2018 New Zealand U20s

[Tim]

Under 20 squad named for Oceania Rugby Championship

Forwards: <

John Akau'ola-Laula - Auckland
Suetena Asomua - Counties Manukau
Tom Christie (Captain) - Canterbury
Rob Cobb - Auckland
Devan Flanders - Hawke's Bay
Tom Florence - Taranaki
Ricky Jackson - Otago
Tevita Mafileo - Bay of Plenty
Laghlan McWhannell - Waikato
Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa - Auckland
Bradley Slater - Taranaki
Hoskins Sotutu - Auckland
Flynn Thomas - Southland
Will Tucker - Canterbury
Kaliopasi Uluilakepa - Wellington

Backs:
Leicester Faingaanuku - Ta$man
Will Jordan - Ta$man
Vilimoni Koroi - Otago
Ciarahn Matoe - Taranaki
Harry Plummer - Auckland
Carlos Price - Wellington
Billy Proctor - Wellington
Ngane Punivai - Canterbury
Jay Renton - Southland
Xavier Roe - Waikato
Bailyn Sullivan - Waikato
Tanielu Tele'a - Auckland
Kaleb Trask - Bay of Plenty

2- 3 players to be named

Players not considered due to Super Rugby commitments

Caleb Clarke - Blues

Players not considered due to injury

Tim Farrell - Hawke's Bay
Brayden Iose - Manawatu
Ajay Mua - Bay of Plenty
Xavier Numia - Wellington
Cameron Suafoa - Auckland
Sheldon Tovio - Waikato

Tevita Mafileo is Sione Mafileo's younger brother, as Billy Proctor is Mike Proctor's.

[Stargazer]

@tim It's a pity that Jeriah Mua didn't make it, but I assume that his situation is similar to that of a lot of last year's Hastings Boys players who are missing from the squad and that he'll also be eligible next year. Only one of them made it, Devan Flanders.

Of the 3 Hawke's Bay players that missed out, I feel most sorry for Tim Farrell, who's one of the most talented NZ props in this age group. Got injured during last year's JWC, and now again a serious injury. Jacob Devery and Will Tremain also injured, although not mentioned.

[KiwiMurph]

Interesting to see Koroi there.

Fitness permitting he will play

Comm Games 7s (mid April)
Oceania U20s (late April early May)
World U20s (late May)
World Cup 7s in San Francisco (July)

Plus who knows if he fits any World 7s Series round into the above calendar.

[Stargazer]

@kiwimurph Switching back and forth from XVs and 7s. Will be interesting to see how he'll deal with that. I'm a bit sceptical.

[Bovidae]

Where's Koroi likely to play? Fullback?

[Nogusta]

@bovidae I'd say wing with Will Jordan in there?

[Bovidae]

There are 3 players who can play 1st 5 (Plummer, Matoe and Trask) and some of them could also play at 2nd 5 or FB - so some versatility in the squad. I assume Faingaanuku will be on one wing.

[Tim]

@bovidae Yeah, Plummer has played a bit at 12 too.

[Bones]

Rayasi too old or not good enough?

[Tim]

@bones

DOB: September 25, 1996

[Bones]

@tim Just missed the cut eh

[98blueandgold]

Pretty predictable team. Most surprising to not be named who was not listed as injured would be Sione Asi (although fitness at this level would be an issue). in terms of last years schools players apart from maybe Etenai and Vaa'i (Who was in last cut but just turning 18) There is a massive gap and I could not see any of them getting close to those selected.
top team would be maybe
Cobb
Thomas
Mafileo
McWhannell
Tucker
Sotutu
Christie
Flanders
Price
Matoe/Plummer
Faingaanuku
Telea
Protctor
Sullivan
Jordan

[Tim]

Oceania Rugby U20 Championship preview: New Zealand

[98blueandgold]

First game tomorrow night.
Live streamed
http://www.oceaniarugby.com/pageitem.aspx?id=139115&id2=1&eID=66726&entityID=66726

[Stargazer]

@98blueandgold said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

First game tomorrow night.
Live streamed
http://www.oceaniarugby.com/pageitem.aspx?id=139115&id2=1&eID=66726&entityID=66726

It will be livestreamed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oceaniarugbyunion/

and http://www.rugby.com.au/

Fri 27/4, 7:00pm NZT (5.00pm AEST): NZ v Tonga
Fri 27/4, 9:00pm NZT (7.00pm AEST): Australia v Fiji

[Stargazer]

NZ U20 for tonight's game v Tonga:

1 Robert Cobb (Auckland)
2 Ricky Jackson (Otago)
3 Kaliopasi Uluilakepa (Wellington)
4 Laghlan McWhannell (Waikato)
5 John Akau'ola-Laula (Auckland)
6 Tom Florence (Taranaki)
7 Tom Christie - captain (Canterbury)
8 Devan Flanders (Hawke's Bay)
9 Carlos Price (Wellington)
10 Harry Plummer (Auckland)
11 Leicester Faingaanuku ( Ta$man)
12 Tanielu Tele'a (Auckland)
13 Billy Proctor (Wellington)
14 Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato)
15 Kaleb Trask (Bay of Plenty)

Reserves
16 Flynn Thomas (Southland)
17 Sione Asi (Manawatu)
18 Tevita Mafileo (Bay of Plenty)
19 Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa (Auckland)
20 William Tremain (Hawke's Bay)
21 Hoskins Sotutu (Auckland)
22 Xavier Roe (Waikato)
23 Ciarahn Matoe (Taranaki)

“We are still very much in selection mode if we’re looking at the World Champs. We’ve got 29 players over here and we want all of them to get game time.

http://www.allblacks.com/News/32337/nz-under-20-team-named-for-tonga-clash

[Bovidae]

A 6:2 bench split. Is that due to who is available to play in this game?

[Rapido]

@stargazer said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

Tanielu Tele'a

Sorry to digress.

But is seems an unnecessary apostrophe.
Was Alex Telea's name spelt wrong all those years ago? Or are these 2 different names? If so what's the difference in pronunciation?

Genuine question.

[Rapido]

I liked the cut of Flynn Thomas's gib when I saw him play a few years ago. Might just have been televised college rugby.

But he's got a hell of a ('near-peer') player in Aumua in his position.

[98blueandgold]

@rapido yeah I know the highlanders coaches love him and reckon he has s future