2018 New Zealand U20s

[Rapido]

I've only been watching the last 20, with front row subs already on, by gee - our scrum is getting smaaaaaaaashed. Were the starters any better?

[Stargazer]

@rapido Not much better. Locks are our weakest position, I think. Props, the verdict is still out.

[Machpants]

I'm still happy the Kiwi way, teach em rugby first then up size em for the scrums later. I don't care if we lose every U20 JWC from now on, it's all about building for the future

[Stargazer]

Time's up.

[Stargazer]

Oh shut up ref. That was a great NZ scrum.

[Machpants]

And that was a ref call from the bottom drawer

[Machpants]

@stargazer said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

Oh shut up ref. That was a great NZ scrum.

Yeah he's made his mind up before the balls in

[Stargazer]

And now it's a try to the Aussies. That's a present from the ref.

[Machpants]

well done Ozzie only beaten by over two tries, cocky little shits.

[Stargazer]

Full time: NZ 43 - 28 Oz

[Stargazer]

Australia is in the same pool as NZ in the JWC. I'm not afraid.

[98blueandgold]

I wish Farrell wasn't inj. He was top prospect. Maybe Suafoa will be available by then, he is a solid lock.

[cgrant]

Poor last 20 minutes from a NZ point of view : total lack of commitment, miracle passes, possession kicked away, lack of structure in defence, no scrum. Fortunately, the first 60 minutes were very good.

[Stargazer]

The World Rugby U20 Championship start on 31 May, so it won't be long until the squad will be named. It will be interesting to see who will be in and who will miss out.

[Stargazer]

@98blueandgold Yes, Farrell has been so unlucky with injuries. He looked so good in the first game of last year's JWC. Then that injury happened and he went home, and we all thought: "he'll be back next year'. And now he will miss this year's tournament, too. I feel sorry for him, and it's not good for the team either.

I can't remember ever seeing Suafoa play.

[98blueandgold]

@stargazer from memory he is a big powerful lock. Maybe Vaai, he was in the training squad but has only turned 18 do might be a bit green.

[NTA]

I said "by fifty" not "by fifteen".

Soft.

[cgrant]

The scrum is a real weakness for this NZ side. Yet the props are physically huge. Can Mike Cron come to their help just before the WC ?

[Rebound]

@cgrant
Wasn't the scrum is a similar issue last year, hammered by Aussie in the scrums but hammer them on the scoreboard. When the WC came about the scrum was quite strong. So maybe wait until then to pass judgement

[Stargazer]

New Zealand U20 squad for the World Rugby U20 Championship:

Forwards:

John Akau'ola-Laula - Auckland
Sione Asi - Manawatu
Tom Christie (Captain) - Canterbury
Rob Cobb - Auckland
Devan Flanders - Hawkes Bay
Tom Florence - Taranaki
Ricky Jackson - Otago
Tevita Mafileo - Bay of Plenty
Laghlan McWhannell - Waikato
Xavier Numia - Wellington
Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa - Auckland
Hoskins Sotutu - Auckland
Flynn Thomas - Southland
Will Tremain - Hawkes Bay
Will Tucker - Canterbury
Kaliopasi Uluilakepa - Wellington

Backs:

Caleb Clarke - Auckland
Leicester Faingaanuku - Ta$man
Scott Gregory - Northland
Vilimoni Koroi - Otago
Harry Plummer - Auckland
Billy Proctor - Wellington
Jay Renton - Southland
Xavier Roe - Waikato
Jamie Spowart - Ta$man
Bailyn Sullivan - Waikato
Tanielu Tele'a -Auckland
Kaleb Trask - Bay of Plenty

Players not considered due to injury
Tim Farrell - Hawke's Bay
Brayden Iose - Manawatu
Will Jordan - Ta$man
Bradley Slater - Taranaki
Cameron Suafoa - Auckland

Captain Tom Christie and Blues winger Caleb Clarke return from the champion 2017 team, while at the other end of the scale there are eight players that will be eligible for selection again next year.

Experience also comes in the form of 12 players who have played at Mitre 10 Cup level and 27 of the 28 players having been involved in an Oceania Championship campaign.

“Laghlan McWhannell was the standout lock at Oceania and he is complimented by the two-metre duo of Will Tucker and John Akau’ola Laula. Our captain, Tom Christie, leads an exciting loose forward trio that have been absolutely tireless in their efforts on the field.

“Vilimoni Koroi adds a point of difference in the back three alongside the genuine size and speed in the likes of Caleb Clarke and Leicester Faingaanuku, we are looking forward to seeing what they can create on the field.”

Under 20 Highlights
• Two returning players from 2017 (Tom Christie and Caleb Clarke)
• Eight players are eligible again in 2019 (Rob Cobb, Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, Devan Flanders, Kaleb Trask, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke, Leicester Faingaanuku and Scott Gregory)
• 12 players have already played Mitre 10 Cup
• 12 of 14 Provincial Unions represented
• Only Xavier Numia (returning from injury) didn’t play at Oceania (Caleb Clarke played at the 2017 tournament
• The World Rugby Under 20 Championship has run since 2008, with New Zealand winning six of the 10 titles
• New Zealand Players have won the Junior Player of the Year on three occasions, Luke Braid in 2008, Aaron Cruden in 2009 and Julian Savea in 2010

New Zealand Under 20 schedule (matches will be broadcast live on TVNZ Duke)

New Zealand v Japan
Thursday 31 May
7am (NZT)

New Zealand v Wales
Monday 4 June
2.30am (NZT)

New Zealand v Australia
Friday 8 June
7am (NZT)

http://www.allblacks.com/News/32392/new-zealand-under-20-squad-named-for-world-rugby-championship