New Zealand under 20

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 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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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</blockquote>
 
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?)

Crucial

<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.
 
 
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Yes, great news. Probably first in the 9 or 10 since some bloke called Beaver.
 
Some future promise for CM there especially if the young Samoa 9 hangs around as well. I gather that those in the know around Chiefs area have had wraps on Leger for sometime. HBHS 10, Chiefs U18s and good genetics (used to love watching his father play).

bobily

I forgot about Peter Umaga-Jensen, and I think Leger and Perofeta might also be eligible next year.

Higgins

Is this on this coming week or is it a fortnight away?

Unco

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Higgins" data-cid="574512" data-time="1461480928">
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Is this on this coming week or is it a fortnight away?
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The Oceania U20s? 3-7 May, so another week and a bit away.

ACT Crusader

I see Jordan Trainor is going around again. Will he play wing or fullback?

? Offline

The Oceania U20 Tournament this year is just two matches against Australia.
 
Last year it was a four-way round robin also with Japan and Samoa

bobily

Oh well. It is still better than the no matches we used to have. I think a proper 5/6 game tournament would probably be ideal, though (it would help to match what the NH teams get, and mean the starting lineup can begin to gel while players can also be rotated in and out).

mimic

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Number 10" data-cid="574608" data-time="1461532698">
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The Oceania U20 Tournament this year is just two matches against Australia.
 
Last year it was a four-way round robin also with Japan and Samoa 
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how is that a tournament? lol

Higgins

If anyone discovers a link to somewhere showing coverage (live or delayed) could they post it on here as I have had an enquiry from the grandmother of one of the players involved wanting to watch her grandson play.

Canes4life

How does this side compare with previous 20s side??? Forwards look a little weak.
It will be hard to top the 2011 squad who had 12 players graduate to the All Blacks.
 
 
There is a lot of talent in this team with Fidow, Kean, Apisai, Walker-Leawere, Mikaele Tuu, Aumua, Umaga Jensen, Nock, Va'a, Lowe, Tuitama, Trainor likely to pursue Super Rugby careers.
 
Our best starting team from the Oceania Squad would probably be: (Help me fill in the gaps)
1. Mason Kean
2. Leni Apisai
3. Alex Fidow
4. Isaia Walker-Leawere
5. ??
6. Luke Jacobson ??
7. Mitchell Jacobson (However im not too familiar with the other loosies)
8. Marino Makaele Tuu
9. Sam Nock
10. TJ Va'a
11. Jonah Lowe
12. Patelesio Tomkinson
13. Peter Umaga Jensen
14. Malo Tuitama
15. Jordan Trainor
Reserves: 
16. Asafo Aumua
17. Ayden Johnstone
18. Shaun Stodart
19. ??
20. ??
21. Jonothan Taumateine 
22. Jordie Barrett
23. Mason Emerson

bobily

I'd say that Dalzell will likely start at lock, and I'd personally pick Moala-Liava'a at blindside. He did very well carrying the ball for North Harbour in the ITM Cup. Hoeata probably isn't a bad lock/blindside option off the bench, and Papali'i or Jacobson can then cover openside.
 
That backline is probably pretty accurate. I'd go for Emerson over Lowe. I think Perofeta sounds like he is pretty good, so it'd be nice to fit him in somewhere, but it isn't looking easy.

The Silver Fern

New Zealand under 20