2018 New Zealand U20s

[Stargazer]

New Zealand U20 squad to play Fiji tonight at 5.00pm NZT:

1 Sione Asi - Manawatu
2 Flynn Thomas - Southland
3 Suetena Asomua Counties - Manukau
4 Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa - Auckland
5 William Tucker - Canterbury
6 Devan Flanders - Hawke's Bay
7 William Tremain - Hawke's Bay
8 Hoskins Sotutu - Auckland
9 Xavier Roe - Waikato
10 Ciarahn Matoearanaki - Taranaki
11 Ngane Punivai - Canterbury
12 Harry Plummer - captain - Auckland
13 Billy Proctor - Wellington
14 Tanielu Tele'a -Auckland
15 Jamie Spowart - Ta$man

Reserves:
16 Ricky Jackson - Otago
17 Kaliopasi Uluilakepa - Wellington
18 Tevita Mafileo - Bay of Plenty
19 John Akau'ola-Laula - Auckland
20 Tom Christie - Canterbury
21 Tom Florence - Taranaki
22 Jay Renton - Southland
23 Scott Gregory - Northland

Suetana Asomua, William Tucker, Ngane Punivai and Jamie Spowart take positions in the starting line up after sitting out the first match, while Jay Renton and Scott Gregory join the bench.

Captain Tom Christie moves to the bench which will see Harry Plummer lead the team from second five-eighth. Plummer is just one of four players, along with Flanders, Proctor and Tele’a to retain starting positions.

Philpott said the intention was to make sure all members of the squad got game time during the series, with the aim of giving everyone a run-on start by end of the competition.

“This is about selection for the World Championships first and foremost, so we need to give players the opportunity to put their best foot forward.”

The game will be livestreamed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oceaniarugbyunion/ and http://www.rugby.com.au/

http://www.allblacks.com/News/32358/new-zealand-under-20s-named-for-match-against-fiji

[Chris B.]

@stargazer I'm guessing Will Jordan hasn't traveled with this squad?

[Stargazer]

@chris-b You'd think so! He'd definitely get a start, if he was there. It's all a bit strange. When the camps were held, they mentioned Jordan being injured; he was, however, named in the squad for this tournament. Maybe they hoped he would be recovered in time, and he hasn't?

[Chris B.]

@stargazer Probably my biggest disappointment of the Super season, so far. I was really looking forward to seeing Jordan get a bit of time on the field and seeing how he'd go at this level.

I can't see any reference to him playing club rugby for Christchurch FC - I had a quick looking in their recent weekly newsletters on Facebook.

I'd guess the guys who were saying he's working through concussion symptoms are likely right.

[Stargazer]

Good start. Try Xavier Roe after 2 minutes.

[Stargazer]

Try not converted. 5 - 0 NZ

[Stargazer]

Wow, Tremain has done it again. Great try! 10 - 0 NZ

[Stargazer]

Red card for Billy Proctor for a dangerous tackle (in the air). Harsh.

[Stargazer]

Another try to NZ. I think it was scored by Asi. Not converted. 15 - 3 NZ

[Stargazer]

This ref is really shit. There was a clear knock-on from Fiji and the ref just let play continue.

[Stargazer]

NZ scrum with 8 men since that red card. Tremain stays outside the scrum to defend that hole left by Proctor.

[Stargazer]

Half time: NZ 15 - 3 Fiji

Not bad, considering NZ have a man less on the field. Good defence.

Flanders is a machine again, even though he has to play at 6. I hope he gets to play at 8 again against Australia. He's better at that spot than Sotutu.

[Stargazer]

Another try to NZ. Commentators say Devan Flanders scored it, but I think it was William Tucker (I could be wrong though).

22 - 3 NZ

[Stargazer]

Now a try to Tele'a. You wouldn't say we're playing with 14 players. Good conversion from Plummer, who has taken over the kicking.

29 - 3 NZ

Tele'a goes off limping. Gregory replaces him.

[Stargazer]

Asi scores another one. The flood gates have opened. The NZ bench has been emptied.

Another good conversion. 36 - 3 NZ

[Stargazer]

Bloody pedantic ref. NZ on a warning for twice collapsing the scrum. Plummer says that the Fijians are doing it, too, but ref has apparently only seen NZ do it. He's awfull.

Nevertheless, deserved try to Fiji.

[Stargazer]

It's 36 - 8 to NZ after 62 minutes.

[Stargazer]

Awesome try to Fiji. They found the hole in the NZ defence.

36 - 15 NZ

[Stargazer]

Great box kick from Renton, great run and try to Spowart.

41 - 15 NZ with less than 10 minutes to go.

[Stargazer]

Great attacking scrum - this time with 8 players - close to the Fijian try line and it's try time. Plummer dots down and converts his own try.

48 - 15 NZ