomona, Hill, Kamana and Kennedy should've started, on the basis of their play in the second half. The game might've been a bit closer throughout, if that were the case.
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Also, Louie Treacy must be the younger brother of Xavier as they look alike. He had a bad foot injury so I don't think he will be playing the Māori. I still reckon Alex Arnold should have been in either the NZS or Barbarians team.
Flynn Morey was added to the NZS squad from the Barbarians U18s, and fellow St Peter's player Izzy Kamana from the Māori to Barbarians.
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You can watch this game live on Rugby.com.au's YouTube channel. Aust U18s play NZ Schools next Monday.
Australia U18 v Australian Schoolboys
12pm AEST Thursday September 25
Viking Park, CanberraAustralia U18 and Australian Schoolboys name teams for Canberra fixture
The Australia U18 and Australian Schoolboys teams have been named ahead of their showdown at Viking Park in Canberra on Thursday.
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@hikastags said in NZ Schools Rugby 2025:
Is Siale Pahulu signed to the Warriors?
Did you read that somewhere? It would be strange to make him one of the co-captains if he was committed to RL.
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I watched the game between the Australian U18s and Australia Schoolboys. It wasn’t a particularly close game, as you can tell by the scoreline.
Remarkably, the Australia U18s blew multiple gilt-edges chances so the scoreline could’ve easily been even more ugly. Then again, it’s hard to take much from this game because the talent disparity was quite substantial. Australian Schoolboys had a decent scrum and some talented players (the tighthead Daly, the lock Finegan and the number 8 Rylands) but you can’t say they were a good side.
The Australia U18s almost completely changed their side at halftime, so most players got good minutes to show the coaches what they got. In the first half, the standouts for the U18s, in my view, were Treyvon Pritchard, the 12, who kicks, passes and runs well. And Ed Kasprowicz, the 2m-ish lock, who looks like a handful at lineout time.
During the second half, Angus Grover, the halfback, continues to look like the real deal. I’d expect him to start against NZ Schools and his contest with Marco Miln should be a good one. Dylan Simmons, the loose forward, was also very impressive, showing both physicality through the middle and genuine pace out wide. Risati, the young, much-hyped playmaker, also had some slicing runs through the Aussie Schoolboys’ defence. The Australia U18s have pace pretty much throughout their entire team.
As far as the upcoming series with NZS is concerned, I’d have the Australian U18s as comfortable favourites. I don’t think there’s necessarily a talent gap but the Australian U18s look much clearer on their individual roles in defence and attack, whereas the NZ Schools’ players often looked disconnected when shooting up in defence and unsure when attacking through their backline.
I’m also not sure the NZS defence has the right priorities for playing the Australian U18s: their focus seems to be on bringing line speed but the Australia U18s won’t mind keeping the ball close around the ruck in response. The latter have an abundance of big carriers and clever game managers, so the first job for their opposition should be to deny them quick ball at the ruck. NZ Schools, unfortunately, seemed barely interested in contesting the breakdown against the NZ Barbarian U18s, which doesn’t bode particularly well.
That said, there’s obviously talent in the NZ Schools’ team so hopefully they’ve been able to use these past two weeks to get some cohesion into the side. Should be an interesting series.
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I'm not expecting NZS to win either based on what I watched live. Generally, all the NZ teams conceded far too many points which wasn't just down to better attack. When the NZS team last toured Aust they had difference makers like Mathis but I don't see any of those in the 2025 version.
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@Bovidae said in NZ Schools Rugby 2025:
All Blacks YouTube.
Big influx of schoolboy rugby union players
