2017 New Zealand U20s
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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. -
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.
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To your point, some interesting comments by Cron.
Cron admitted the Kiwi players usually have some catching up to do at set piece for the tournament.
"In New Zealand we are a wee bit behind other countries in terms of physical strength," he said. "We do not put emphasis on strength programmes when they are young and I think is fine. At 16, let them play and learn their body, in a couple of year's time they catch up to the overseas teams."
Philpott said after seeing what happened to the side in 2016, he would be picking his props based on the core role of scrummaging first.
"New Zealand Rugby is about mobility and playing the game fast, that is our point of difference in world," he said. "But in my involvement with this tournament in the past couple of years, we need to be able to hold our own at scrum time and it cost us last year. Scrummaging is a core role, particularly for tightheads. First and foremost they have to be able to do that and the other stuff is the bonus."
He was encouraged by the group they had assembled this year and believed the likely weather in Georgia would help them in their bid to win the title back from England.
"Looking at the weather in Georgia in June it is pretty dry and about 28 degrees which will play into our hands a little bit," he said. "It will mean that we are able to play the type of game that we love, but still be aware of what the opposition will bring, particularly at scrum time and lineout time because it will be quite different to what these guys have seen before**."
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@KiwiMurph said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:
To your point, some interesting comments by Cron.
Cron admitted the Kiwi players usually have some catching up to do at set piece for the tournament.
"In New Zealand we are a wee bit behind other countries in terms of physical strength," he said. "We do not put emphasis on strength programmes when they are young and I think is fine. At 16, let them play and learn their body, in a couple of year's time they catch up to the overseas teams."
Philpott said after seeing what happened to the side in 2016, he would be picking his props based on the core role of scrummaging first.
"New Zealand Rugby is about mobility and playing the game fast, that is our point of difference in world," he said. "But in my involvement with this tournament in the past couple of years, we need to be able to hold our own at scrum time and it cost us last year. Scrummaging is a core role, particularly for tightheads. First and foremost they have to be able to do that and the other stuff is the bonus."
He was encouraged by the group they had assembled this year and believed the likely weather in Georgia would help them in their bid to win the title back from England.
"Looking at the weather in Georgia in June it is pretty dry and about 28 degrees which will play into our hands a little bit," he said. "It will mean that we are able to play the type of game that we love, but still be aware of what the opposition will bring, particularly at scrum time and lineout time because it will be quite different to what these guys have seen before**."
Sounds to me like Cron made an excuse firstly and then said the real reason why NZ struggled in the scrum last year. Its not that they're behind in terms of physical strength but rather they prioritise mobile props to play a fast game. Thats just the way it is.
The U20 6 nations is on at the moment. England are looking good again.
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Always look forward to the JWC and seeing the next big things from other countries before they hit the big time.
England going really well in the U20 6N, despite having a handful of players unavailable with club commitments. Last season they actually only beat Italy before turning things around for the JWC. Probably a better group of players this season (not especially big again, contrary to the stereotype), so will be interesting to see whether they can back it up in June in a knockout environment. Definitely a handful of future internationals, with the back row being especially strong.
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The three Six Nations comps are all motoring nicely for England and Ireland so far with both of them in first and second in all three - U20s, Women's Senior and Men's Senior. Both teams unbeaten in the U20s and Women's. If they win their games this weekend, then St Patrick's weekend is going to be a mighty festival of rugby with championships and grand slams on the table for the two rivals. Should be a lot of fun - have my tickets lined up for all three.
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@Pot-Hale
Yep, it's nicely set up. Would be nice to get there with all to play for in all formats, but we'll see...
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The Oceania U20s Championship will expand to four nations in 2017 with Samoa and Fiji joining New Zealand and tournament hosts Australia on the Gold Coast this May.
http://www.allblacks.com/News/30501/fiji-and-samoa-join-the-oceania-u20-championships
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@Bovidae said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:
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.
What are all those fucking North Island forwards doing in there? Based on recent All Black history, the tight forwards should come almost exclusively from Ta$man or Canterbury, with a token North Islander or two thrown in - probably only if they've already signed up for the Crusaders Academy.
Oh well, they'll get a nice certificate for participating to hang on their walls, which will doubtless encourage them to carry on.
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I've seen Harrison Allan play club rugby.
Looks to be a real talent, hope his scrummaging is good enough. He's definately got the physique for it (unlike the fat 130kg + Auckland props we've had in recent memory, who tend to stand in the backline waiting for a chance to run the ball)
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@Chris-B. said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:
@Bovidae said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:
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.
What are all those fucking North Island forwards doing in there? Based on recent All Black history, the tight forwards should come almost exclusively from Ta$man or Canterbury, with a token North Islander or two thrown in - probably only if they've already signed up for the Crusaders Academy.
Oh well, they'll get a nice certificate for participating to hang on their walls, which will doubtless encourage them to carry on.
Don't confuse those from Auckland/Wellington, who have grown up on a diet of statehouse rugby, with the rest of the North Island. The lads from the heartlands aren't the ones watching as their team mates go into contact while they stand in the backline waiting for the next hitup.
Still, only three from the sheep shagging regions is not a good sign....
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@SammyC said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:
I've seen Harrison Allan play club rugby.
Looks to be a real talent, hope his scrummaging is good enough. He's definately got the physique for it (unlike the fat 130kg + Auckland props we've had in recent memory, who tend to stand in the backline waiting for a chance to run the ball)
Those fat props are from Waikato and Wellington...
Not too many Auckland props have made the U20s in recent times.
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@Bovidae Doubtless won by a bunch of flash harry backs making those fat useless backline-lurking forwards look good.
But, when our scrum is reversing at a rate of knots in the pissing rain, we'll realise that we might as well just have picked whomever is propping at Tapawera High School or maybe Murchison...
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@Chris-B. said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:
@Bovidae said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:
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.
What are all those fucking North Island forwards doing in there? Based on recent All Black history, the tight forwards should come almost exclusively from Ta$man or Canterbury, with a token North Islander or two thrown in - probably only if they've already signed up for the Crusaders Academy.
Oh well, they'll get a nice certificate for participating to hang on their walls, which will doubtless encourage them to carry on.
Like err Coles or Retallick ..
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This post is deleted!
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@cheetahsBO I made a new thread for 2017 school rugby here: http://www.thesilverfern.com/topic/1412/2017-school-rugby
