2017 New Zealand U20s
-
-
Samoa has been relegated to the World Rugby U20 Trophy in 2018 after a 42-53 loss to Argentina. Not a quality game, despite all the tries. Samoa was promoted to the main tournament only last year. Obviously, the step up is difficult. Losi Filipo being suspended for 3 matches due to a dangerous tackle in Samoa's first match didn't help; he was one of their best players during the Oceania Tournament. Who will replace Samoa in the Championship will be decided in this year's U20 Trophy (to be played in August-September this year).
By the way, the French player (Kolingar) who head butted one of our NZ players during the semi has been suspended for 5 weeks (for a "strike with the head"). That means he'll miss France's 3rd place play-off and the first four games with Racing Club in France at the start of the 2017-18 season.
Another Frenchman, Arrate, has been suspended for 2 weeks for "making contact with eye area" of Aumua. He will also miss the 3rd place play-off and his first match with Biarritz Olympique in France.
-
@Stargazer said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:
Now watching the Aussies take on Scotland for 5th place.
10-10 at the moment. Another loss to Scotland coming up.
-
@NTA said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:
@Stargazer said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:
Now watching the Aussies take on Scotland for 5th place.
10-10 at the moment. Another loss to Scotland coming up.
Make that 17-10 to Scotland after 57 minutes.
-
@Stargazer said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:
@NTA said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:
@Stargazer said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:
Now watching the Aussies take on Scotland for 5th place.
10-10 at the moment. Another loss to Scotland coming up.
Make that 17-10 to Scotland after 57 minutes.
17 all
-
@Stargazer said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:
Great try Scotland; correct decision TMO & ref.
Scotland win 24-17 and finish 5th.
And I think sixth is the highest we've ever finished at U20?
-
@NTA said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:
@Stargazer said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:
Great try Scotland; correct decision TMO & ref.
Scotland win 24-17 and finish 5th.
And I think sixth is the highest we've ever finished at U20?
No, runners up in 2010, when Australia lost 62-17 to NZ in the Final.
-
Is it just me or is South Africa making a 'comeback' on the world rugby stage a lot sooner than people expected?
-
@Pot-Hale said in 2017 New Zealand U20s:
Is it just me or is South Africa making a 'comeback' on the world rugby stage a lot sooner than people expected?
I expected it. Coetzee was going to lose his job if he didn't pick in form players and change the gameplan. Astonishing what happens when you see their best Super Rugby team and notice that at Craven Week and Currie Cup they're perfectly capable of playing decent rugby.
-
@Pot-Hale Way too early to draw conclusions like that. The (senior) Springboks have only played and won 2 games this year, both against France. Maybe the French have gone backwards.
I don't think a bronze medal for the Junior Boks says much either; they drew 23 all against France in their first pool match. SA was also 3rd in 2015 and 4th in 2016.
I think we can only know how well the Springboks are going after the Rugby Championship, when they have played Australia, Argentina and New Zealand at least twice.