2017 New Zealand U20s

[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.

[Stargazer]

Lots of subs made, including props, Falcon, a lock.

[Stargazer]

Fiji gets rid of the donut with a penalty goal. 49-3 NZ

[Stargazer]

I think the coach has now completely emptied the bench. Aumua and Clarke have come on for Sauni and Jordan.

[Stargazer]

The level of the game has dropped considerably in this second half, particularly since all those subs were made. The wind has become stronger at the same time, which is not in NZ's favour.

Most of the game is now played in NZ's half and Fiji look close to scoring ...

[Stargazer]

Back in the Fijian half and Christie scores a try. Also this one is converted by Ciarahn Matoe: 56-3

[Stargazer]

Another try scored by Christie after some good work from Matoe, who can still convert with these now gale force winds: 63 - 3.

[Stargazer]

Full time: NZ 63-3 Fiji

Good first game from the NZU20s, but hard to say where they're at with such a weak opponent.

It's difficult to pick stand-outs, because generally the whole starting line-up played well, but Coxon, Papalii and Christie would probably be my pick of the forwards, and Falcon and Leger of the backs. Of the reserves, Aumua and Matoe impressed.

[Stargazer]

New Zealand Under 20s to play Samoa (Tuesday 2 May, 5.00pm NZT)

1 Tim Farrell - Hawke’s Bay
2 Asafo Aumua - Wellington
3 Ryan Coxon - Waikato
4 Isaia Walker-Leawere - Wellington
5 Sam Caird - Waikato
6 Luke Jacobson (C) - Waikato
7 Adrian Choat - Auckland
8 Marino Mikaele-Tuu - Hawke’s Bay
9 Carlos Price - Wellington
10 Ciarahn Matoe - Taranaki
11 Caleb Clarke - Auckland
12 Thomas Umaga Jensen - Wellington
13 Braydon Ennor - Canterbury
14 Jona Nareki - Otago
15 Josh McKay - Canterbury

16 JP Sauni - Auckland
17 Ezekiel Lindenmuth - Auckland
18 Pouri Rakete-Stones - Hawke’s Bay
19 Samuel Slade - Auckland
20 Dalton Papalii - Auckland
21 Kemara Hauiti-Parapara - Wellington
22 Orbyn Leger - Counties Manukau
23 Tiaan Falcon - Hawke’s Bay

“We wanted to give as many players as possible the opportunity to state their case for selection against Australia later in the week, and have made 13 changes to the starting XV with a few different combinations we are trying out. 

http://www.allblacks.com/News/30718/nz-under-20-team-named-for-oceania-match-against-samoa

[Tim]

Anyone seen much of Orbyn Leger playing? I understand that he's a 12 who can play 10 as well?

[Stargazer]

@Tim I've only seen him play in the first game (at 12) v Fiji and he played very well. Hadn't seen him play before.