NZ U20 v Ireland U20
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That's the match
Huge turnaround
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Whatever was said at half-time, can we bottle it?
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Great try to finish the match from Ireland
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Third place overall. I will take that after finishing 7th last year and 2019. Great effort.
Not sure what to make of this year's lot, they mixed the sublime with woeful at times. Seems to be a second half kind of team
I'm not sure why Collins the flanker was used so sparingly as he looked bloody good when he came on today -
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Collins
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@sparky Five off the top of my head would be Midfielder Xavi Taele (Auckland), Halfback Dylan Pledger (Otago), Flanker/ no. 8 Johnny Lee ( Canterbury), flanker Jeremiah Collins ( Wgn) and Blindside Andrew Smith ( Waikato )
Too early for super rugby but honourable mentions to the tight five guys : lock Tom Allen ( Hawkes Bay), tight head Josh Smith ( Hawkes Bay ) and hooker Vern Bason ( manawatu) although he will need to fix his lineout wobbles
All of our back three players used(which is usually a strength of kiwi rugby ),were pretty average at the tournament
Still a bit early also for first five Rico Simpson ( Auckland) but he's eligible next year again -
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@sparky said in NZ U20 v Ireland U20:
Okay, which of these guys will make the step up to Super Rugby and/or International Rugby first?
I reckon Pledger, and hope the Clan have him signed in. I will also add I reckon Rico Simpson will be AB 10 in 2031 1nd 35 WCs. That kids just does little things so wll, and bet Blues will be trying to keep him big time. A few years away from being a super player, but he will be there if he wants to in about 3-4 years I reckon. I also hope Canes got Bason well signed up as he's another looking like he got the goods to me!
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@Kiwidom said in NZ U20 v Ireland U20:
@sparky Five off the top of my head would be Midfielder Xavi Taele (Auckland), Halfback Dylan Pledger (Otago), Flanker/ no. 8 Johnny Lee ( Canterbury), flanker Jeremiah Collins ( Wgn) and Blindside Andrew Smith ( Waikato )
Too early for super rugby but honourable mentions to the tight five guys : lock Tom Allen ( Hawkes Bay), tight head Josh Smith ( Hawkes Bay ) and hooker Vern Bason ( manawatu) although he will need to fix his lineout wobbles
All of our back three players used(which is usually a strength of kiwi rugby ),were pretty average at the tournament
Still a bit early also for first five Rico Simpson ( Auckland) but he's eligible next year againWill Martin is a very good LH prop : strong at scrum time and powerful in his carries.
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@Dan54 said in NZ U20 v Ireland U20:
@sparky said in NZ U20 v Ireland U20:
Okay, which of these guys will make the step up to Super Rugby and/or International Rugby first?
I reckon Pledger, and hope the Clan have him signed in. I will also add I reckon Rico Simpson will be AB 10 in 2031 1nd 35 WCs. That kids just does little things so wll, and bet Blues will be trying to keep him big time. A few years away from being a super player, but he will be there if he wants to in about 3-4 years I reckon. I also hope Canes got Bason well signed up as he's another looking like he got the goods to me!
Out of the Highlanders three halfbacks, Fakatava is contracted until the end of next season. Hastie until the end of 2026. James Arscott initially penned a two year deal from ending this year. I expect it would have been extended. Pledger is still first year out of school. He has another year at U20 level. I wouldn't be surprised if next year is Fakatava's last at the Highlanders, especially as he is now, at best the sixth ranked halfback in the country.
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@SouthernMann makes sense mate, as a Highlander's man you must be pretty pleased with the young ones you got coming through.
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@Dan54 said in NZ U20 v Ireland U20:
@SouthernMann makes sense mate, as a Highlander's man you must be pretty pleased with the young ones you got coming through.
We are certainly going in the right direction. Just due to population size and demographic, we are never going to develop the sheer numbers of quality players that the Blues, Chiefs or Hurricanes. We only need to bring through a few a year. Then there will always be a few lads from elsewhere in the country who see the Landers as a less congested path to professional rugby than their home franchise. Josh Tengblad is a young one who springs to mind. Well over 2M tall, from the Blues region, NZ Schools last year. Just needs some beef.
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Having just watched the replay, I think this has been an above average year for the U20s (just one loss). As others have said, it is a step in the right direction and hopefully the new coach builds on this. The 9 and 10 will be back next year as well as a few others like M Bason and Vaenuku. Simpson had some bad moments in the France game but was a step above Grant. The subs made a big difference.
