2017 New Zealand U20s

Stargazer

The full game can be viewed on the ARU FB page here: https://www.facebook.com/pg/rugbycomau/videos/?ref=page_internal

Rapido

I saw a bit of Ennor on Grassroots rugby the other week, same club as Kieran Reid who was playing, scored some cracking tries.

I don't normally watch club rugby so don't have an eye for picking a guy out at what is now 4th tier, but he looked good.

NTA

Fark these Aussie U20s are terrible.

Bovidae

I haven't seen either of the games so far but was keen to watch the game against Aust. A pity this isn't played on Sat afternoon so it doesn't clash with Super rugby.

Stargazer

@cgrant My screen was too small to see well what he looked like. Isaia Walker-Leawere wasn't on the original team sheet for today's game and the commentators were referring to him as Sam Slade.

Stargazer

The video of NZ U20 v Samoa U20 is also on YouTube:

Stargazer

The Australia v Fiji game is also livestreamed on YouTube:

NTA

Its barely "live" unless you count "multiple fuckups from an incompetent bunch of overprivileged numpties" as live.

Dice

@cgrant said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:

@Stargazer
The NZ Nr.4 was Walker-Leawere, not Slade. Walker-Leawere is a huge man with a moustache while Slade is a very tall, lanky guy.

Number 4 is definitely Sam Slade. He has a moustache as well. Commentators mentioned that Slade was a late addition to the team.

Dice

@Rapido said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:

I saw a bit of Ennor on Grassroots rugby the other week, same club as Kieran Reid who was playing, scored some cracking tries.

I don't normally watch club rugby so don't have an eye for picking a guy out at what is now 4th tier, but he looked good.

I liked Ennor a lot in school. He's a guy who can cover 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15. Has good skill, rugby IQ and plenty of toe.

cgrant

@Dice

OK, thanks a lot.

Rapido

Caleb Clarke looks like he has really good pace.

Quicker than his old man.

cgrant

What will be the team against Australia ?

LHP : Harrison Allan as Farrell looks a bit too light.
Hooker : Aumua looks like a man playing among boys. His LO throws were excellent too.
THP : Coxon has played the first two games. I don't know if he is fresh enough for the clash. Can Lindenmuth play on the TH ? He was OK during the few minutes he spent on the field.
Locks : Slade and Caird form a perfect combination. But we haven't seen Walker-Leawere yet.
Blindside flank : Jacobson is the captain but Papali'i looks more physical. Maybe Jacobson at Nr.8 ?
Openside flank : Christie or Choat ? They look very similar.
Nr.8 : Mikaele-Tuu or Jacobson ?
Half-back : Carlos Price impressed during the first half against Samoa. He is a young Aaron Smith : sharp pass, quick decision making. But is he injured ?
1st Five : Falcon.
2nd Five : Leger
Centre : Ennor (Tua not bad either)
Left wing : Caleb Clarke (outstanding prospect, a future All Black for sure)
Right wing : Faingaanuku
Full back : Mackay or Jordan ? Both from Canterbury and both very elusive.

NTA

@cgrant won't matter. NZ to win by at least 50. Aussies will be lucky to score a try.

Stargazer

@cgrant It should be a good game against the Aussies; just a pity it's at the same time as the Tahs v Blues game. One live, one replay it is.

Before the tournament, they said that all players would get enough game time, so I'd expect Lindenmuth to start at LH and Rakete-Stones at TH. Agree that Aumua is the best option at hooker. Don't know how many hookers are in the squad.

Wouldn't mind seeing Slade starting again, but he's already had two starts; not sure what the reason is for Walker-Leawere not playing. Injured? He was named on the bench v Fiji, but I don't remember how much game time he got.

Definitely, Mikaele-Tu'u at 8 if he's fit. I guess it depends on how badly he injured his ankle. He's by far the best in that position and hasn't had much game time yet. Assuming the captain will start, Jacobson will play at 6 (or 8 if Mikaele-Tu'u is not 100%). Or can he play at openside as well? I'd like to see Papali'i start, too, but Christie was good against Fiji.

Difficult choice between the three wings; Nareki and Clarke played well against Samoa, but impressed less against Fiji, in which game Faingaanuku was the best of the three.

Price and Falcon at 9 & 10 is a no-brainer, unless Price is injured. Leger should start at 12, indeed.
Centre? Hmm, difficult. Both weren't bad, but didn't really impress me either.
Fullback, both really good.

I'm wondering who will miss out if Perofeta, Jordie Barrett and/or Peter Umaga-Jensen are picked for the JWC squad. Is Perofeta a specialist 10 or 12? Can he cover both positions; maybe also 13? I kind of expect Jordie to play fullback if he isn't picked for the ABs, because that's where he has played for the Canes and Canterbury (and there's already enough cover for 10 & 12). I'm not sure for how long Peter U-J has been out, but he hasn't played for a long time, I think, and IMO it wouldn't be a good thing if they leave anyone out for him. They did that last year, and he could only play one game (again due to injury; he breaks easily, which is sad for such a young lad). If I'm correct, he can cover fullback and both wings.

Edited to add that Alex Fidow has joined the squad and will play against Australia, if fit. Not sure whether he's a LH, TH or can play both.

Stargazer

NZU20 team to play Australia (Sat 6 May, 9.00pm):

Ezekiel Lindenmuth - Auckland
Asafo Aumua - Wellington
Pouri Rakete-Stones - Hawke’s Bay
Isaia Walker-Leawere - Wellington
Sam Caird - Waikato
Dalton Papalii - Auckland
Tom Christie - Canterbury
Luke Jacobson (C) - Waikato
Ereatara Enari (VC) - Canterbury
Tiaan Falcon - Hawke’s Bay
Tima Faingaanuku - Ta$man
Orbyn Leger - Counties Manukau
Tamati Tua - Northland
Josh McKay - Canterbury
Will Jordan - Ta$man
JP Sauni - Auckland
Harrison Allan - Canterbury
Alex Fidow - Wellington
Jacob Pierce - Auckland
Marino Mikaele-Tu'u - Hawke’s Bay
Kemara Hauiti-Parapara - Wellington
Thomas Umaga-Jensen - Wellington
Caleb Clarke - Auckland

Four players will get their first start in the tournament. Carlos Price (ankle) and Brayden Ennor (knee) were not considered due to injury.

http://www.allblacks.com/News/30739/nz-under-20-team-named-for-oceania-decider

Stargazer

They've done what they said before the tournament, that is, giving everyone game time and starts; so this is not necessarily the strongest line-up.

I'm not sold on Jacobson, but with him being the captain, I can understand they've made an exception for him and are giving him 3 starts. Just a pity this means that Mikaele-Tu'u is on the bench.

Had forgotten that Enari is in the squad; he wasn't in the line-ups for Fiji and Samoa. As he's already played Mitre 10 Cup (and one SR game), he should be up to it. Will be interesting to see how he compares with Price. Also looking forward to seeing how the halves combo between Enari and Falcon works.

Also, finally a chance to have another look at Walker-Leawere, who's now in the starting line-up.

Didn't expect McKay at the right wing; don't know anything about him, what's his preferred position? Or is he a utility back?

Bovidae

I haven't seen either NZ game so how has Christie played? Papali'i could be moved to 7 and Jacobson to 6.

SammyC

@Stargazer said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:

Didn't expect McKay at the right wing; don't know anything about him, what's his preferred position? Or is he a utility back?

Fullback/ First five.

Another one off the Christchurch Boys High production line.

Stargazer

@Bovidae said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:

I haven't seen either NZ game so how has Christie played? Papali'i could be moved to 7 and Jacobson to 6.

Christie played very well during the first game v Fiji. Scored two tries. He didn't play against Samoa.

The Silver Fern

2017 New Zealand U20s