New Zealand under 20

bobily

If you want some pace, I guess you'd go with Emerson on the wing with Thomas Umaga-Jensen on the bench.

Bovidae

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="556947" data-time="1454809598">
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Yea, I'm sure there are a few I haven't mentioned. I largely mention the players I know a bit about, so I don't really know too much about the younger Jacoson or Brown. Thanks for the info, though. So Jacobson should still be eligible for next year's team, too?
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A quick check shows Mitchell turned 20 last month so I assume Luke is 18 or 19. The interesting thing about them is all three brothers have made at least the NZ Schools team from Cambridge HS, which is not one of the traditional rugby schools in the Waikato. I think this is a good thing.

Higgins

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Canes4life" data-cid="556916" data-time="1454805804">
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Peter and Thomas Umaga Jensen, Alex Fidow and Leni Apisai sure to be All Blacks in the future.
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I've only seen Fidow play a couple of times Premier 1 Schools rugby and remain to be convinced as to his propping ability.

leytonandamanda

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cgrant

Shaun Stevenson ! He was just 18 when he made his debut in the ITM Cup and showed plenty of promise. He just needs to add a few kilograms of muscle and an once of composure. He's all class.

Dice

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="bobily" data-cid="556804" data-time="1454750487">
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Agreed, Finn Hoeata was impressive for the NZ Barbarians (from the first half anyway - I never got around to watching the rest). I guess he would also add a bit of height to the backrow, as well as potentially being able to fill in at lock.
 
Given some of the other powerful ball carriers in the team, I'm not sure the lack of punch in the backrow will be a problem. I'm sure the likes of Fidow, Apisai, Apikotoa and Ulufonua should be able to get the ball going forward. The Umaga-Jensen twins will also be capable of gaining some decent ground further out. However, another option could be Mikaele-Tu'u.
 
The problem that Taumateine might face is that we aren't short of halfback options. Besides Nock and Howley, Levien played last year and may return, and I've heard good things about Milo-Harris. However, he could be there ahead of Enari as a first-five/halfback cover. I don't know too much about the other first-five options, but they should be alright if they are there ahead of Faiane and McKay.
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Finn would be a lock first before a backrower. I'm not sure how big he is now, but he was almost 2m back in school and quite lanky. Last time I saw him was on Grassroots Rugby, but I could barely make him out because it was raining and everyone was covered in mud.
 
You're probably right about powerful ball carriers in other positions. This team should have more dynamism in the tight 5 than previous U20 teams.
 
Halfback definitely has competition. Didn't they only take 2 halfbacks last year? So if they take 2 again, someone decent misses out.

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="557544" data-time="1454986691">
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Finn would be a lock first before a backrower. I'm not sure how big he is now, but he was almost 2m back in school and quite lanky. Last time I saw him was on Grassroots Rugby, but I could barely make him out because it was raining and everyone was covered in mud.
 
You're probably right about powerful ball carriers in other positions. This team should have more dynamism in the tight 5 than previous U20 teams.
 
Halfback definitely has competition. Didn't they only take 2 halfbacks last year? So if they take 2 again, someone decent misses out.
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I was going off his game for the NZ Barbarians schools team in which he played blindside. Either way, he'd be handy to have in the team due to his versatility. I'm pretty sure only 28 or so players (or maybe even 26?) are allowed in the squad.
 
And yea, only two halfbacks last year. That is where guys like Taumateine and Enari may come in, with their ability to cover first-five, too. With Nock, Howley, Levien and Milo-Harris (who I've heard good things about), even if Taumateine were only considered for first-five (even if they aren't best there), there is still so much competiton.

Stargazer

NZU20s trial camp this weekend
 
Selected players:
 
Forwards 
Jonah Aoina - Otago 
Ayden Johnstone - Waikato 
Mason Kean - Hawkeâ€™s Bay 
Shaun Stoddart - Otago 
Sean Paranihi - Canterbury 
Joe Apikotoa - Wellington 
Alex Fidow - Wellington 
Sosefo Kautai - Waikato 
Sekope Lopeti - Waikato 
Asafo Aumua - Wellington 
Max Fryatt - Hawke's Bay 
Romero Tagi - Auckland 
Hamish Dalzell - Canterbury 
Quinten Strange - Ta$man 
Manaaki Selby-Rickit - Manawatu 
Sam Caird - Waikato 
Isaia Walker-Leawere - Wellington 
Paripari Parkinson - Ta$man 
Lui Luamanu - Wellington 
Finn Hoeata - Taranaki 
Charlie Gamble - Canterbury 
Mitchell Jacobson - Waikato 
Luke Jacobson - Waikato 
Dalton Papaliâ€™i - Auckland 
Nathan Tweedy - Manawatu 
Hapakuki Moala-Liava'a - North Harbour 
Marino Mikaele Tu'u - Hawkeâ€™s Bay 
Martin Brink - North Harbour Backs 
Liam Howley - Southland 
Logan Crowley - Canterbury 
Jonathan Taumateine - Counties Manukau 
Brett Cameron - Canterbury 
Matthew Lansdown - Waikato 
TJ Vaâ€™a - Wellington 
Stephen Perofeta - Taranaki 
Orbyn Leger - Counties- Manukau 
Alex Nankivell - Ta$man 
Jordie Barrett - Canterbury 
Lester Maulolo - Wellington 
Amanaki Savieti - Waikato 
Pepe Patafilo - Wellington 
Gene Te Amo - Counties Manukau 
Jonah Lowe - Hawkeâ€™s Bay 
Shelford Murray - Waikato 
Mason Emerson - Hawkeâ€™s Bay 
Jordan Trainor - Waikato 
Caleb Makene - Canterbury 
Peter Umaga-Jensen - Wellington 
Josh McKay - Canterbury Not considered due to Investec Super Rugby commitments: 
Leni Apisai, Wellington 
Sio Tomkinson, Otago 
Shaun Stevenson, Waikato 
Sam Nock, Northland Players not considered due to injury: 
Hayden Spencer, Waikato 
Hugh Renton, Hawkeâ€™s Bay 
Ere Enari, Canterbury 
Sam Ulufonua, Auckland 
Harrison Levien, Waikato 
Lisati Milo-Harris, Auckland 
Malo Tuitama, Wellington 
Jahrome Brown, Waikato
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.allblacks.com/News/28883/new-zealand-under-20-hopefuls-in-trial-camp'>http://www.allblacks.com/News/28883/new-zealand-under-20-hopefuls-in-trial-camp</a>

Unco

For fun, here's a provincial breakdown:
Waikato 10 (4 not available)
Wellington 9 (2 not available)
Canterbury 8 (1 not available)
Hawke's Bay 4 (1 not available)
Counties 3
 Ta$man 3
Auckland 2 (2 not available)
Otago 2 (1 not available)
Manawatu 2
North Harbour 2
Taranaki 2
Southland 1
Northland 0 (1 not available)
 
What happened to Thomas Umaga-Jensen?

Frye

I hear Isaia Walker-Leawere is a big lad.
 
His old man wasn't the biggest but he made up for it in ticker. If the kid has half the heart he will go a long way!

leytonandamanda

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Unco" data-cid="563871" data-time="1457660743">For fun, here's a provincial breakdown: 
Waikato 10 (4 not available) 
Wellington 9 (2 not available) 
Canterbury 8 (1 not available) 
Hawke's Bay 4 (1 not available) 
Counties 3 
Ta$man 3 
Auckland 2 (2 not available) 
Otago 2 (1 not available) 
Manawatu 2 
North Harbour 2 
Taranaki 2 
Southland 1 
Northland 0 (1 not available) 
What happened to Thomas Umaga-Jensen?</blockquote> I was wondering the same thing 
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bobily

New Zealand Under 20 squad named for Oceania tournament
 
Forwards: 
Ayden Johnstone 
Mason Kean 
Shaun Stodart 
Sean Paranihi 
Alex Fidow 
Pouri Rakete-Stones 
Leni Apisai, captain 
Asafo Aumua 
Hamish Dalzell 
Quinten Strange 
Sam Caird 
Isaia Walker-Leawere 
Fin Hoeata 
Mitchell Jacobson 
Luke Jacobson 
Dalton Papaliâ€™i 
Hapakuki Moala- Liava'a 
Marino Mikaele Tu'u
 
Backs: 
Jonathan Taumateine 
Sam Nock 
TJ Vaâ€™a 
Stephen Perofeta 
Jordie Barrett 
Patelesio Tomkinson 
Orbyn Leger 
Jonah Lowe 
Malo Tuitama 
Peter Umaga Jensen 
Mason Emerson 
Jordan Trainor 
Caleb Makene
 
Note: one player to be added prior to assembly in Auckland
 
Not considered due to Super Rugby Commitments: 
Shaun Stevenson
 
Players not considered due to injury: 
Matthew Lansdown 
Jahrome Brown 
Hugh Renton 
Ere Enari 
Harrison Levien 
Lisati Milo-Harris
 
New Zealand Under 20 Head Coach Scott Robertson said that he was pleased with the talent available for the tournament which will see them play two Test matches against Australia early next month.
 
â€œThe trial matches that we held last month were incredibly valuable for us as selectors and we got to see the players in that intense game environment, and we got to see how they responded to the pressure of playing and competing for places.
 
â€œWhile there are only the two countries, we have two tough test matches against a strong Australian team in this Oceania tournament. These will also provide us with a valuable sense of how they cope with playing intense matches in a compact window,â€ he said.
 
Hurricanes hooker Leni Apisai has been named captain of the side.
 
â€œLeni is just an impressive young man who leads a pack well on the field. He has already shown a maturity beyond his years, in the way he has stepped up to starting for the Hurricanes when veteran hookers Dane Coles and Motu Matuâ€™u were ruled out injured at the start of the season.â€
 
The New Zealand Under 20 squad to compete in the World Rugby Under 20 Championship will be named in May after the Oceania squad returns to New Zealand.
 
The squad assembles in Auckland on 24 April and will play a match against the Blues Development XV on 28 April, before travelling to the Gold coast for matches against Australia on 3 and 7 May.

Immenso Rapido

Something really needs to be done about surnames containing both apostrophes and hyphens.

Rembrandt

Jordie Barrett, brother of Kane, Scott and Beaudy. My brother has been raving about him for years, reckons he's AB potential.

Tim

Where does he play?

Rembrandt

12 primarily. I think there is still another brother to come after him too

leytonandamanda

Blake Barrett is the other brother 
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Margin_Walker

Could be a few Umagas knocking about in a few years. Mike's kid Jacob is currently turning out for England U18s.

Dice

Good for Counties to get both a halfback and 1st 5 in the team. Been a while since they've had a half in a grade team.
 
I thought Papali'i wouldn't make it this year, but then this year had a weaker backrow class than last year. He probably has a good chance to make the final squad because of his versatility(covers 6, 7, 8 and lock).
 
That's a good hooker tandem in there with Apisai and Aumua. The Blues should try to get Aumua, because it looks a bit crowded at hooker down in Wellington. Of the young hookers I've seen, he has the most upside.

bobily

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Dice" data-cid="569857" data-time="1459799507">
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Good for Counties to get both a halfback and 1st 5 in the team. Been a while since they've had a half in a grade team.
 
I thought Papali'i wouldn't make it this year, but then this year had a weaker backrow class than last year. He probably has a good chance to make the final squad because of his versatility(covers 6, 7, 8 and lock).
 
That's a good hooker tandem in there with Apisai and Aumua. The Blues should try to get Aumua, because it looks a bit crowded at hooker down in Wellington. Of the young hookers I've seen, he has the most upside.
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Yep, from the looks of things Aumua is pretty electric with his running. It'd be a shame if he never got any game time. He is one of several players who are still eligible next year (along with Papali'i, Rakete-Stones, Fidow, Mikaele-Tu'u, Luke Jacobson - are there any others?)

The Silver Fern

New Zealand under 20