2019 under 20's

Canes4life

The team vs Aus:

Ollie Norris (Waikato)
Kianu Kereru Symes – captain (Hawke’s Bay)
Tamaiti Williams (Canterbury)
Cullen Grace (Canterbury)
Tupou Vaa’i (Taranaki)
Samipeni Finau (Waikato)
Kohan Herbert (Bay of Plenty)
Kaylum Boshier (Taranaki)
Leroy Carter (Bay of Plenty)
Fergus Burke (Canterbury)
Scott Gregory (Northland)
Dallas McLeod (Canterbury)
Quinn Tupaea (Waikato)
Lalomilo Lalomilo (Bay of Plenty)
Cole Forbes (Bay of Plenty)
Shilo Klein (Canterbury)
George Dyer (Waikato)
Kaliopasi Uluilakepa (Wellington)
Fletcher Newell (Canterbury)
Taine Plumtree (Wellington)
James Thompson (Waikato)
Jeriah Mua (Bay of Plenty)
Simon Parker (Waikato)
Taufa Funaki (Auckland)
Rivez Reihana (Waikato)
Danny Toala (Hawke’s Bay)
Chay Fihaki (Canterbury)
Sam Gilbert (Canterbury)

Stargazer

Philpott said a range of factors were taken into consideration when selecting this team.

“Some players have been selected on form but in some cases we are looking at developing combinations and ensuring players get solid game time.”

The World Rugby trial to have an extended bench, with 14 players, eight of which are allowed to join the game, has added a different element to the series.

“As coaches it means we have to be a bit more agile in our thinking. When you only have eight players on the bench you tend to pre plan a bit but here we have to think on our feet to get that maximum impact.”

http://www.allblacks.com/News/34066/new-zealand-under-20-team-named-to-face-australia

Stargazer

Philpott clearly doesn't want to win the Oceania Championship. That's not the best possible squad.

Flanders seems to be injured, but why pick Finau, Burke and Forbes to start? Naming Toala on the bench instead of starting him is insane. Not sure whether the Aussies have it in them to beat us, but this NZ squad will have trouble enough beating some NH teams with their best line-up, let alone with the wrong starters. Would be keen to know which "combinations" crackpott is talking about.

Canes4life

It's a fairly ordinary Under 20s class this year tbh. I don't think we will be winning the WC anyway.

Stargazer

@Canes4life True, but picking the right players for the right spots would help.

Canes4life

@Stargazer yeah a strange one that tbey haven't pick Toala. Unless he is injured and they won't actually play him off the bench.

Chris

Even with some strange selections we will beat Australia,I hope he is just trying to find out a few things before the WC otherwise we will struggle at that Tournament.
It seems Burke is rated highly interesting.

Stargazer

Philpott's contract duration wasn't published in the announcement of his appointment. He really hope this is his last year.

Stargazer

Livestream (I'll be watching it later again):

Tim

Australia up 12 - 0 after 36 min.

98blueandgold

What a terrible game from NZ. Even if we somehow win this nobody in here looks class. Will need ALL our unavailable players to make it to even semis at Torny.

Tim

@98blueandgold Was it a surprise that Rob Cobb was omitted from the squad?

Yeahtheboys

Both these teams hate each other fuck

98blueandgold

@Tim so was I. 7man scrum pushes us back, three line outs in a row lost, multiple drop balls, we look lacklustre on attack and defence has lots of holes. Very unimpressed!

Number 10

FFS. An eight man NZ scrum is pushed back by a seven man Australian one and we lose possession. Halftime, NZ down 0-12, Australia currently down to 14 men

98blueandgold

I’ve said it before but no. 4-10 are the weakest I’ve seen for us at this level. Need Vaai and Fanders to play but nothing outside that.

Number 10

Geez, 98, if our eight-man scrum could demolish the Australian seven-man one that time, why couldnt we do it earlier?

Yep, 4-10 does not inspire confidence.

98blueandgold

0-17 no good now, multiple chances for NZ but no firepower at all!!

Number 10

Australia go 17-0 up. 65 minutes gone.

Number 10

Another try to Australia - a driving maul, 22-0, 70 minutes gone.

The Silver Fern

2019 under 20's