2019 under 20's

[Canes4life]

Interesting re McLutchie, CGB hasn't played or isn't down to play in this weeks Club rugby so i'm assuming he's injured atm.

Surely those guys make it in having all played NPC.

[Stargazer]

@Canes4life I'm not sure whether they'll make the JWC squad. The media release says the squad for the Oceania U20s is the core of the JWC squad and seems to suggest that players who missed out, depend on injuries to get in.

Only one player to be added for the Oceania U20s.

It's annoying, because McClutchie was clearly better than Reihana when they played for NZ Schools, McClutchie was very good for the Magpies. I don't know whether Reihana has any NPC experience, but certainly not as much and not as significant as McClutchie. Can't say much about Burke; can't remember him. I assume he played for Canterbury U19s last year.

[98blueandgold]

@Stargazer Burke is an ok player. I thought they would have gone with Mcclutchir still. I wonder if they are thinking kicking though, but who knows. Surprised about Cobb also as he has already had two years in u20, but overall predictable squad

[Stargazer]

@98blueandgold McClutchie now does the goal kicking for his club, so he must have been working on it. And Toala is an excellent goal kicker.

[Nepia]

@Stargazer said in 2019 under 20's:

McClutchie was very good for the Magpies.

McClutchie was better than Falcon last year too, who has a settled Super contract.

[Tim]

Draw for Oceania tournament:

http://www.oceaniarugby.com/common/pages/public/rv/draw.aspx?seasonid=108&gradeid=22911_1&entityid=66726

Round 1
26 Apr 19 5:00PM New Zealand U20s v Fiji U20s Bond University
26 Apr 19 7:00PM Australia U20s v Japan U20s Bond University
Round 2
30 Apr 19 5:00PM New Zealand U20s v Japan U20s Bond University
30 Apr 19 7:00PM Australia U20s v Fiji U20s Bond University
Round 3
4 May 19 5:00PM Japan U20s v Fiji U20s Bond University
4 May 19 7:00PM New Zealand U20s v Australia U20s Bond University

[Stargazer]

@Tim Yep, see a few posts earlier in this thread (with NZ times)

[Daffy Jaffy]

South Africa U20s vs Argentina U20s live on youtube

Final score:- Argies 34 - 33 Boks.

[Stargazer]

There have been a few changes to the NZ U20s squad for the Oceania U20 Championship that was announced on 5 April:

His 17 forwards look settled, out of which Hawke’s Bay hooker Kianu Kereru-Symes will be skipper. He is one of nine from this squad who played Mitre 10 Cup in 2018, while four appeared for the Under 20s in 2018, a side which won Oceania but placed fourth in the World Cup after dropping the semifinal to France and the bronze playoff to South Africa.

The backline is bursting with talent and versatility. Last season’s NZ Schools captain Isaiah Punivai, a midfielder/wing, has been called in after injury to Crusaders wing Leicester Faingaanuku, but the latter is expected to be available for the World Cup. The Hurricanes’ Billy Proctor and the Blues’ Caleb Clarke have yet to be released by their franchises, but Proctor, in particular is a likely starter for the World Cup. Etene Nanai-Seturo was originally released by the Chiefs, but depletion of their outside back reserves means he was recalled. The former All Blacks Sevens rep is another who may yet play a part in Argentina.

Scott Gregory is back from injury, but will likely not be considered until the second game in Australia. With the depth of riches in midfield, Gregory could suit up at either fullback or wing. There are no specialist wings, but Philpott knows several of his charges can do a job on the flanks.

So the final squad for the Oceania tournament is:

Forwards:
Naitoa Ah Kuoi - Wellington
Kaylum Boshier - Taranaki (vc)
George Dyer - Waikato
Samipeni Finau - Waikato
Devan Flanders - Hawke's Bay
Cullen Grace - Canterbury
Kohan Herbert - Bay of Plenty
Kianu Kereru Symes - Hawke's Bay (c)
Shilo Klein - Canterbury
Jeriah Mua - Bay of Plenty
Fletcher Newell - Canterbury
Ollie Norris - Waikato
Simon Parker - Waikato
Taine Plumtree - Wellington
Kaliopasi Uluilakepa - Wellington
Tupou Vaa’i - Taranaki
Tamaiti Williams - Canterbury

Backs:
Fergus Burke - Canterbury
Leroy Carter - Bay of Plenty
Leicester Faingaanuku - Ta$man
Cole Forbes - Bay of Plenty
Taufa Funaki - Auckland
Sam Gilbert - Canterbury
Lalomilo Lalomilo - Bay of Plenty
Dallas McLeod - Canterbury (vc)
Rivez Reihana - Waikato
Etene Nanai Seturo - Counties Manukau
Danny Toala - Hawke's Bay
Quinn Tupaea - Waikato

Added (all backs):
Isaiah Punivai (Canterbury)
Scott Gregory (Northland)
Chay Fihaki (Canterbury)

.

After France exposed New Zealand in the scrum last year, it is no secret that set-piece has been a key plank of the planning for this 2019 campaign.

“Especially given our pool at the World Cup (Georgia, Scotland and South Africa). We’ll be pretty good at defending the lineout drive after that. They are very set-piece focused teams, but we have probably one of the biggest packs we’ve selected for a while, especially in the tight five,” says Philpott.

“In the past, New Zealand rugby has been about our big boys having soft skillsets, being able to catch, pass and run like backs, but we find that is essential they can scrum first and do their core tasks at set-piece.”

As ever, while the NZ Schools and NZ Barbarians Schools teams offer well-established pathways into the Under 20s, the Jock Hobbs Memorial National Under 19 tournament is a vital step in the selection process.

“A lot of these guys impressed in that 2018 tournament. One that springs to mind is (lock) Samipeni Finau for Waikato. He was the first player I saw on the first day. He made a break and we thought ‘Wow.’ We kept an eye on him. We’ve also got a lot of Bay of Plenty guys in our team from the side that won the tournament, like Lalomilo Lalomilo, Leroy Carter and Cole Forbes. That’s where they come to the fore, so that tournament is invaluable for us,” says Philpott.

.
Match Round 1: Friday 26 April 2019
New Zealand v Fiji – Kick off 7pm NZT (5pm, AEST)
Australia v Japan – Kick off 9pm NZT (7pm, AEST)

Match Round 2: Tuesday 30 April 2019
New Zealand v Japan – Kick off 7pm NZT (5pm, AEST)
Australia v Fiji – Kick off 9pm NZT (7pm, AEST)

Match Round 3: Saturday 4 May 2019
Japan v Fiji – Kick off 7pm NZT (5pm, AEST)
New Zealand v Australia – Kick off 9pm NZT (7pm, AEST)

.

All matches will be live streamed on www.rugby.com.au.

[Stargazer]

I don't understand why they plan these games at the same time as Super Rugby games. Why not on a Thursday evening instead of Friday, and on Saturday afternoon instead of Saturday evening?

I hope they post the full games on YouTube like last year.

[antipodean]

Philpott said in 2019 under 20's:

“In the past, New Zealand rugby has been about our big boys having soft skillsets, being able to catch, pass and run like backs, but we find that is essential they can scrum first and do their core tasks at set-piece.”

Astonishing. Said as if it's some insight based down from the Mountain or something.

[mimic]

I think the scrummaging thing is partly because of the rules at schoolboy level..

I'm always surprised to see Auckland players make the u20s for another province.. Is it because Auckland can't identify talent or what?

[Tim]

@mimic Think it was a case of the Chiefs recruiting them a couple of years ago.

[Number 10]

@mimic said in 2019 under 20's:

I think the scrummaging thing is partly because of the rules at schoolboy level..

I'm always surprised to see Auckland players make the u20s for another province.. Is it because Auckland can't identify talent or what?

Isn't it really just an economy-of-scale thing - a very high number of talented players leaving school each year who can't all fit into the two Auckland Under 19 teams at Jock Hobbs tournament so they look to move elsewhere?

You've got ten 1A comp schools, say a squad of 25 for each, thats 250 players. Let's say half of them leave school each year, so that's 125 going into club/provincial rugby every year. The two Auckland teams at the Jock Hobbs tournament only caters for 50 players, so that leaves more than half the 125 leavers going into some kind of rep void each year when they want to get noticed.

Mitre 10 Cup provinces are scouring the country for talent and players scour the country for provinces to get into their rep teams.

[Tim]

Who are the best midfield backs in that squad?

[Stargazer]

@Tim IMO Danny Toala and Quinn Tupaea

Edited to add Scott Gregory (forgot he had been added to the squad). However, they've made Dallas McLeod vice-captian, so I assume he'll be one of the first picks. Toala can play fullbakc as well.

[Canes4life]

Proctor will most likely start at centre if he is released - Toala to fullback.

[Tim]

Anyone know what Salyn Tonu'u has been up to?

[Chiefy07]

Would be an absolute waste if they put Scott Gregory on the wing or at Fullback. Should be nailed on at 12

[Stargazer]

The NZU20 team list for the game against Fiji hasn't been posted, yet, but Fiji has announced its team.

Fijian Under-20 Team

1 Livai Natave, 2 Tevita Ikanivere {c}, 3 Joseva Nasaroa, 4 Etonia Waqa, 5 Christopher Minimbi, 6 Vilive Miramira, 7 Alivereti Loaloa, 8 Eparama Sailo
9 Simione Kuruvoli, 10 Caleb Muntz, 11 Epeli Momo, 12 Veresa Ramototabua, 13 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Kaminieli Rasaku, 15 Osea Waqa

Reserves
16 Lino Vasuinadi, 17 Meli Sikoijeriko, 18 Emosi Tuqiri, 19 Taniela Ramasibana, 20 Anasa Qaranivalu, 21 Josh Vuta, 22 Taniela Soqonawasaliwa, 23 Osea Natoga