New Zealand under 20
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<p>They have changed the NZ starting side and Lowe comes on as a late injury replacement for Trainor:</p>
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<p>This is the XV to play Wales:</p>
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<p>1. Ayden Johnstone 2. Leni Apisai (c) 3. Sosefo Kautai 4. Quinten Strange 5. Hamish Dalzell 6. Fin Hoeata 7. Mitchell Jacobson 8. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u</p>
<p>9. Sam Nock 10. TJ Va’a 11. Jonah Lowe 12. Jordie Barrett 13. Patelesio Tomkinson 14. Caleb Makene 15. Shaun Stevenson</p>
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<p><em>Reserves</em>: 16. Asafo Aumua 17. Sean Paranihi 18. Alex Fidow 19. Isaia Walker-Leawere 20. Luke Jacobson 21. Jonathan Taumateine 22. Stephen Perofeta 23. Malo Tuitama</p>
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<p><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.allblacks.com/News/29313/do-or-die-for-nz-u20-against-wales'>http://www.allblacks.com/News/29313/do-or-die-for-nz-u20-against-wales</a></p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="586970" data-time="1465698336">
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<p>Ridiculous for two reasons: he is playing 12, not 10.</p>
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<p>Last thing we want is for him to get played all over the show. He has all the skills to be a very good 12, can't we just let him focus on that? To me, it seems like, if he does well, he'd be the perfect kind of 12 to have outside of Beauden Barrett, eventually. Can help control the game and kick goals, as well as being another playmaker.</p>
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<p>HA Ha </p>
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<p>Beauden Barrett will never be the longterm starting 10 for the All Blacks. They will go Sopango when Cruden is injured. If he hasn't developed the skills to direct and fire a backline and set the tempo of the game after this long at the top level he never will. His biggest asset at 10 is his burst of acceleration that catches teams off guard, sadly as he gets older this will fade. He is a great supersub out wide though and can provide passable cover at 10 in a pinch but this is all he is going to be in regards to the All Blacks.</p>
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<p>He could set a record though for the first All Black to reach 100 caps with 90-85% of them off the bench.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="tubbyj" data-cid="588046" data-time="1465942756">
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<p>HA Ha </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Beauden Barrett will never be the longterm starting 10 for the All Blacks. They will go Sopango when Cruden is injured. If he hasn't developed the skills to direct and fire a backline and set the tempo of the game after this long at the top level he never will. His biggest asset at 10 is his burst of acceleration that catches teams off guard, sadly as he gets older this will fade. He is a great supersub out wide though and can provide passable cover at 10 in a pinch but this is all he is going to be in regards to the All Blacks.</p>
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<p>He could set a record though for the first All Black to reach 100 caps with 90-85% of them off the bench.</p>
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<p>Sopango? Is that a new player? Who's he playing for? :whistle:</p>
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<p>Lima Sopoaga has only started at 10 once for the All Blacks and that was the only test he's ever played for the ABs. He did well, but one game at this level is not enough to say he's better at 10 for the ABs than Barrett. He may be better, but he needs to prove it first. I hope he gets a chance this weekend or next. And whether Sopoaga is better than Barrett or not, he won't "be the longterm starting 10 for the All Blacks" either, if Cruden stays fit and keeps on playing the way he currently does. Sopoaga may have to become better than <em>Cruden </em>first, if he wants regular game time in black. The question is, how long does he want to wait? And will only starting the "easy" games be enough to keep him happy and in NZ? Barrett's versatility and super-sub status may deprive Sopoaga of a spot on the bench, too (I think you're too negative about Barrett as a 10 by the way).</p>
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<p>Anyway, things may be different again in a year or two. I don't see a new challenge for the All Blacks no. 10 jersey coming from Jordie Barrett. And also not from Damian McKenzie (as long as he keeps playing at 15). If Richie Mo'unga keeps developing the way he is at the Crusaders, <em>he </em>might be in the picture for the AB no. 10 spot for the next RWC. He's only in his first year of Super Rugby, but is leading the team around the park very well and is very good with the boot since they came back from SA. He's surprisingly mature for a 22 year-old rookie. If he doesn't get a bad 2nd year, I can see him compete for a spot in the 2017 EOYT squad. Geez, and people were worried after Carter, Slade, Taylor etc left the country ... </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="tubbyj" data-cid="588046" data-time="1465942756">
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<p>HA Ha </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Beauden Barrett will never be the longterm starting 10 for the All Blacks. They will go Sopango when Cruden is injured. If he hasn't developed the skills to direct and fire a backline and set the tempo of the game after this long at the top level he never will. His biggest asset at 10 is his burst of acceleration that catches teams off guard, sadly as he gets older this will fade. He is a great supersub out wide though and can provide passable cover at 10 in a pinch but this is all he is going to be in regards to the All Blacks.</p>
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<p>He could set a record though for the first All Black to reach 100 caps with 90-85% of them off the bench.</p>
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<p>I did not say that Beauden Barrett would be the longterm starting 10, and I largely agree with you (though I think if he works on his weaknesses he could get there - I don't expect him to, though). Though I don't think he'd be willing to hang around long enough to reach 100 caps without ever securing a starting spot.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Bones" data-cid="588092" data-time="1465946907">
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<p>Pretty dodgy writing off a player's potential after less than a handful of seasons....I bet that Nonu will never amount to anything either...</p>
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<p>I agree! NZ's depth (at 10, but also other positions) means that some players - who are good enough for a spot in the AB no. 10 jersey - still won't be regular starters or will even make the squad. That will force them to try harder and harder, to get better than the rest.</p>
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<p>As long as Cruden, B.Barrett and Sopoaga keep pushing each other for that no. 10 jersey, they can only get better and better, and all have a chance to get a start at 10 (until age, injury and overseas' offers become a factor).</p>
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<p>Add to that the up-and-comers like Damian McKenzie, Mo'unga and possible other young first-fives, and you have a wealth of players who can only push the level further up. </p>
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<p>I don't see any reason why B.Barrett couldn't still improve to the point where he'll become the incumbent no. 10. He's only 25 for heaven sake! (Sopoaga is a few months older, btw)</p>
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<p>Hmmm, we've gone a bit off topic, haven't we?</p> -
Nz looking clueless with the ball! Wales looking much better<br><br><br>
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk -
<p>Try Sam Nock under the posts. Good time to score, just before half-time.</p>
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<p>Barrett converts and its 14-10 to Wales at half time.</p>
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<p>Ref has in the mean time also warned NZ; have to be careful, otherwise one of the boys in black will also be send to the bin.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="588374" data-time="1466010831">
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<p>Wales no. 5 sent to the bin. If NZ can't take advantage of this, they don't deserve a semi-final spot.</p>
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<p>For the early tackle on the scrum half or coming through the ruck?</p>
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<p>If it's the latter, then wrong call IMHO. He came in from behind the last feet, tried to kick the ball, and then marched through the centre of the ruck.</p>
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<p>Or did I see something different with my one eye?</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MiketheSnow" data-cid="588381" data-time="1466011597">
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<p>For the early tackle on the scrum half or coming through the ruck?</p>
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<p>If it's the latter, then wrong call IMHO. He came in from behind the last feet, tried to kick the ball, and then marched through the centre of the ruck.</p>
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<p>Or did I see something different with my one eye?</p>
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<p>I think it was for an early tackle, combined with the earlier warning for a high tackle by the same player.</p> -
<p>Several kicks now gone out on the full. Stop bloody kicking if you don't know how to do it. Stevenson has also been held up twice in a maul. It's a pity, he's done a few good things, too, but he's making mistakes that you wouldn't expect from a Super Rugby player.</p>
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<p>Geez, and now Sam Nock with a terrible kick. Super boys not showing why they're Super boys.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Stargazer" data-cid="588387" data-time="1466012364">
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<p>Jordie Barret sent to the bin for a no-arms tackle of a man off the ball. Just when Wales is back to 15 men.</p>
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<p>Good to see I'm not the only one watching with one eye :)</p>
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<p>Dirty, cheap, premeditated shoulder to the face. Could easily have been red. No place for petulant shit like that in the game. Save it for League.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="MiketheSnow" data-cid="588389" data-time="1466012563">
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<p>Good to see I'm not the only one watching with one eye :)</p>
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<p>Dirty, cheap, premeditated shoulder to the face. Could easily have been red. No place for petulant shit like that in the game. Save it for League.</p>
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<p>Agree with the latter. Don't see what was one-eyed about my post though.</p>
