2017 New Zealand U20s

[KiwiMurph]

A further two players will be added prior to the tournament, with selectors hopeful that Blues first-five Stephen Perofeta will be recovered from injury in time to join the squad.

[Bovidae]

@Whites72 Price was poached by St Kents from BOP and is now in Wellington.

I'm not too familiar with many of the players from other provinces. Of the Waikato players, I rate Jacobson. He played for the Chiefs in the Brisbane 10s and can play 6/8. Caird is a lock who played a few preseason games for Waikato last year.

Of the forwards, Jacobson, Papali'i, Fidow, Aumua, Mikaele -Tuu and Walker-Leawere were all in last year's team. Papali'i is an excellent prospect. In the backs, Barrett, Enari, Leger and McKay return.

There are quite a few sons of ABs/provincial players in this squad (e.g. Clarke, Leger, Pierce, Falcon). It's hard to know how they compare to the 2016 U20s until we see them play. As I said earlier, the tight five will be the key to succeeding.

[Billy Tell]

@Bovidae said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:

@Whites72 Price was poached by St Kents from BOP and is now in Wellington.

I'm not too familiar with many of the players from other provinces. Of the Waikato players, I rate Jacobson. He played for the Chiefs in the Brisbane 10s and can play 6/8. Caird is a lock who played a few preseason games for Waikato last year.

Of the forwards, Jacobson, Papali'i, Fidow, Aumua, Mikaele -Tuu and Walker-Leawere were all in last year's team. Papali'i is an excellent prospect. In the backs, Barrett, Enari, Leger and McKay return.

There are quite a few sons of ABs/provincial players in this squad (e.g. Clarke, Leger, Pierce, Falcon). It's hard to know how they compare to the 2016 U20s until we see them play. As I said earlier, the tight five will be the key to succeeding.

That's a novel concept

[profitius]

The weather in Georgia is expected to be hot and sunny. The right 5 might not be as important as last year in Manchester.

[Rapido]

@Bovidae said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:

@Whites72 Price was poached by St Kents from BOP and is now in Wellington.

I'm not too familiar with many of the players from other provinces. Of the Waikato players, I rate Jacobson. He played for the Chiefs in the Brisbane 10s and can play 6/8. Caird is a lock who played a few preseason games for Waikato last year.

Of the forwards, Jacobson, Papali'i, Fidow, Aumua, Mikaele -Tuu and Walker-Leawere were all in last year's team. Papali'i is an excellent prospect. In the backs, Barrett, Enari, Leger and McKay return.

There are quite a few sons of ABs/provincial players in this squad (e.g. Clarke, Leger, Pierce, Falcon). It's hard to know how they compare to the 2016 U20s until we see them play. As I said earlier, the tight five will be the key to succeeding.

Don't think McKay was in last year's team. 10s were Va'a and Perofeta.

[Bovidae]

@Rapido I was using this list.

New Zealand Under 20

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae @Rapido McKay was a late addition to the NZ U20s squad for the 2016 Oceania Tournament as injury replacement for Caleb Makene and wasn't in the JWC squad.

[Stargazer]

Final NZU20s squad for the Oceania U20s:

Forwards:
Harrison Allan - Canterbury
Asafo Aumua - Wellington
Sam Caird - Waikato
Adrian Choat - Auckland
Tom Christie - Canterbury
Ryan Coxon - Waikato
Tim Farrell - Hawkes Bay
Alex Fidow - Wellington
Luke Jacobson (C) - Waikato
Ezekiel Lindenmuth - Auckland
Marino Mikaele-Tuu - Hawkes Bay
Dalton Papalii - Auckland
Jacob Pierce - Auckland
John (JP) Sauni - Auckland
Samuel Slade - Auckland
Pouri Rakete-Stones - Hawkes Bay
Isaia Walker-Leawere - Wellington

Backs:
Caleb Clarke - Auckland
Ereatara Enari (VC) - Canterbury
Braydon Ennor - Canterbury
Tima Faingaanuku - Ta$man
Tiaan Falcon - Hawkes Bay
Will Jordan - Ta$man
Kemara Hauiti-Parapara - Wellington
Orbyn Leger - Counties
Ciarahn Matoe - Taranaki
Josh McKay - Canterbury
Jona Nareki - Otago
Carlos Price - Wellington
Tamati Tua - Northland
Thomas Umaga-Jensen - Wellington

Not considered due to Investec Super Rugby commitments:
Jordie Barrett - Taranaki

Players not considered due to injury:
Stephen Perofeta - Taranaki
Peter Umaga Jensen - Wellington

Ciarahn Matoe (Taranaki) included due to the unavailability of Jordie Barrett and Stephen Perofeta. Thomas Umaga-Jensen returns from injury, but not his twin brother.

http://www.allblacks.com/News/30648/final-squad-for-oceania-u20-tournament-named

[Tim]

Alex Fidow out, replaced by Robb Cobb.

Perofeta returning for the Blues via club rugby.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11844092

[Stargazer]

By the way, all matches of the Oceania Tournament will be streamed LIVE on www.rugby.com.au, the ARU Facebook page, the Oceania Rugby website and/or the Oceania Rugby YouTube channel. (One of these should work, right?)

[Stargazer]

New Zealand Under 20 team to face Fiji (Friday 28 April, 7.00pm NZT):

1 Harrison Allan - Canterbury
2 JP Sauni - Auckland
3 Ryan Coxon - Waikato
4 Jacob Pierce - Auckland
5 Sam Slade - Auckland
6 Dalton Papalii (VC) - Auckland
7 Tom Christie - Canterbury
8 Luke Jacobson (C) - Waikato
9 Kemara Hauiti Parapara - Wellington
10 Tiaan Falcon - Hawke’s Bay
11 Jona Nareki - Otago
12 Orbyn Leger - Counties Manukau
13 Tamati Tua - Northland
14 Tima Faingaanuku - Ta$man
15 Will Jordan - Ta$man

16 Asafo Aumua - Wellington
17 Tim Farrell - Hawke’s Bay
18 Pouri Rakete-Stones - Hawke’s Bay
19 Isaia Walker-Leawere - Wellington
20 Adrian Choat - Auckland
21 Carlos Price - Wellington
22 Ciarahn Matoe - Taranaki
23 Caleb Clarke - Auckland

http://www.allblacks.com/News/30691/nz-u20-team-named-for-oceania-opener-against-fiji

[Stargazer]

Highlanders go on My Sky to watch this game. Quite keen to see how our U20s boys go this year.

Link: http://www.rugby.com.au/news/2017/04/28/05/08/oceania-u20s-live-match-1

[Stargazer]

Good first 13 minutes. After two penalty goals by Falcon, JP Sauni is the first to score a try. Falcon converts and it's 13 - 0 to NZ.

[Stargazer]

One-way traffic so far in this game, which is played almost entirely in the Fijian half. Strong wind there in Oz; not sure whether it's in anyone's favour. Maybe NZ's, but Falcon's boot is on target and scores another one: 16-0.

Scrums looked good for NZ.

[taniwharugby]

man that Fijian 3 looks HUUUGEASMUNGUS!

[Stargazer]

@taniwharugby Yeah, scary, haha.

The Fijians make a lot of handling errors. If they get that right, we might get a better game.

That try by Leger was great, by the way. Falcon should give Beaudy some kicking lessons.

23-0 NZ

[Stargazer]

Try to Will Jordan, again converted by Falcon: 30-0.

I hope Fiji will improve during the game, because it really looks like a warm-up match at the moment. So many knock-ons.

[Stargazer]

Dalton Papalii scores another one in the corner. Falcon misses his first from a difficult angle.

Half time: 35 - 0 NZ.

It will be interesting to see how the 2nd half goes with that wind.
Kiwis looking good so far.

[Stargazer]

Missed that first try to Will Jordan. Falcon has converted it: NZ lead 42-0.

[Stargazer]

Great pass from Falcon to Will Jordan, who scores a hat-trick. Tima Faingaanuku is a strong lad, gained quite a few metres before that try. Falcon converts again: 49-0.