2018 New Zealand U20s

[Stargazer]

@kiwimurph Switching back and forth from XVs and 7s. Will be interesting to see how he'll deal with that. I'm a bit sceptical.

[Bovidae]

Where's Koroi likely to play? Fullback?

[Nogusta]

@bovidae I'd say wing with Will Jordan in there?

[Bovidae]

There are 3 players who can play 1st 5 (Plummer, Matoe and Trask) and some of them could also play at 2nd 5 or FB - so some versatility in the squad. I assume Faingaanuku will be on one wing.

[Tim]

@bovidae Yeah, Plummer has played a bit at 12 too.

[Bones]

Rayasi too old or not good enough?

[Tim]

@bones

DOB: September 25, 1996

[Bones]

@tim Just missed the cut eh

[98blueandgold]

Pretty predictable team. Most surprising to not be named who was not listed as injured would be Sione Asi (although fitness at this level would be an issue). in terms of last years schools players apart from maybe Etenai and Vaa'i (Who was in last cut but just turning 18) There is a massive gap and I could not see any of them getting close to those selected.
top team would be maybe
Cobb
Thomas
Mafileo
McWhannell
Tucker
Sotutu
Christie
Flanders
Price
Matoe/Plummer
Faingaanuku
Telea
Protctor
Sullivan
Jordan

[Tim]

Oceania Rugby U20 Championship preview: New Zealand

[98blueandgold]

First game tomorrow night.
Live streamed
http://www.oceaniarugby.com/pageitem.aspx?id=139115&id2=1&eID=66726&entityID=66726

[Stargazer]

@98blueandgold said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

First game tomorrow night.
Live streamed
http://www.oceaniarugby.com/pageitem.aspx?id=139115&id2=1&eID=66726&entityID=66726

It will be livestreamed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oceaniarugbyunion/

and http://www.rugby.com.au/

Fri 27/4, 7:00pm NZT (5.00pm AEST): NZ v Tonga
Fri 27/4, 9:00pm NZT (7.00pm AEST): Australia v Fiji

[Stargazer]

NZ U20 for tonight's game v Tonga:

1 Robert Cobb (Auckland)
2 Ricky Jackson (Otago)
3 Kaliopasi Uluilakepa (Wellington)
4 Laghlan McWhannell (Waikato)
5 John Akau'ola-Laula (Auckland)
6 Tom Florence (Taranaki)
7 Tom Christie - captain (Canterbury)
8 Devan Flanders (Hawke's Bay)
9 Carlos Price (Wellington)
10 Harry Plummer (Auckland)
11 Leicester Faingaanuku ( Ta$man)
12 Tanielu Tele'a (Auckland)
13 Billy Proctor (Wellington)
14 Bailyn Sullivan (Waikato)
15 Kaleb Trask (Bay of Plenty)

Reserves
16 Flynn Thomas (Southland)
17 Sione Asi (Manawatu)
18 Tevita Mafileo (Bay of Plenty)
19 Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa (Auckland)
20 William Tremain (Hawke's Bay)
21 Hoskins Sotutu (Auckland)
22 Xavier Roe (Waikato)
23 Ciarahn Matoe (Taranaki)

“We are still very much in selection mode if we’re looking at the World Champs. We’ve got 29 players over here and we want all of them to get game time.

http://www.allblacks.com/News/32337/nz-under-20-team-named-for-tonga-clash

[Bovidae]

A 6:2 bench split. Is that due to who is available to play in this game?

[Rapido]

@stargazer said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

Tanielu Tele'a

Sorry to digress.

But is seems an unnecessary apostrophe.
Was Alex Telea's name spelt wrong all those years ago? Or are these 2 different names? If so what's the difference in pronunciation?

Genuine question.

[Rapido]

I liked the cut of Flynn Thomas's gib when I saw him play a few years ago. Might just have been televised college rugby.

But he's got a hell of a ('near-peer') player in Aumua in his position.

[98blueandgold]

@rapido yeah I know the highlanders coaches love him and reckon he has s future

[Rapido]

Shed-loads of goal-kicking options too I think.

The 3 10s (Plummer, Matoe, Trask), plus Faingaanuku on the wing kicked for NZ schoolboys last year. Pus also Carlos Price? although I may just be placing too much weight here on just being the 1st XV kicker.

[NTA]

@rapido said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

Shed-loads of goal-kicking options too I think.

LOL like that matters - your guys will score more tries per game than most of these sides could score the whole tournament.

In fact, I'd like to implement a system of the NZ team being forced to dropgoal all kicks at goal

[Rapido]

@nta said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

@rapido said in 2018 New Zealand U20s:

Shed-loads of goal-kicking options too I think.

LOL like that matters - your guys will score more tries per game than most of these sides could score the whole tournament.

In fact, I'd like to implement a system of the NZ team being forced to dropgoal all kicks at goal

At the Oceania tournament, yes. But the JWC is pretty even. NZ have their fallow years and their average years.