NZ U19s
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Highlights -
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@SBW1 tomorrow's match is against the Leopards u19s. Understand that they are longer together and a good tight 5 probably most playing for Uni of North West (Pukke) young guns in the Varsity Cup.
One interesting fact is that Ardi Viljoen and Leopards nr 8 Eben Versters dads were Western Province scrumhalves during the last All Blacks tour in 1996. Pretty sure they,ll have a cold one together. -
https://www.allblacks.com/news/new-zealand-under-19-team-named-take-on-the-leopards/
Following their second win on the tour over the Sharks Under 19, New Zealand Under 19 Head Coach Mark Hammett has named his side to face Leopards Under 19 on Thursday 29 September at 3.00pm (3.00am, Friday 30 September, NZT).
1: Gabe Robinson (Waikato)
2: Dylan Irvine ( Ta$man)
3: Siale Lauaki (Wellington)
4: Hunter Morrison (Manawatū)
5: Ale Aho (Auckland)
6: Rory Woods (Northland)
7: Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo (Auckland) ©
8: Semisi Ta’eiloa (Otago)
9: Riley Williams (Auckland)
10: Ajay Faleafaga (Otago)
11: Epeli Waqaicece (Manawatū)
12: Leo Gordon (Auckland)
13: Essendon Tuitupou (Auckland)
14: Cody Nordstrom (Waikato)
15: Finn Hurley (Otago)16: Jack Taylor (Southland)
17: Toby Taylor (Bay of Plenty)
18: Keran van Staden (Counties Manukau)
19: Fiti Sa (Canterbury)
20: Andrew Smith (Waikato)
21: Jordi Viljoen (Manawatū)
22: Byron Smith (Auckland)
23: Isaac Hutchinson (Canterbury)
24: Taine Kolose (Bay of Plenty)
25: Will Stodart (Otago)
26: Cooper Flanders (Hawke’s Bay) -
LOL, commentator saying Leopards are winning the psychological battle because they keep the NZU19s from scoring. I think he's forgetting NZ just had two players in the bin and the Leopards didn't manage to score at all and have been under pressure all that time.
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Good performance by the Mielie Boers. Their senior side play CC 1st division but Pukke (University) is one of the top sides in Varsity Cup.
This experience will be exactly what's needed for your u19s.
Last time NZ toured in Potch was when Jonah Lomu played in 1996.
Playing in this country sides is not easy for any team.
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Good to watch a game where the opponent was good and gave decent opposition, although I think the score is flattering the South Africans a bit. The NZU19s will learn much more from this game than the previous games.
A clear difference between starting and 2nd half pack (which came on before the Leopards started making changes). Second half pack much better and stronger (set piece).
Ajay Faleafaga is a great player. A real prospect.
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@Stargazer yep I see the Afrikaans lot see him as a future All Black.
Jonah Lomu in Potch.
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@Stargazer A good St Peter's boy
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Just watched the game. Firstly, that ground was like a time warp back to the 1970s. I did see a Chiefs jersey in the crowd.
This is exactly the type of game that NZ needed. An opposition that has been together for months, were confrontational up front, and tested the weaknesses of NZ age-group teams (i.e., defending lineout drives).
I also found the main SA commentator annoying and obviously we were watching a different match at times. NZ won quite a few of the Leopards lineout throws but the Leopards dominated that set piece?
@Stargazer I'm not sure why Robinson was at LH when he is a TH prop. Lauaki was getting popped all the time. Hurley had a shocker from fullback while Toby Taylor lost the ball twice just short of the goal line.
I expect we'll see the best XV against the Lions now that every player has had at least one start.
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