2019 under 20's

[Number 10]

FFS. An eight man NZ scrum is pushed back by a seven man Australian one and we lose possession. Halftime, NZ down 0-12, Australia currently down to 14 men

[98blueandgold]

I’ve said it before but no. 4-10 are the weakest I’ve seen for us at this level. Need Vaai and Fanders to play but nothing outside that.

[Number 10]

Geez, 98, if our eight-man scrum could demolish the Australian seven-man one that time, why couldnt we do it earlier?

Yep, 4-10 does not inspire confidence.

[98blueandgold]

0-17 no good now, multiple chances for NZ but no firepower at all!!

[Number 10]

Australia go 17-0 up. 65 minutes gone.

[Number 10]

Another try to Australia - a driving maul, 22-0, 70 minutes gone.

[Number 10]

Converted, 24-0.

[Tim]

Cripes. Any of our team playing well?

[Number 10]

Fulltime Australia 24, New Zealand less than one

Worst ever defeat in the history of the NZ U20 team (started 2008).

First time have ever failed to score.

The 24-point loss is worse than the 12-point loss (21-33) to England in 2013.

[98blueandgold]

Absolutely disgraceful how poor we were. Being held to 0 and never even looking like scoring. Would be the worst age grade backline I’ve seen ever from NZ! If Super players don’t get released we might struggle to win a game.

[Tim]

@98blueandgold Move Gregory to 12?

[98blueandgold]

@Tim wldnt help at All unfortunately.

[antipodean]

This post is deleted!

[98blueandgold]

Still disappointed after watching that. Many players have played there way out of the sqaud but I'm not sure where they can go. Cant see Clarke or Nanai-Seturo being released.
Only others who may come in are McClutchie for some game management at 10 and Darry to help Vaai at lock.
Cant see a 9 or 7 to help us anywhere.

1 Ollie Norris (Waikato)
2 Kianu Kereru Symes – captain (Hawke’s Bay)
3 Kaliopasi Uluilakepa (Manawatu)
4 Sam Darry
5 Tupou Vaa’i
6 Simon Parker
7 ????????
8 Devan Flanders (Hawke’s Bay)
9 ?????? But Probably Funaki
10 Lincoln McClutchie or Trask
11 Faingaanuku
12 Billy Proctor
13 Caleb Clarke
14 Nanai-seturo
15 Danny Toala (Hawke’s Bay)
Reserves:
16 Robb Cobb
17 George Dyer (Waikato)
18
19 Tamaiti Williams (Canterbury)
20
21 Cullen Grace (Canterbury)
22 Kaylum Boshier (Taranaki)
23 Scott Gregory
24 Simon Parker (Waikato)
25 Taufa Funaki (Auckland)
26 Rivez Reihana (Waikato)
27 Quinn Tupaea (Waikato)
28 Lalomilo Lalomilo (Bay of Plenty)

[sparky]

What's Niko Jones up to?

[Yeahtheboys]

@Tim was he not the worst player out there?

[Tim]

@Yeahtheboys I didn't see the game.

I thought he was a midfielder, not a wing.

[Higgins]

It sounds like none of the blame for the debacle can be aimed at Mr. Craig Philpott, unless he was the sole selector of the squad in the first place.

[Chris B.]

@Higgins Haven't watched the game, but the starting XV appears to be from Canterbury and the central North Island.

No decent youngsters from Auckland or Wellington? That's a surprise in an age group team!

[Stargazer]

@Chris-B I can understand Wellington not having reps in the starting XV. The last few years, Hawke's Bay school teams have been kicking Wellington schools' asses in the Hurricanes competition. By the way, Billy Proctor wasn't released by the Hurricanes. The large number of Canterbury and Bay of Plenty players can probably be explained by the U19s tournament last year, which BoP won and Canterbury were runners-up.

Another thing I've noticed is that a few of the boys that were selected for the NZ Schools teams from Auckland schools the last few years, are now listed as coming from other provinces. Examples: Rivez Reihana (St Kent's - now Waikato), Chay Fihaki (Sacred Heart - Canterbury), Isaiah Punivai (St Kent's - Canterbury) etc. These players have returned to their home provinces. Auckland schools' poaching doesn't help Auckland rugby being represented in NZ U20s, it seems.

Haven't watched the game yet, so not commenting on the game, except for THAT IS A SHIT RESULT!!