SR U20s 2025
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@Steven-Harris Manawatu haven't had any stability with pathway programs for several years. Both the best players from the 2024 PNBHS and Feilding's 1st XV sides left the region after last year.
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I can’t really comment much on the current Super Rugby U20 games, as I’m only able to watch the highlights (and that doesn't really give away anything interesting). So I’m out of the loop, as far as the recent games are concerned. Back in December, I was thinking about the 2025 NZ U20 midfield-options and wrote some stuff. I thought I might as well share it, since I have little else to contribute at the moment.
Spotlight: Midfield movers
Most positions in the 2025 NZ U20 team will have players who have some representative experience in their respective spots: at number eight, for example, Mosese Bason has played there for NZ Schools, Hurricanes U18/U20 and NZ U20, while Joey Taumateine has played there for Chiefs U18/U20 and NZ U18 Barbarians. At right wing, there are players like Frank Vaenuku (NZ Schools, Chiefs U18/U20, NZ U20, BOP NPC, NZ7s) and Nathan Salmon (Blues U18/U20; Northland NPC). The same exercise can be made for most other positions, but it’s much less clear who fits that profile at 12.One reason for this is a series of failed experiments at the position in recent years. During the early 2020s, NZ Rugby was seemingly convinced that players similar to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s profile – steppers with quick feet and an offload game – represented the future of the role. In 2022, Xavier Tito-Harris, typically a fullback, filled in at 12 for NZ Schools. In 2023, it was Caelys-Paul Putoko’s turn, another convert who was more used to the wing and outside centre-positions. Neither were a particular success at 12, with midfield defence in particular being a consistent issue. Since then, Tito-Harris has reverted back to his more familiar wing/fullback-role while Putoko has taken the Tuivasa-Sheck comparisons a bit too literally, following the latter to the NRL. The end result is that valuable rep experience at 12 has been lost.
Another factor in the depth-issue can be traced to First XV rugby. There, the position of inside centre is often taken up by players who play both rugby union and league, with the crash-ball ability of league players an attractive skillset suitable for the position. Two of the three 12s in the 2024 NZ Schools rep sides have strong connections to league – Jarrel Tuaimalo Vaega and Hiraka Waitai-Haenga – while several others playing for age grade Super teams, like Alvin Chong Nee (Blues U18) and Ryder Crosswell (Hurricanes U18; also Māori U18), are in similar positions. While it has been more common in recent years that dual-code players are selected for the NZ Schools sides – e.g. Francis Manuleleua, Sione Latu, Richie Tupuailei, Tony Tafa – it is much rarer for such players to get selected for the NZ U20s, unless they have clearly indicated that their future lies with the 15-man game. It thus seems unlikely that players like Tuaimalo Vaega, Waitai-Haenga or Crosswell get into the NZ U20s, if they haven’t made a clear decision to focus on rugby. This factor, in other words, creates further questions around depth in the position.
While the current situation indicates that there will be a lack of experience at the 12-position for the 2025 NZ U20s, such a turn of events also signals opportunities for the proverbial bolter to make their case. Perhaps the most promising midfield performance in a, it has to be said, rather disappointing 2024 Schools series, came in the NZ U18 Barbarians game against Australia U18s. Playing at second five-eight that day was Pyrenees Boyle-Tiatia, a multi-sport athlete from the University of Waikato Rugby Club and brother of Manaaki, a hooker who plays for Waikato in the NPC. Adept at playing across the backline – he is typically a 10/15 hybrid, who can also play in the midfield and on the wing – Boyle-Tiatia helped orchestrate a fluid Barbarian U18 attack, which could both go through the Aussie rush defence as well as around it.
A key factor in the success of the Barbarian U18s’ attack was Boyle-Tiatia’s varied skillset, which was the focal point of their attack. As a first step in unlocking this attack, the Barbarians needed to show that Boyle-Tiatia was a viable threat as a carrier, which they did by using him on the crash ball off a scrum early in the game.
As a result, with the Aussie defence now alert to the carrying option, Boyle-Tiatia’s range of passing and playmaking skills could be put to good use, acting both as first phase-distributor as well as a secondary playmaker behind attacking pods.
Boyle-Tiatia sweeps around the pod and delivers the pass
Boyle-Tiatia carries to the line, this time passing out the back, the Aussie defence already on its heels anticipating the carry
Possessing a creative and exhaustive passing game, Boyle-Tiatia used deceptive footwork, short pop balls and cut-out passes to consistently create line-breaks, putting the Australian defence under pressure while acting as a complimentary playmaker to his first-five in that game, Mika Muliaina.
Great passing technique - smooth catch and pass, hands following through, ball straight in front of the winger - putting a player into space
He also has a solid kicking game, which came to the fore in this game primarily in his capacity as a goal- and exit-kicker and as an exponent of the high ball at restarts.
A series of kicks - at goal, for the exit and during the restart - showing his varied but polished skill-set
While Boyle-Tiatia’s main strength seems to be his ability to act as a real glue player on attack – consistently picking the right options and executing them well – he also possesses genuine athletic ability, as signified by a late length of field-try, outpacing the highly-rated Aussie midfielder, Frankie Goldsborough.
A future classic match-up? Boyle-Tiatia against Goldsbrough
Being a first five himself, Boyle-Tiatia has some clear things to work on at 12, especially on the defensive side. He at times struggled with putting the big Australian ball carriers down to ground quickly, while also coming across as unsure about his required defensive positioning. But his brief appearance at 12 showed plenty of promise and signalled that, while the gap of experience for the NZ U20s at 12 is considerable, it also presents a genuine opportunity for a new player to make a case for himself. It is one of the few positions where a good performance during this Super Rugby U20 competition might prove enough to get into the squad and even claim a potential starting berth.
Further discussion
At outside centre, there are some good candidates, like James Cameron and Cooper Roberts (with both able to play at 12 as well, with Cameron’s recent sojourn at inside centre for the Crusaders U20s looking like a success). Liam O’Connor, Tuaimalo Vaega and Jack Wiseman are also 12s who have shown an ability to play at first five, offering plenty of secondary playmaking in the midfield. Tayne Harvey from the Highlanders is another player who looks like he can play in both midfield positions, offering quick feet and solid leg-drive in the carry.What does stand out among these players, however, is that none really have defence as their primary edge to their game. This might be a worry, especially at 13, where you expect your outside centre to organize your backline defence. The backs who have shown the most defensive intensity from this U20 class are, ironically, typically used as wingers, players like Nathan Salmon and Frank Vaenuku. It might be worth considering whether one of these would be suited to the 13-jersey at this level, with someone like Vaenuku already having played at 13 at First XV-level for De La Salle. The latter’s ability to make dominant tackles and disrupt the opposition breakdown would be a very handy asset in terms of midfield defence. As always, the midfield combo that will be chosen, will play a big role in the eventual success of the side.
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@Grooter said in SR U20s 2025:
Kyan Rangitutia has looked good over the week but I of course have an eye patch on
He’s been unreal. For an under 20 he sure isn’t built like one. One of the biggest and fastest on the field. Hopefully he keep progressing because that’s a scary talent. One to keep an eye on
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Playoff for 3rd and 4th was entertaining. Credit to all the teams playing 3 games over a week and looking better and better.
Blues
Front row and loosies were powerful. Not only the starters, but the bench forwards were immense. The hookers should pat each other on the back as they were awesome.Simpson was solid in the backs and led his team really well. Norrie looked fantastic with ball in hand. Made the midfield for the Canes look silly at times in broken play.
Hurricanes
Lets be fair, frontrow is not their strength. They really struggled against a physical Blues front row. Falloon in the second row was working hard but by far the best forward on the field was Berg-mclean playing 7. The smallest forward on the pitch and yet he must have had 5 or 6 pilfers and made a huge amount of tackles. Support play was superb as well.
Tamati and Thompson were excellent in the halves. Really quick ball and used their outsides well. Midfield struggled on D.
Solomon and Denyer, outstanding again for the Canes. These two have had a great tournament. Kennedy try was superb as well. Reserve halfback brought some energy off the bench. -
This post is deleted!
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I've finally had a chance to watch the final. It was a game that could have went either way in the end, as the Chiefs did well to fight back when the reserves came on. The Chiefs' lineout was a little compromised with three short loose forwards. Having Sa at 6 would have given another big target. They haven't had much luck with injuries in this tournament in the last 2 years losing starters before and during the tournament.
Now we wait for the first NZ U20 squad. Hopefully the injured players are all available for selection.
