New Zealand under 20
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="586739" data-time="1465654576">
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<p>Haha, they're celebrating beating NZ as if they have beaten the All Blacks! </p>
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<p>and why the fuck not??!! I think it is the first time an Ireland side has beaten a NZ one so what a great win for them</p> -
<p>Ireland did not even have to have any 'project' players. It must be a little concerning to the powers that be in NZ for their team that consists of players who probably do very little with their lives other than to devote it fulltime to training and practicing rugby (even if they are not getting paid for it) to be turned over in rather comfortable fashion by unheralded Ireland.</p>
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="da_grubster" data-cid="586746" data-time="1465656012">
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<p>and why the fuck not??!! I think it is the first time an Ireland side has beaten a NZ one so what a great win for them</p>
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<p>I just find it funny, because the NZ U20s aren't in any way as dominant on the world stage as the All Blacks are. The "All Blacks 7s" aren't either. Maybe it means something for an Irish team to beat any NZ team, because possibly it will be the only NZ team they'll ever beat, but from a NZ perspective it's odd, because only a few of these NZ U20s players will ever make the All Blacks.</p>
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<p>Edit: by the way, I wasn't diminishing the Irish win, if that's what you were thinking. It was a good and deserved win!</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="da_grubster" data-cid="586746" data-time="1465656012">
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<p>and why the fuck not??!! I think it is the first time an Ireland side has beaten a NZ one so what a great win for them</p>
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<p>For men, but the Irish women beat the Black Ferns in the last RWC.</p>
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<p>Congrats to the Irish U20s. The NZ U20s were naive in those conditions. I guess Jordie isn't quite the goal kicker everyone says he is.</p>
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<p>A huge game vs Wales coming up.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="586748" data-time="1465656627"><p>
I just find it funny, because the NZ U20s aren't in any way as dominant on the world stage as the All Blacks are. The "All Blacks 7s" aren't either. Maybe it means something for an Irish team to beat any NZ team, because possibly it will be the only NZ team they'll ever beat, but from a NZ perspective it's odd, because only a few of these NZ U20s players will ever make the All Blacks.<br><br>
Edit: by the way, I wasn't diminishing the Irish win, if that's what you were thinking. It was a good and deserved win!</p></blockquote>
If you're an U20 rugby player, then beating the Junior All Blacks would be regarded as a good scalp. Obviously beating Wales the previous week, the current 6N Grand Slam champions was a better win, but still.... 😀<br><br>
Edit: by the way I'm not diminishing New Zealand in any way saying that obviously.... 😉 -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="586748" data-time="1465656627">
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<p>I just find it funny, because the NZ U20s aren't in any way as dominant on the world stage as the All Blacks are. The "All Blacks 7s" aren't either. Maybe it means something for an Irish team to beat any NZ team, because possibly it will be the only NZ team they'll ever beat, but from a NZ perspective it's odd, because only a few of these NZ U20s players will ever make the All Blacks.</p>
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<p>Edit: by the way, I wasn't diminishing the Irish win, if that's what you were thinking. It was a good and deserved win!</p>
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<p>well they are the defending champions and if you look at their record then it is highly impressive at this level, albeit not as dominant over the last 3-4 years. We have won 5 out of 8 at U20 level (ABs 3 out of 8! just making a point, not saying they are equally as important or hard to win)</p>
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<p>Most of these Irish U20 players may never go on to play for Ireland. It could be the last time they play a NZ international team and they have never beaten them before. </p>
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<p>I dont think you can underestimate this given they have never beaten NZ at any level in their history.</p>
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<p>Glad you werent diminshing the win. Let them have their day ;-)</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="da_grubster" data-cid="586807" data-time="1465671719"><p>
well they are the defending champions and if you look at their record then it is highly impressive at this level, albeit not as dominant over the last 3-4 years. We have won 5 out of 8 at U20 level (ABs 3 out of 8! just making a point, not saying they are equally as important or hard to win)<br><br>
Most of these Irish U20 players may never go on to play for Ireland. It could be the last time they play a NZ international team and they have never beaten them before. <br><br>
I dont think you can underestimate this given they have never beaten NZ at any level in their history.<br><br>
Glad you werent diminshing the win. Let them have their day ;-)</p></blockquote>
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Well Ireland Women did beat NZ Women in the RWC at first time of asking. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mimic" data-cid="586257" data-time="1465618348">
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<p>I'm 1.8m and I'm definitely taller than him.. I take those stats with a grain of salt..</p>
<p>Maybe it was a typo and it was meant to be 1.74m.. but yes, like i said.. smart player.. just need to wait for him to develop some size and strength</p>
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<p>edit: unless he's grown 10cm.. so i may be wrong D:</p>
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<p>I think he's tracking alright for size and strength at this point of his career. He looked stronger last year than he did the previous year, so there's obvious progress being made there. I saw him earlier this year and he looked bigger up top. He still could use some weight on his lower body though, but that should come once he gets over the leg injuries. With SBW at the Blues now, Faiane doesn't need to be rushed in.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="586748" data-time="1465656627"><p>I just find it funny, because the NZ U20s aren't in any way as dominant on the world stage as the All Blacks are. The "All Blacks 7s" aren't either. Maybe it means something for an Irish team to beat any NZ team, because possibly it will be the only NZ team they'll ever beat, but from a NZ perspective it's odd, because only a few of these NZ U20s players will ever make the All Blacks.<br><br>
Edit: by the way, I wasn't diminishing the Irish win, if that's what you were thinking. It was a good and deserved win!</p></blockquote>
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I really liked the celebration from the young Paddies. Sure I would've loved a last minute win, but the fact they really fronted and got their first win versus NZ at this level (0-5 I believe) was to be celebrated. <br><br>
It doesn't really matter about the future etc, for these guys it's the here and now. <br><br><br>
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="586878" data-time="1465683106">
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<p>The backs had to try win that one on their own, because outside of Mikaele-Tu'u, the pack added nothing.</p>
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<p>The scrum has been a big weakness of the U20s for a long time, but it is even worse this year than others.</p>
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<p>Yes. Every time I've watched the U20s in the past few years the scrum has been shit. They got humiliated last night and are deserving of getting the treatment of an AB prop named Keith Murdoch i.e. loaded on a plane and sent home.</p>
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<p>Not surprising, looking at the team list, the front row is dominated by fuckers from Wellington and Waikato. When did Wellington or Waikato last produce a decent prop? </p>
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<p>Robertson should have looked at his props birth certificates and school records and if they weren't born or raised in Ta$man he should have just fucked them off.</p>
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<p>Seriously - what's fucking wrong with our coaching or selection that we can't produce young props who can hold up the scrum.</p> -
<p>Ah but one of the props in particular has some people creaming themselves over his running in the open field skills. Probably already been granted a Wellington Lions contract given the way they hand them out to players either not up to it or yet to prove themselves.</p>
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<p>Kautai was brought into the U20s after the Aust tour because he is a strong scrummager. To be fair, the scrum is reasonably stable when he is at TH. The problem is on the other side, and the reserve props who are even worse. Fidow was a huge step down at TH when he came on.</p>
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<p>NZ has never had a dominant scrum at U20 level, but it's been serviceable. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bovidae" data-cid="586916" data-time="1465689288">
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<p> Fidow was a huge step down at TH when he came on.</p>
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<p>Got it in one. Those of us, obviously not connected to the fishheads that pick teams and award contracts, that have seen him play for his Scots College team the last year or so have known that for a fair (or perhaps fear would be a more apt spelling) while.</p> -
<p>Just want to throw in a few thoughts,i was very fortunate to be in australia recently when the NZ unders 20s played 2 x tests at Bond University on the Gold Coast,i also saw them play the Blues development team before they had left for their 2 x tests in Australia.i was very much under the impression this team would struggle,they strugggled at both set piece lineout and scrum,not being smart after the fact,but i have heard from many coaches over the years,while we have awesomely talented forwards,we dont always have size,many of the Northern Hemisphere teams along with South Africa,have very big packs,we have been fortunate in the past to have very good play makers in positions and not to mention some outstading loose foward trios,last year fopr example,we had Blake Gibson,Mitchell Karpick and Akira Ioane,in the NZ team that won that tournament last year.</p>
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<p>Akira Ioane was one man recking ball machine.we also had some very classy midfielders in Vince Aso and Jack Goodhue,Geoff Cridge,their were several guys who had played at ITM cup level,whilst their are a some guys that a part of super rugby squads,Trainor,Stephenson and Nock to name a few,they are a very inexperienced teams,in terms of having guys that have played athat higher level.</p>