NZ U20 v Wales U20
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NZ
1. Will Martin, 2. Vernon Bason (capt), 3. Joshua Smith, 4. Tom Allen, 5. Liam Jack, 6. Tai Cribb, 7. Matt Lowe, 8. Jonathan Lee; 9. Dylan Pledger, 10. Rico Simpson; 11. Stanley Solomon, 12. Xavi Taele, 13. Aki Tuivailala, 14. Frank Vaenuku, 15. Sam Coles. Reps: 16. A-One Lolofie, 17. Sika Uamaki-Pole, 18. Logan Watson-Wallace, 19. Cameron Christie, 20. Jeremiah Collins, 21. Riley Williams, 22. Cooper Grant, 23. Xavier Tito-Harris.Wales
1. Josh Morse, 2. Isaac Young, 3. Sam Scott, 4. Jonny Green, 5. Osian Thomas, 6. Ryan Woodman (capt), 7. Lucas de la Rua, 8. Morgan Morse; 9. Ieuan Davies, 10. Harri Wilde; 11. Aidan Boshoff, 12. Macs Page, 13. Louie Hennessey, 14. Harry Rees-Weldon; 15. Huw Anderson. Reps: 16. Harry Thomas, 17. Jordan Morris, 18. Kian Hire, 19. Nick Thomas, 20. Harry Beddall, 21. Lucca Setaro, 22. Harri Ford, 23. Steffan Emanuel. -
Surprised there is no Andrew Smith. I thought he was a standout in the Oceania games.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in NZ U20 v Wales U20:
Surprised there is no Andrew Smith. I thought he was a standout in the Oceania games.
Maybe carrying an injury. I rate Tai Cribb. He's a bigger body than Smith, so will help in the absence of Wrampling. I expected Tito-Harris to start on the wing but it looks like Gibbes has kept most of the same starting XV together.
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'New Wales coach Whiffin could be a round one trump card as he spent 2023 working in New Zealand as attack coach at the Highlanders'.
“We have got power throughout the team with genuine athletes in all areas of the field. The way we want to play is to move the ball and express ourselves in the wider channels. Hopefully, we have a team who can be competitive in what is an extremely competitive pool” – Coach Whiffin.
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@Daffy-Jaffy said in NZ U20 v Wales U20:
Whiffin could be a round one trump card as he spent 2023 working in New Zealand as attack coach at the Highlanders
The 2023 Highlanders.... famous for their attack.....
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Welsh back row is tasty
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No mention of any injuries in this article. NZ played a warmup game against SA.
https://www.allblacks.com/news/new-zealand-under-20-team-named-for-campaign-opener
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Wales 34-41 NZ
Tidy game with some good tries scored by both sides. Neither defence coach will be particularly happy though. -
We were leading 41 - 20 early in the second half and should have put the game beyond doubt but let them back into it . Alot of missed tackles so a bit to work on for next game v France
Best for NZ I thought were second five Xavi Taele, half back Dylan Pledger , open side Matt Lowe and lock Tom Allen -
That’s a great result for us
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@MiketheSnow You guys stayed in the fight and never gave up. Have some good backs coming through
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There was a big step down in some positions when the reserves came on for NZ, particularly halfback and LH prop. It looked like the wind was a factor for both teams as the team with the wind behind them played at the right end of the field.
For the NZ backs, I thought that the midfield played well, but Coles was poor at fullback. Solomon didn't have many opportunities to run. In the forwards, Lowe and Cribb worked hard and Christie made an impact off the bench.
I was surprised that Hutchinson didn't start so he would come back into the back three for me. Replace Williams with O'Donovan in the reserves.
Wales were good as well. Hennessey looks like a real talent.
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With my eye patch on, Pledger looks a hell of a player at halfback. Quick, very accurate with the pass and makes great decisions. The pass he threw to out one of his team mates through a hole was top notch. Out of our options in the Landers, he is already looking like he has the goods to sail past the other three in the squad. Thought the footwork of the 12 was ridiculously good too
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Not a great result for NZ. Looking at the 6 nations results England, Ireland and France put this Welsh side away comfortably. Shame Wrampling is not there for the biggest tournament of his career so far. Hope this isn't a sign of things to come and he is another Blackadder/Parkinson/Ngatai.
The Vice captain 2nd five Xavi Taele looks to be some player ready for the step up to Super Rugby next season already. Crusaders should sign him with the Chiefs, Blues and Hurricanes stacked with centre talent already.
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@tubbyj I am sure the Blues will sign Taele. He has trained with them all season. Ioane is rumored to be on a sabbatical and Bryce Heem will be 36 when next season starts may not even want to continue or will they ask him on stay on to cover Ioane? With Tangitau also leaving they could even sign Taele as a wing and move him to midfield once Heem retires.
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@tubbyj said in NZ U20 v Wales U20:
The Vice captain 2nd five Xavi Taele looks to be some player ready for the step up to Super Rugby next season already.
He looked a cut above out there didn't he?
