U20 Championship - NZ v Wales

[MiketheSnow]

@Bovidae said in U20 Championship - NZ v Wales:

A must-win game for NZ with France also in the pool. Wales (6) are seeded ahead of NZ (7).

That's nonsense

We'll get massacred

[Bovidae]

@MiketheSnow The seedings are based on the 2019 WC placings, and Wales did beat NZ.

[Rapido]

If Wales are even reasonable, I'd assume the 2nd placed team in this pool still wouldn't make it to main semis? That 4th semi spot is decided on points for and against? Assume this 'pool of death' will mean tight points differential?

[Rapido]

Edit. Actually. IN a 12 team tournament perhaps all/most pools have an element of 'pool of death' about it, so maybe not.

Although without looking it up, hunch says there is surely at least one weak pool where the second best team should cruise to semis.

[Bovidae]

The pools look fairly even with Japan (in NZ's pool) probably the weakest of the lowest ranked teams.

[OomPB]

Hoërskool Gimnasium Paarl (Offisieel) | Meer inligting rakende die o...

Meer inligting rakende die o. 20 Rugbywêreldbeker vir u kennisname. Neem asb. kennis dat kaartjies vooraf by...

[akan004]

[Duluth]

I missed the games against Aussie a few weeks ago. Does this look like the top xv?

[Bovidae]

@Duluth said in U20 Championship - NZ v Wales:

I missed the games against Aussie a few weeks ago. Does this look like the top xv?

It's close to the team that played the second game vs Aust. Lauaki and Stodart come into the starting XV, and neither were involved in those games. The surprise to me is the midfield duo, who I wouldn't have picked based on the wider training squad. I've seen a lot of Aki Tuivailala play, but he wasn't in that group, and is in his first year out of school. It's the forwards that will need to front up.

[Duluth]

@Bovidae said in U20 Championship - NZ v Wales:

It's the forwards that will need to front up.

Was the set piece the problem, like previous u20 sides? Or were they beaten in general play too?

[Stargazer]

@Duluth Mostly the scrum. Maybe line-out mauls, too, but I can't quite remember. Our scrum going backwards was awful.

[Bovidae]

@Duluth

Think MP in SR for the scrums vs Aust.

Lauaki now starts, but he had some issues for the NZ U19s in SA last year.

[Stargazer]

Graeme Gillespie  /  Jun 22, 2023

Wales U20s name side to face New Zealand U20 - Welsh Rugby Union

Wales head coach Mark Jones has named ‘an exciting side’ to face New Zealand in their opening Pool A encounter in Paarl Gymnasium on Saturday in the U20

[Stargazer]

NZ squad graphic:

[Chris B.]

@Stargazer Interesting Welsh side.

No. 3 might be a bit unmotivated.
No. 5 a bit inexperienced?
No. 8 I reckon we can break their lineout codes.
No. 11 I suspect they have a problem.
No. 15 Worries me though.

hashtag Dadjokesanonymous

I'll get my coat.

[Stargazer]

Livestream:

[Tim]

@Stargazer Thanks!

[Stargazer]

Come on lads! Do us proud.

[akan004]

How long is this haka?

[KiwiMurph]

@akan004 said in U20 Championship - NZ v Wales:

How long is this haka?

Bordering on ridiculous.