2017 New Zealand U20s

[Tregaskis]

I see the name "Shineil Singh" from Waikato. I don't know of him (don't follow rugby below SR level) but isn't it interesting and extremely welcome to see an Indian player coming through? Is he the first Indian to achieve this status?

I presume he is Punjabi, who tend to be larger than your average Indian. Back in India they are men of the land, and often soldiers, defending the border against Pakistan (their home state is on the border). In NZ there is a decent sized dairy farming population. More recently, they've often had to learn to defend themselves against criminals in the independent liquor retail business.

Sounds like he can handle himself.

[Hooroo]

Or he is Fijian.....

[Bovidae]

@Tregaskis Shneil Singh plays for Morrinsville Sports. He's a lock so likely a Fijian Indian as @Hooroo says.

[profitius]

June 8th Kutaisi stadium, Kutaisi
Ireland U20 vs New Zealand U20

The baby blacks will be up for that match!

[Derm McCrum]

@Bovidae said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:

@Tregaskis Shneil Singh plays for Morrinsville Sports. He's a lock so likely a Fijian Indian as @Hooroo says.

Jeez - yiz are poaching Indians now?

There's only another 1,336,286,255 of them left now...

[Chris B.]

@Nepia said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:

He's so shit he couldn't even shoehorn a few more Hawkes Bay players into the squad like other coaches do ....

He left plenty of space for it - with only 10 players from the four South Island unions.

[Nepia]

@Chris-B. said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:

@Nepia said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:

He's so shit he couldn't even shoehorn a few more Hawkes Bay players into the squad like other coaches do ....

He left plenty of space for it - with only 10 players from the four South Island unions.

You know his pecking order is Crusaders catchment area and then Hawkes Bay right?

[Chris B.]

Must be pulling a Justin Marshall - bending over backwards to avoid allegations of bias.

A bit rough on Southland, though!

[SammyC]

Couple of promising players in the Canterbury group. In particular prop Harrison Allan.

Saw him play a game of Club colts this year with the old man, both of us were super impressed.

Nice to see another 10 out of Christchurch Boys too (Josh McKay)

[Bovidae]

@Pot-Hale Only the good ones!

As to the squad, team/individual performance at the Taupo national tournament usually plays a large part in selection. The teams that made the finals are most represented.

[Tregaskis]

@Bovidae said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:

@Tregaskis Shneil Singh plays for Morrinsville Sports. He's a lock so likely a Fijian Indian as @Hooroo says.

I hadn't factored in "Fijian Indian" which is more plausible. Blew my theory right out of the water....until I found this:

Facebook

I'm not sure it's him but he's big and has a few rugby links - the jury is still out.

[booboo]

Played with an Indian bloke in Putaruru a number of years back (late 80s) who was a lock.

Good player and good bloke. Gun in the lineout.

Pretty sure he wasn't Fijian Indian as I once made some completely inadvertent faux pas about Fiji (meaning Fiji Indian) which he wasn't impressed with.

Why do I feel this really doesn't matter? Can the guy play footy?

[Stargazer]

More about Singh, who's definitely not Fijian:

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/86799849/Shneil-Singh-could-be-New-Zealands-first-Indian-All-Black-in-the-making

[MajorRage]

Somewhere up north, a hack is having a cross between an ejaculation and an aneurysm having discovered our new source of talent to poach.

[jegga]

@MajorRage said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:

Somewhere up north, a hack is having a cross between an ejaculation and an aneurysm having discovered our new source of talent to poach.

Irish scouts are booking tickets to the subcontinent for project players as we speak.

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer I'm not surprised he is from farming stock from the Gordonton/Orini area. There's a large Indian community out there but most are 3rd/4th generation Kiwis. I would have seen him play for St Pauls.

[cgrant]

He looks very big for such a young guy. Any idea of his height and weight ?

[Stargazer]

Second development camp in preparation of the JWC 2017 (Georgia)
The first camp will be held from 9-13 March 2017.

Players group
The following 48 players have been selected for the first development camp:

Forwards:
Dylan Lam - North Harbour
John (JP) Sauni - Auckland
Ezekiel Lindenmuth - Auckland
Jerry Samania - Auckland
Jacob Pierce - Auckland
Cameron Suafoa - Auckland
Samuel Slade - Auckland
Dalton Papalii - Auckland
Adrian Choat - Auckland
Sione Tuipulotu - Counties
Sam Caird - Waikato
Shneil Singh - Waikato
Laghlan McWhannell - Waikato
Luke Jacobson - Waikato
Ryan Coxan - Waikato
Du'Plessis Kirifi - Waikato
Pouri Rakete-Stones - Hawkes Bay
Marino Mikaele -Tuu - Hawkes Bay
Brayden Iose - Manawatu
Chris Cairns - Manawatu
Asafo Aumua - Wellington
Ben Power - Wellington
Isaia Walker-Leawere - Wellington
Josh Brown - Wellington
Harrison Allan - Canterbury
Tom Christie - Canterbury
Slade McDowall - Otago

Backs
Tamati Tua - Northland
Lewis Gjaltema - North Harbour
James Little - North Harbour
Otumaka Mausia - Auckland
Tanielu Tele’a - Auckland
Nikolai Foliaki - Auckland
Caleb Clarke - Auckland
To'o Vaega - Auckland
Orbyn Leger - Counties
Tyler Campbell - Waikato
Matt Lansdown - Waikato
Tiaan Falcon - Hawkes Bay
Kemara Hauiti-Parapara - Wellington
Carlos Price - Wellington
Billy Proctor - Wellington
Tima Faingaanuku - Ta$man
Ereatara Enari - Canterbury
Braydon Ennor - Canterbury
Josh McKay - Canterbury
Will Jordan - Canterbury
Jonah Nareki - Otago

Note: further front row players will be selected following the tight-five clinic.

Not attending due to injury or Super Rugby commitments:
Sheldon Tovio - Waikato
Jordie Barrett - Taranaki
Stephen Perofeta - Taranaki
Alex Fidow - Wellington
Thomas Umaga Jensen - Wellington
Peter Umaga Jensen - Wellington
Lester Maulolo - Wellington

New Zealand Under 20 will hold a further camp in April, before taking part in the Oceania Tournament on the Gold Coast in April and May. A squad of 28 will be selected to go to the Under 20 World Championship in Georgia from 25 May – 18 June 2017.

http://www.allblacks.com/News/30468/squad-named-for-under-20-world-championship-camp

[Stargazer]

Selected players by province:

• Auckland (13): John (JP) Sauni, Ezekiel Lindenmuth, Jerry Samania, Jacob Pierce, Cameron Suafoa, Samuel Slade, Dalton Papalii, Adrian Choat, Otumaka Mausia, Tanielu Tele’a, Nikolai Foliaki, Caleb Clarke, To'o Vaega
• Canterbury (6): Harrison Allan, Tom Christie, Ereatara Enari, Braydon Ennor, Josh McKay, Will Jordan
• Counties Manukau (2): Sione Tuipulotu, Orbyn Leger
• Hawke's Bay (3): Pouri Rakete-Stones, Marino Mikaele-Tuu, Tiaan Falcon
• Manawatu (2): Brayden Iose, Chris Cairns
• North Harbour (3): Dylan Lam, Lewis Gjaltema, James Little
• Northland (1): Tamati Tua
• Otago (2): Slade McDowall, Jonah Nareki
• Taranaki (2): - / Jordie Barrett, Stephen Perofeta
• Ta$man (1): Tima Faingaanuku
• Waikato (9): Sam Caird, Shneil Singh, Laghlan McWhannell, Luke Jacobson, Ryan Coxan, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Tyler Campbell, Matt Lansdown / Sheldon Tovio
• Wellington (11): Asafo Aumua, Ben Power, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Josh Brown, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Carlos Price, Billy Proctor / Alex Fidow, Thomas Umaga Jensen, Peter Umaga Jensen, Lester Maulolo
• BOP (0): -
• Southland (0): -

Apparently, Thomas Umaga-Jensen has moved back from Otago to Wellington. By the way, he and - especially - his twin brother seem to be injured almost permanently.
It further looks like a few players have returned from injury, and some names have been scratched or added since December.

[Bovidae]

What the NZ U20s will need are good props to have a competitive front row. Some decent size at lock wouldn't hurt either.

I have no problems with the talent available at loose forward and in the backline but if the tight five are struggling to impose themselves, and the weather is shite, then we've seen what happens.