2019 under 20's
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@Chris-B I can understand Wellington not having reps in the starting XV. The last few years, Hawke's Bay school teams have been kicking Wellington schools' asses in the Hurricanes competition. By the way, Billy Proctor wasn't released by the Hurricanes. The large number of Canterbury and Bay of Plenty players can probably be explained by the U19s tournament last year, which BoP won and Canterbury were runners-up.
Another thing I've noticed is that a few of the boys that were selected for the NZ Schools teams from Auckland schools the last few years, are now listed as coming from other provinces. Examples: Rivez Reihana (St Kent's - now Waikato), Chay Fihaki (Sacred Heart - Canterbury), Isaiah Punivai (St Kent's - Canterbury) etc. These players have returned to their home provinces. Auckland schools' poaching doesn't help Auckland rugby being represented in NZ U20s, it seems.
Haven't watched the game yet, so not commenting on the game, except for THAT IS A SHIT RESULT!!
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@Stargazer That's why I'm glad the Auckland schools took a stand against St Kents and to a lesser extent Kings as we weren't even seeing a lot of these kids come through the Auckland system. Hopefully more kids stay with their schools now instead of just coming up to Auckland to play rugby before returning to their provinces.
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@Higgins maybe some blame but this was about the best squad available to him without inj and Super players. Although I would say the skill level on attack has been as poor as I’ve seen from a NZ side ever, this is in all games. I wonder if game plan suits them. Also they were out-passioned by Aussies big time.
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@98blueandgold said in 2019 under 20's:
@Higgins maybe some blame but this was about the best squad available to him without inj and Super players. Although I would say the skill level on attack has been as poor as I’ve seen from a NZ side ever, this is in all games. I wonder if game plan suits them. Also they were out-passioned by Aussies big time.
As you know the small number of HB supporters on here have a lingering dislike for Mr. Philpott after his remarkable effort to get the Bay relegated twice in the space of a couple of seasons.
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I still haven't been able to watch the NZ v Australia game (the result is putting me off), but fyi, Fiji beat Japan 59 - 37.
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@Stargazer Reihanas from Whangarei, Fihaki born n bred Aucklander
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Lalomilo Lalomilo is another Aucklander that is now playing for BoP.
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@Nogusta Thanks, yes, I used the wrong examples. Reihana went to Huanui College before going to St Kent's. I was put on the wrong foot by the fact that he was in the Chiefs' U18 squad. Somehow that made me think he went to Hamilton Boys haha. Did you know that Chay Fihaki is the cousin of Albert Tuisue and Ben Volavola (Flying Fijians)?
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@African-Monkey yea it must grate Auckland and the Blues when players are brought to Auckland to play 1A, take a spot in the Blues 17s and 18s programmes, make NZ Schools/Baabaas then go back to their province or other ones. There may be others but Zarn Sullivan is the only one I can think of who has bucked the trend and stayed in Auckland.
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@Stargazer do players from Hawkes Bay even make Super Rugby level, let alone Under 20s?
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@Nogusta Yes that did suprise me him staying in Auckland (for now). He looks a good player from what I've seen. Nice left boot and a good running game. Not saying he'll get anywhere near the same level as the greatest 10 we've ever had but he plays a similar style to Dan Carter.
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@mimic he’s from bay of plenty but schooled in Auckland
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@African-Monkey he's been a standout in the Auckland club comp for College Rifles. He may end up taking over the starting 10 spot in the M10 side.
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@Canes4life Not sure who you are referring to, but I was referring to Bailyn Sullivan, who plays for the Chiefs.
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Looks like all squads have been chosen
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Still not impressed with the pack! Need to perform a hell of a lot better
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No Toala
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@allblacksfan72 said in 2019 under 20's:
Still not impressed with the pack! Need to perform a hell of a lot better
We are in a pool with Georgia, Scotland and South Africa. Our forward pack will certainly be taken on and tested,
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Don't think we are winning with that squad. Sheesh.
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@Canes4life said in 2019 under 20's:
Don't think we are winning with that squad. Sheesh.
Yeah, doesn't look like a squad from which endless bounty will come. Certainly not after that disgrace against the Oz U20. Hopefully most of the Australian team is full of outspoken Christians...
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With his 1.97 m, Vai'i is the tallest man in the pack. His partner in the second row (Cullen Grace) has the same size as Blackwell (1.90 m, 106 kg).
Hopefully they will play Tamaiti Williams in his preferred position, which is loose head prop. He was outplayed against the Junior Wallabies while placed on the tight head. He is a good prop and had a commanding performance last year for the NZ schoolboys vs Australia.
Is Toala injured ? If not, his absence would be beyond any understanding. -
@Wurzel pretty sure that won't be the official or final squad that lands in Argentina. All teams have to submit a squad list by a certain date, not necessarily THE official team list. I'd wait until the official announcement from NZRFU, probably in the next day or so.
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Squad officially named
http://www.allblacks.com/News/34093/nz-under-20-squad-named-for-world-rugby-championship
Forwards: Kaylum Boshier (Taranaki) – Vice-Captain 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) - Captain 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/Crusaders) Cole Forbes (Bay of Plenty) Taufa Funaki (Auckland) Scott Gregory (Northland/All Blacks Sevens) Lalomilo Lalomilo (Bay of Plenty) Dallas McLeod (Canterbury) – Vice-Captain Billy Proctor (Wellington/Hurricanes) Rivez Reihana (Waikato) Etene Nanai-Seturo (Counties Manukau/Chiefs) Quinn Tupaea (Waikato)
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@cgrant said in 2019 under 20's:
With his 1.97 m, Vai'i is the tallest man in the pack. His partner in the second row (Cullen Grace) has the same size as Blackwell (1.90 m, 106 kg).
Hopefully they will play Tamaiti Williams in his preferred position, which is loose head prop. He was outplayed against the Junior Wallabies while placed on the tight head. He is a good prop and had a commanding performance last year for the NZ schoolboys vs Australia.
Is Toala injured ? If not, his absence would be beyond any understanding.Did Cantabrians on the forum talk up Cullen Grace as really promising? I take it as a loosie though? rather than lock? Or was he big enough to lock as schoolboy/jinior level where the forumers had seen him previously? Assume his future is as a loosie moving forward though, or we write off that height as 'typically accurate' official measurement ....
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@Rapido said in 2019 under 20's:
@cgrant said in 2019 under 20's:
With his 1.97 m, Vai'i is the tallest man in the pack. His partner in the second row (Cullen Grace) has the same size as Blackwell (1.90 m, 106 kg).
Hopefully they will play Tamaiti Williams in his preferred position, which is loose head prop. He was outplayed against the Junior Wallabies while placed on the tight head. He is a good prop and had a commanding performance last year for the NZ schoolboys vs Australia.
Is Toala injured ? If not, his absence would be beyond any understanding.Did Cantabrians on the forum talk up Cullen Grace as really promising? I take it as a loosie though? rather than lock? Or was he big enough to lock as schoolboy/jinior level where the forumers had seen him previously? Assume his future is as a loosie moving forward though, or we write off that height as 'typically accurate' official measurement ....
From what I hear he was really good playing for Lincoln University at number 6 last year. Pretty impressive for a 19 year old playing against men in such a physical position. Especially as he wasn't expected to play for the seniors at the start of the season.
Obviously not tall enough for a top level lock, but a big prospect in the loose forwards
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I just can't believe Toala isn't in the squad. One of the best during the Oceania Championship. Instead they pick ... Forbes?
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@Stargazer I”m shocked by the non selection of Toala as well..looked an outstanding prospect in the handful of appearances for the Magpies last year..this backline is gonna have to make use of every scrap of ball they get judging on what the forward pack dished up at the Oceania Tournament..!
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Toala's non-selection is apparently due to the inclusion of Leicester Fainga'anuku, Etene Nanai-Seturo and Billy Proctor all being released from their Super Rugby squads to strengthen the team.
Considering it was the forwards who got shown up against Australia it is odd that it is the backline which has been strengthened.
The Titanic has just left Southampton?
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@Number-10 They could have dropped Cole Forbes instead though, who didn't play as well as Toala and is still in the squad.
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Philpott, still shitting on Hawkes Bay rugby even when he's no longer the coach.
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""We probably didn't adapt our game plan well on the run, so there are good learnings in there for our game drivers."
Maybe it would have helped if they had picked the right "game driver" (10).
And maybe, they didn't have the right game plan to start with?
One point in that article is true and will continue to be a problem: the fact that countries like France and England have players in their squad, who have been full-time professionals for some time and have played in the Top 14 and Premiership. I don't know about England, but France have a players who have been playing in the Top 14 for at least two years and are - physically - huge! Even some of their backs are huge! We only have a few players with less than a full season of SR experience.
A country like South Africa, also has played more international games in preparation of the JWC (Namibia XV, Argentina U20, Georgia U20, Wales U20 and England U20).
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BOP Selection to take on the NZ U20s in Te Puke tonight.
The Mua brothers will be going head-to-head...
Steamers coach Clayton McMillan says Bay of Plenty Rugby is starting to reap the rewards of the Bay of Plenty High Performance Program.
McMillan will coach a Bay of Plenty XV Wasps’ side against the New Zealand Under 20s at Murray Salt Stadium Te Puke tomorrow night (May 28). The hit-out is a build up towards the Under-20’s World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Argentina next month.
The home team, playing in Wasps colours, won’t be the only Bay players on the park, with five members of the NZ Under 20s team being selected from the region. Lalomilo Lalomilo, Leroy Carter, Cole Forbes, Jeriah Mua and Kohan Herbert will wear the Black Jersey when they face some of their former teammates from the Bay of Plenty Under 19s, who won the Jock Hobbs Memorial National Under 19 Tournament last year in Taupo.
McMillan, who also coaches the Maori All Blacks says it is great to see players from our various High Performance Programmes across the region getting to show their talents at a higher level.
"Our academy has been a work in progress. The fact that we got five players into the New Zealand U-20s this year and it could have been more if Kaleb Trask had not been injured is a huge testament to the program and the people involved.”
Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chief executive Mike Rogers says, the Union has been focused on developing a strong performance environment for both young male and female athletes.
"We have increased our investment in this area and worked through identifying what we believe are all the key elements to a successful program.
‘’We have fantastic facilities and have developed some very exciting partnerships such as the research work we do with the University of Waikato."
Rogers says the most important part is the world class people involved in this area.
"It is great we are now seeing the results with some of our targeted young players representing our Country. However, we still believe we have areas that need to improve so we will continue to work hard to reach the standards we are aiming for."
The Union has partnered with New World Te Puke to bring this unique event to Murray Salt Stadium so local fans can experience an exhilarating evening of national level competition in their own back yard and show their support for the NZ Under 20s squad on their journey to win their seventh World Championship title.
The match kicks off at 6.35pm, tomorrow night at Murray Salt Stadium, Te Puke. Entry is by gold coin donation with all proceeds going to Te Puke Sports Junior Rugby.
Bay of Plenty Wasps Squad:
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Tom McHugh
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Masiu Akauola
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Jonas Pomare
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Iosefa Maloney
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Stan van den Hoven
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Hugh Blake
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Ajau Mua
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Abe Papalii
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Jonty Wood
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Reece Macdonald
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Pryor Collier
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Brad Armstrong
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Dennon Robinson
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Declan Barnett
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Kaleb Trask
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Jaya More
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Apitoni Toia
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Sione Afu
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Eishin Kuwano
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Angus Baker
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Shinya Ikemachi
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Carl Perry
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Jayjay Sheung Fuk
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Joe Johnston
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Gordie Lloyd
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Brody Lam
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Pierre Pili
Game details:
Bay of Plenty Wasps vs New Zealand Under 20s
Date: Tuesday 28 May
Time: Kitchen and bar open from 5:50pm, Kick-off 6:35pm
Location: Murray Salt Stadium, Te Puke
Entry Fee: Gold coin donation -
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@ARHS said in 2019 under 20's:
So Kaleb Trask is playing against the NZ Under 20s and not for them...
I liked Clayton McMillan's loaded comment in that press release where he mentions Kaleb was unavailable for the Under 20s because of injury
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So that makes it 3 players, who are available and should be in the squad, but have been left out: McClutchie, Toala and now also Trask. If someone understands it, please, explain.
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