2023 New Zealand U20s

[Bovidae]

You would think there will be some rotation of players over these two games to give everyone an opportunity to play and impress.

[Canes4life]

@Bovidae you'd think they would select their preferred 23 for the game on Saturday, with it being televised.

[Stargazer]

I'd love to know why it's only two games v Australia. Why not invite the Argies again? They were really good, last year, finishing ahead of the Junior Wallabies. With Fiji as the fourth team.

[Canes4life]

Only information about the team has come from Wellington rugby.

Dominic Ropeti starting at lock, Peter Lakai starting at 8, and Bradley Chrichton to come off the bench.

Other team info is unknown.

[Bovidae]

Ropeti wasn't in the initial wider training squad so there must be at least two locks injured.

[SouthernMann]

I understand Finn Hurley is also with the squad again. I think Paul Dwywr mentioned it in an ODT video

[Bovidae]

@SouthernMann said in 2023 New Zealand U20s:

I understand Finn Hurley is also with the squad again.

The squad named in April had plenty of fullback cover:

Tangitau
Nordstrom
Godfrey
Springer
Spencer

[SouthernMann]

It is a bit unpleasant in Lower Hutt at the moment. Suspect it is the same up the road

[Wurzel]

1 through 25, for some reason

*Ben Ake (Auckland)
Vernon Bason (Manawatū)
Maliu Niuafe (Auckland)
Dominic Ropeti (Wellington)
Tom Allen (Hawke’s Bay)
Malachi Wrampling-Alec (Waikato)
Cooper Flanders (Hawke’s Bay)
Peter Lakai (Wellington) – Co-captain
Riley Williams (Auckland)
Taha Kemara (Waikato) – Co-captain
Codemeru Vai (Bay of Plenty)
Xavi Taele (Auckland)
Essendon Tuitupou (Auckland)
Isaac Hutchinson (Canterbury)
Payton Spencer (Auckland)
Raymond Tuputupu (Manawatū)
Malakai Hala (Manawatū)
Bradley Crichton (Wellington)
Rory Woods (Northland)
Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo (Auckland)
Che Clark (Auckland)
Nic Shearer (Canterbury)
Ajay Faleafaga (Otago)
Aki Tuivailala (Waikato)
Finn Hurley (Otago)

[Duluth]

Match thread for the first NZ v Aus game is here:
https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/topic/6013/nz-u20-v-junior-wallabies-i

[SBW1]

[Stargazer]

@SBW1 See the post above yours.

[SBW1]

This post is deleted!

[98blueandgold]

Jeepers! set piece is terrible!!!!! It does not look like much of a squad. I know a few more players possible but on that performance will struggle to make out of pool against NH/Sth Africa. Obviously want them to succeed but did not look good.

[bobily2]

@98blueandgold I think most of those players won't be in the starting XV, so hard to tell how we'll go based on that. Still, it'd be nice to have a bit more depth

[Grooter]

Timestamp for Finn Hurley's try? please and thanks

[Steven Harris]

@98blueandgold if they cant handle the Australian set piece , god knows whats gonna happen when they meet the NH teams or even South Africa and Argentina ..NZ looks very light on size

[SouthernMann]

@FakatavaAllBlack said in 2023 New Zealand U20s:

Timestamp for Finn Hurley's try? please and thanks

1.33

[Dolamite]

When is the squad being announced for the U20 World Cup?

[Stargazer]

@Dolamite The squad was meant to be announced yesterday!