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WR U20 Championship 2025

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Sports Talk
u20
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  • BovidaeB Bovidae

    My top XV would be this:

    1 Pole
    2 Oudenryn (it will be Letiu)
    3 Wallace
    4 Vakasiuola
    5 Tengblad
    6 Sa
    7 Mathis
    8 Bason
    9 Pledger
    10 Simpson/Cole
    11 Vaenuku
    12 Wiseman
    13 Cameron
    14 Kunawave
    15 Solomon

    The loose forward and midfield combinations will be hotly contested. I would select Sa as a 6, not a lock.

    Canes4lifeC Offline
    Canes4lifeC Offline
    Canes4life
    wrote on last edited by
    #5

    @Bovidae said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

    My top XV would be this:

    1 Pole
    2 Oudenryn (it will be Letiu)
    3 Wallace
    4 Vakasiuola
    5 Tengblad
    6 Sa
    7 Mathis
    8 Bason
    9 Pledger
    10 Simpson/Cole
    11 Vaenuku
    12 Wiseman
    13 Cameron
    14 Kunawave
    15 Solomon

    The loose forward and midfield combinations will be hotly contested. I would select Sa as a 6, not a lock.

    Decent team, from what we saw in the Rugby Championship I would prefer Cole over Simpson at 10.

    SouthernMannS 1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • BovidaeB Bovidae

      My top XV would be this:

      1 Pole
      2 Oudenryn (it will be Letiu)
      3 Wallace
      4 Vakasiuola
      5 Tengblad
      6 Sa
      7 Mathis
      8 Bason
      9 Pledger
      10 Simpson/Cole
      11 Vaenuku
      12 Wiseman
      13 Cameron
      14 Kunawave
      15 Solomon

      The loose forward and midfield combinations will be hotly contested. I would select Sa as a 6, not a lock.

      ChrisC Offline
      ChrisC Offline
      Chris
      wrote on last edited by
      #6

      @Bovidae said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

      My top XV would be this:

      1 Pole
      2 Oudenryn (it will be Letiu)
      3 Wallace
      4 Vakasiuola
      5 Tengblad
      6 Sa
      7 Mathis
      8 Bason
      9 Pledger
      10 Simpson/Cole
      11 Vaenuku
      12 Wiseman
      13 Cameron
      14 Kunawave
      15 Solomon

      The loose forward and midfield combinations will be hotly contested. I would select Sa as a 6, not a lock.

      I am not sure what you see in Wiseman he didn't impress me in the RC.

      BovidaeB 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • Canes4lifeC Canes4life

        @Bovidae said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

        My top XV would be this:

        1 Pole
        2 Oudenryn (it will be Letiu)
        3 Wallace
        4 Vakasiuola
        5 Tengblad
        6 Sa
        7 Mathis
        8 Bason
        9 Pledger
        10 Simpson/Cole
        11 Vaenuku
        12 Wiseman
        13 Cameron
        14 Kunawave
        15 Solomon

        The loose forward and midfield combinations will be hotly contested. I would select Sa as a 6, not a lock.

        Decent team, from what we saw in the Rugby Championship I would prefer Cole over Simpson at 10.

        SouthernMannS Offline
        SouthernMannS Offline
        SouthernMann
        wrote on last edited by
        #7

        @Canes4life said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

        @Bovidae said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

        My top XV would be this:

        1 Pole
        2 Oudenryn (it will be Letiu)
        3 Wallace
        4 Vakasiuola
        5 Tengblad
        6 Sa
        7 Mathis
        8 Bason
        9 Pledger
        10 Simpson/Cole
        11 Vaenuku
        12 Wiseman
        13 Cameron
        14 Kunawave
        15 Solomon

        The loose forward and midfield combinations will be hotly contested. I would select Sa as a 6, not a lock.

        Decent team, from what we saw in the Rugby Championship I would prefer Cole over Simpson at 10.

        Good Hurricanes boy as well.

        With another player in a 50/50 spot. I want Harvey in the midfield too.

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • ChrisC Chris

          @Bovidae said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

          My top XV would be this:

          1 Pole
          2 Oudenryn (it will be Letiu)
          3 Wallace
          4 Vakasiuola
          5 Tengblad
          6 Sa
          7 Mathis
          8 Bason
          9 Pledger
          10 Simpson/Cole
          11 Vaenuku
          12 Wiseman
          13 Cameron
          14 Kunawave
          15 Solomon

          The loose forward and midfield combinations will be hotly contested. I would select Sa as a 6, not a lock.

          I am not sure what you see in Wiseman he didn't impress me in the RC.

          BovidaeB Offline
          BovidaeB Offline
          Bovidae
          wrote on last edited by
          #8

          @Chris said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

          I am not sure what you see in Wiseman he didn't impress me in the RC.

          As I said, the midfield combo could be any of them. Wiseman was preferred to Harvey. It could end up being the Crusaders duo as Cameron was injured.

          I thought Wiseman was accurate and involved in a lot of tries by making the right decisions. He was still playing U18 last year so has at least one, if not two years of U20 eligibility left.

          ChrisC 1 Reply Last reply
          2
          • BovidaeB Bovidae

            @Chris said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

            I am not sure what you see in Wiseman he didn't impress me in the RC.

            As I said, the midfield combo could be any of them. Wiseman was preferred to Harvey. It could end up being the Crusaders duo as Cameron was injured.

            I thought Wiseman was accurate and involved in a lot of tries by making the right decisions. He was still playing U18 last year so has at least one, if not two years of U20 eligibility left.

            ChrisC Offline
            ChrisC Offline
            Chris
            wrote on last edited by
            #9

            @Bovidae said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

            @Chris said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

            I am not sure what you see in Wiseman he didn't impress me in the RC.

            As I said, the midfield combo could be any of them. Wiseman was preferred to Harvey. It could end up being the Crusaders duo as Cameron was injured.

            I thought Wiseman was accurate and involved in a lot of tries by making the right decisions. He was still playing U18 last year so has at least one, if not two years of U20 eligibility left.

            I thought Wiseman went on his own at times and killed some attacking moments.
            I would prefer Cameron and Roberts or Harvey and Cameron.

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • gt12G Offline
              gt12G Offline
              gt12
              wrote on last edited by
              #10

              Interesting to see that Mathis is named as being with the Chiefs?

              ChrisC 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • Crazy HorseC Offline
                Crazy HorseC Offline
                Crazy Horse
                wrote on last edited by
                #11

                Is Finn McLeod related to Dallas?

                BovidaeB 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • Crazy HorseC Crazy Horse

                  Is Finn McLeod related to Dallas?

                  BovidaeB Offline
                  BovidaeB Offline
                  Bovidae
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #12

                  @Crazy-Horse said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

                  Is Finn McLeod related to Dallas?

                  He is Grizz's grandson.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  2
                  • gt12G gt12

                    Interesting to see that Mathis is named as being with the Chiefs?

                    ChrisC Offline
                    ChrisC Offline
                    Chris
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #13

                    @gt12 said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

                    Interesting to see that Mathis is named as being with the Chiefs?

                    Yeah that is their u/20s sides not the SR teams.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    2
                    • M Offline
                      M Offline
                      Mamuka
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #14

                      Hello , what are the heights of Vakasiuola and Sa?

                      BovidaeB 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • M Mamuka

                        Hello , what are the heights of Vakasiuola and Sa?

                        BovidaeB Offline
                        BovidaeB Offline
                        Bovidae
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #15

                        @Mamuka said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

                        Hello , what are the heights of Vakasiuola and Sa?

                        Tengblad is easily the tallest of the locks chosen. I've seen Vakasiuola listed as about 1.97 m (more with the Ardie hair), and Sa is a little shorter.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • BovidaeB Bovidae

                          My top XV would be this:

                          1 Pole
                          2 Oudenryn (it will be Letiu)
                          3 Wallace
                          4 Vakasiuola
                          5 Tengblad
                          6 Sa
                          7 Mathis
                          8 Bason
                          9 Pledger
                          10 Simpson/Cole
                          11 Vaenuku
                          12 Wiseman
                          13 Cameron
                          14 Kunawave
                          15 Solomon

                          The loose forward and midfield combinations will be hotly contested. I would select Sa as a 6, not a lock.

                          MaussM Offline
                          MaussM Offline
                          Mauss
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #16

                          @Bovidae said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

                          My top XV would be this:

                          1 Pole
                          2 Oudenryn (it will be Letiu)
                          3 Wallace
                          4 Vakasiuola
                          5 Tengblad
                          6 Sa
                          7 Mathis
                          8 Bason
                          9 Pledger
                          10 Simpson/Cole
                          11 Vaenuku
                          12 Wiseman
                          13 Cameron
                          14 Kunawave
                          15 Solomon

                          The loose forward and midfield combinations will be hotly contested. I would select Sa as a 6, not a lock.

                          My own preferences are pretty similar to this, including Sa as a blindside option.

                          One thing I'll say though, after watching way too many defensive sets from the U20 TRC, is that Xavier Treacy and Cooper Roberts put in big defensive shifts during that tournament. I'm not sure you can leave them out. Treacy was also a very reliable lineout option.

                          I would probably put Vakasiuola on the bench, to provide impact in the final 20-30 minutes. I'd like to see Cameron have a shot at 12 since I'm just intrigued to see what he can offer there.

                          I'm a bit miffed at Tofilau not being selected, I thought he did more than enough to earn his spot. Ahloo, on the other hand, can probably count himself a bit lucky, as I didn't think he had a good tournament. He's still a promising player, so hopefully he has an improved showing in Italy.

                          K BovidaeB 2 Replies Last reply
                          1
                          • MaussM Mauss

                            @Bovidae said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

                            My top XV would be this:

                            1 Pole
                            2 Oudenryn (it will be Letiu)
                            3 Wallace
                            4 Vakasiuola
                            5 Tengblad
                            6 Sa
                            7 Mathis
                            8 Bason
                            9 Pledger
                            10 Simpson/Cole
                            11 Vaenuku
                            12 Wiseman
                            13 Cameron
                            14 Kunawave
                            15 Solomon

                            The loose forward and midfield combinations will be hotly contested. I would select Sa as a 6, not a lock.

                            My own preferences are pretty similar to this, including Sa as a blindside option.

                            One thing I'll say though, after watching way too many defensive sets from the U20 TRC, is that Xavier Treacy and Cooper Roberts put in big defensive shifts during that tournament. I'm not sure you can leave them out. Treacy was also a very reliable lineout option.

                            I would probably put Vakasiuola on the bench, to provide impact in the final 20-30 minutes. I'd like to see Cameron have a shot at 12 since I'm just intrigued to see what he can offer there.

                            I'm a bit miffed at Tofilau not being selected, I thought he did more than enough to earn his spot. Ahloo, on the other hand, can probably count himself a bit lucky, as I didn't think he had a good tournament. He's still a promising player, so hopefully he has an improved showing in Italy.

                            K Offline
                            K Offline
                            Kiwidom
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #17

                            @Mauss Agreed, plus Tofilau's bulk could be useful if we come up against France or England in the tournament

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            1
                            • Z Offline
                              Z Offline
                              zedsdeadbaby
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #18

                              Milton Haig has stepped down. Credit to the person that suggested it yesterday.

                              Daffy JaffyD 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • H Offline
                                H Offline
                                hikastags
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #19

                                I would've thought Joey Taumateine and Tito-Harris would have been there.

                                BovidaeB 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • Daffy JaffyD Offline
                                  Daffy JaffyD Offline
                                  Daffy Jaffy
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #20

                                  "I do not feel I’m fully aligned with the coaching group around things like playing style, so have made the difficult decision to step aside to give the team its best chance of reaching its full potential".

                                  https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360704357/not-aligned-nz-under-20-rugby-coach-milton-haig-makes-shock-announcement

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • canefanC Away
                                    canefanC Away
                                    canefan
                                    wrote on last edited by canefan
                                    #21

                                    So did he walk or was he pushed? Either way, hopefully it is better for the team

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • T Offline
                                      T Offline
                                      tomk
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #22

                                      England lost Wales when Pollock got called up to the senior team. He will be away with the lions so England won't be as strong as the looked early in the 6 nations. France will lose some players to the NZ tour. Players like tuilagi will probably be with the seniors in NZ. NZ have a great chance of winning this with a easy group. Ireland came last in the 6 nations

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      1
                                      • Z zedsdeadbaby

                                        Milton Haig has stepped down. Credit to the person that suggested it yesterday.

                                        Daffy JaffyD Offline
                                        Daffy JaffyD Offline
                                        Daffy Jaffy
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #23

                                        @zedsdeadbaby said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

                                        Milton Haig has stepped down.

                                        Is it time to parachute in the Professor for another quick fix?

                                        canefanC 1 Reply Last reply
                                        2
                                        • Daffy JaffyD Daffy Jaffy

                                          @zedsdeadbaby said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

                                          Milton Haig has stepped down.

                                          Is it time to parachute in the Professor for another quick fix?

                                          canefanC Away
                                          canefanC Away
                                          canefan
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #24

                                          @Daffy-Jaffy said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

                                          @zedsdeadbaby said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

                                          Milton Haig has stepped down.

                                          Is it time to parachute in the Professor for another quick fix?

                                          Isn't he with the black ferns?

                                          1 Reply Last reply
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