Blues U20 v Crusaders U20

[Stargazer]

This ref isn't good. Fletcher Anderson penalised for ... nothing.

The replacement 10 Cameron Howell (?) scores the undeserved penalty.

Blues U20 41 - 20 Crusaders U20

[Stargazer]

And another penalty to the Blues U20. Cameron Howell misses.

[Stargazer]

Crusaders U20' defence is like Swiss cheese. Sititi finds another hole, and Quinton Nichols scores. Cameron Howell covnerts.

Blues U20 48 - 20 Crusaders U20

[Stargazer]

Classy attack from the Crusaders U20 via Macca Springer, who passes to Nikola Vikena to score. Not sure who converted.

Blues U20 48 - 27 Crusaders U20

[Stargazer]

On attack, the Crusaders U20s have improved. Good bench impact.

[Chris B.]

@Stargazer I've only seen a few minutes of this, but that Sititi looks promising!!!

[Stargazer]

@Chris-B Yeah, he's been good all game!

[Bovidae]

Sititi missed the first tackle on Bell when he scored, and then Brial missed Nichols in his try. All three starting Blues loose forwards played well. There is plenty of depth at no.8 and loose forward for Donnelly to select from.

I'm not sure which locks he will use apart from Holland. Some of them lack height.

[Stargazer]

FT: Blues U20 48 - 27 Crusaders U20

The Blues U20s can be very satisfied with this win. Not only does it save their tournament, but there were also some real improvements during the course of the game.

The Crusaders U20 on the other hand can't be happy, despite some individual players going really well. I think the coaches got their selections wrong in this game. Some bench players played better than the starters. Rotation can't be avoided in a tournament like this, though.

Best player by a country mile: Blues U20 captain Wallace Sititi. Fellow loosies Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo and Chlayton Frans, midfielder Quinton Nichols and outside back Liam Brady looked good, too.

Best Crusaders U20 players were George Bell, Nikola Vikena and reserve loosie Daniel Dixon. Macca Springer went well, too, most of the time.

[Stargazer]

@Bovidae Matt Monaghan from the Hurricanes maybe? The Barbarians have some good locks, but I don't know how old they are.

[Tim]

@Stargazer said in Blues U20 v Crusaders U20:

Nikola Vikena

Is he Soane Vikena's brother? They both went to MAGS.

[Stargazer]

@Tim I can't remember the commentators mentioning Soane, but I think they mentioned an Auckland school?

[Bovidae]

@Stargazer said in Blues U20 v Crusaders U20:

@Bovidae Matt Monaghan from the Hurricanes maybe? The Barbarians have some good locks, but I don't know how old they are.

I don't think Monaghan is that tall either. Similar to Craig and Beehre, for example. Hannah has some height but is a lightweight.

As to the Barbarian locks, Cahill is first year out of school so should have been in the Crusaders. You might remember him playing for Hamilton BHS last year but from Chch.

[Stargazer]

[cgrant]

@Bovidae
Palmer (Chiefs) is a big munter. Not very tall (around 1.95) but bigger than most NZ locks.

[Frank]

Among these U20s, any future ABs?

[Bovidae]

@cgrant said in Blues U20 v Crusaders U20:

@Bovidae
Palmer (Chiefs) is a big munter. Not very tall (around 1.95) but bigger than most NZ locks.

He gives away stupid penalties so will need to sort that out. Palmer often alternated between lock and prop for TBC, but wasn't very good at the latter due to his height.

It would be good to have another lock like Lord in the U20s this year.