WR U20 Championship 2025

[Kiwidom]

Interesting Rico Simpson at full back

[brodean]

Simpson was there in that last match against SA for the second half. It worked well.

[Bovidae]

Yeah, they tended to end games with that 10-15 combo. I don't think this is the strongest lock and loose forward selection, which suggests rotation.

[tomk]

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[Mamuka]

Where is Eli and Maloni? Mathis?

[DaGrubster]

@booboo said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

Any word on the real reasons for Haig going?

It was him that headbutted Razor

[Bovidae]

@Mamuka said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

Where is Eli and Maloni? Mathis?

Vaenuku would be the no.1 winger so they've moved Solomon to accommodate Simpson at fullback. I expect all players will get a game in the pool matches. The Italians look to have some giant forwards. Let's see how Wallace's return helps the scrum.

[Bovidae]

I had a brief chat to Raharuhi Palmer at a club game today. As I suspected he is injured, a pect injury which means he is out of action for 3 months.

[Mamuka]

@Bovidae I think ball carrying and crossing the advantage line will not be a problem against the Italians, but scrummaging is questionable

[Mauss]

Junior Wallabies are getting smacked by the Junior Boks in Italy. Some poor kicking by Sharples, Fowler and Harvey has given the Junior Bok back 3 plenty of opportunities to attack in open space. Couple that with Junior Wallaby handling errors and a malfunctioning set-piece, and you’re looking at a hard road back for them in the 2nd half.

As far as the Junior Boks are concerned, players like Haashim Pead and Gilermo Mentoe look a whole lot better with space and a hard pitch to run around on. Still a bit concerned that some of those Saffa fatties are going to run out of gas sooner rather than later. Still looking good so far, though.

Halftime score Junior Wallabies 5-33 Junior Boks.

[OomPB]

59-5 after 56

[Mauss]

Well, it didn't improve much in the second half, as it finished 73-17 in favour of the Junior Boks.

While things genuinely didn't go their way, the Junior Wallabies made some poor errors in their planning as well, seemingly not having (or executing) a proper kicking strategy while being way too loose in their attacking structures. The (counter-)attacking prowess of the Junior Boks shouldn't have come as a surprise to them, though, as the game against the NZ U20s already showed that they're a side with a lot of attacking potential.

The Junior Boks looked good, Pead and the back three looking very dangerous on counter-attack. It'll be interesting to see how they fare against the England U20s.

[Mauss]

Interestingly, on the pre-match lineup image the NZ U20s coach was mentioned to be 'Chris Boyd', although the commentator referred to Hoeata and Robertson as the side's co-coaches.

Anyone heard anything more about this?

[cgrant]

Stupid from Solomon. Could have been a straight red.

[Mauss]

Well, Simpson's definitely not used to playing fullback. His positioning is all over the place. Smart from Italy to put as much pressure on him as possible.

[Victor Meldrew]

Jeez, the interruptions in this game are insane. Game 35 minutes in, 22 mins of play.

[cgrant]

I don't know why Wallace was subbed. NZ scrum is very poor since then.

[WoodysRFC]

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[Mauss]

@cgrant said in WR U20 Championship 2025:

I don't know why Wallace was subbed. NZ scrum is very poor since then.

I saw he was getting treatment before a stoppage so I assume he's injured. Unfortunate because he was looking good.

[Victor Meldrew]

Italy starting to looked cooked?