WR U20 Championship 2025
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@Bovidae said in WR U20 Championship 2025:
My top XV would be this:
1 Pole
2 Oudenryn (it will be Letiu)
3 Wallace
4 Vakasiuola
5 Tengblad
6 Sa
7 Mathis
8 Bason
9 Pledger
10 Simpson/Cole
11 Vaenuku
12 Wiseman
13 Cameron
14 Kunawave
15 SolomonThe loose forward and midfield combinations will be hotly contested. I would select Sa as a 6, not a lock.
My own preferences are pretty similar to this, including Sa as a blindside option.
One thing I'll say though, after watching way too many defensive sets from the U20 TRC, is that Xavier Treacy and Cooper Roberts put in big defensive shifts during that tournament. I'm not sure you can leave them out. Treacy was also a very reliable lineout option.
I would probably put Vakasiuola on the bench, to provide impact in the final 20-30 minutes. I'd like to see Cameron have a shot at 12 since I'm just intrigued to see what he can offer there.
I'm a bit miffed at Tofilau not being selected, I thought he did more than enough to earn his spot. Ahloo, on the other hand, can probably count himself a bit lucky, as I didn't think he had a good tournament. He's still a promising player, so hopefully he has an improved showing in Italy.
@Mauss said in WR U20 Championship 2025:
I'm a bit miffed at Tofilau not being selected, I thought he did more than enough to earn his spot. Ahloo, on the other hand, can probably count himself a bit lucky, as I didn't think he had a good tournament.
As I said when the RC squad was named, I don't think they've got their prop selections right. Nothing has really changed, even with the addition of Wallace. Italy and Georgia will be a test for the scrum.
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@hikastags said in WR U20 Championship 2025:
I would've thought Joey Taumateine and Tito-Harris would have been there.
Taumateine might still be injured.
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@Mauss said in WR U20 Championship 2025:
I'm a bit miffed at Tofilau not being selected, I thought he did more than enough to earn his spot. Ahloo, on the other hand, can probably count himself a bit lucky, as I didn't think he had a good tournament.
As I said when the RC squad was named, I don't think they've got their prop selections right. Nothing has really changed, even with the addition of Wallace. Italy and Georgia will be a test for the scrum.
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Logan Wallace is training with the Canes atm and looks to have beefed up a bit, hopefully this helps with our scrum.
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I don't understand why New Zealand teams in Super Rugby U20 were so weak in defense. I have only seen highlights, because in Georgia we didn’t have access to full broadcasts, but it's still very noticeable that they don't focus on defense. That's why European teams are better. It's very sad. I think New Zealand rugby should revise their priorities in the style of playing. I also think defense will be the first problem for New Zealand at the World Cup.
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@booboo The staff and players did not like him. I think he sees everything differently because he spent almost 10 years in Europe.
@Mamuka which is ridiculous as we need fresh ideas on varying plays to bring to our game, for a period it was all but a requirement for AB coaches....
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I don't understand why New Zealand teams in Super Rugby U20 were so weak in defense. I have only seen highlights, because in Georgia we didn’t have access to full broadcasts, but it's still very noticeable that they don't focus on defense. That's why European teams are better. It's very sad. I think New Zealand rugby should revise their priorities in the style of playing. I also think defense will be the first problem for New Zealand at the World Cup.
@Mamuka said in WR U20 Championship 2025:
I also think defense will be the first problem for New Zealand at the World Cup.
All the RC teams conceded a lot of points in their games. Maybe the attack was also better?
After watching a few of the 6N U20 games I'm not sure their defence was any better. Maybe England and France at times, but those teams missed plenty of tackles and leaked points too. Ground conditions will play a big part in how the games are played in Italy.
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I don't understand why New Zealand teams in Super Rugby U20 were so weak in defense. I have only seen highlights, because in Georgia we didn’t have access to full broadcasts, but it's still very noticeable that they don't focus on defense. That's why European teams are better. It's very sad. I think New Zealand rugby should revise their priorities in the style of playing. I also think defense will be the first problem for New Zealand at the World Cup.
@Mamuka said in WR U20 Championship 2025:
I don't understand why New Zealand teams in Super Rugby U20 were so weak in defense. I have only seen highlights, because in Georgia we didn’t have access to full broadcasts, but it's still very noticeable that they don't focus on defense. That's why European teams are better. It's very sad. I think New Zealand rugby should revise their priorities in the style of playing. I also think defense will be the first problem for New Zealand at the World Cup.
Which European teams, France?
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I have no idea where to post this one but since Mathis is named in the NZ20s I’ll post it in here.
Mathis is playing right wing in club rugby in Chch this weekend. Could be a sign of where they see him playing come WC time? For what it’s worth, he played 7 a couple weeks ago.
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A change in the Aust squad due to injury.
Meanwhile, the Australia U20s squad was dealt a blow after Reds star Dre Pakeho was ruled out with a calf injury. Pakeho will be replaced by Brumbies midfielder Malakye Enasio, who started in the win over South Africa.
Pakeho would have been a guaranteed starter.
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Pakuranga Rugby Club announced on their facebook page that Randall Baker (injury reserve) will be going on tour.
Wonder who he's going in place of.
@hikastags said in WR U20 Championship 2025:
Pakuranga Rugby Club announced on their facebook page that Randall Baker (injury reserve) will be going on tour.
Wonder who he's going in place of.
Radio silence about the U20s. It could be a big loss if it's one of the locks.
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@Bovidae Looks like Tengblad's missing, yeah. I also don't see Micah Fale and Tamiano Ahloo either. Losing both Tengblad and Fale would be unfortunate, as they're two of the squad's best players.
I suspect the player squatting down on the far right is the replacement prop. It should probably be Palmer but I don't immediately recognize him. Baker's also there and it looks like Mika Muliaina on the left hand side.
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A change in the Aust squad due to injury.
Meanwhile, the Australia U20s squad was dealt a blow after Reds star Dre Pakeho was ruled out with a calf injury. Pakeho will be replaced by Brumbies midfielder Malakye Enasio, who started in the win over South Africa.
Pakeho would have been a guaranteed starter.
@Bovidae said in WR U20 Championship 2025:
A change in the Aust squad due to injury.
Meanwhile, the Australia U20s squad was dealt a blow after Reds star Dre Pakeho was ruled out with a calf injury. Pakeho will be replaced by Brumbies midfielder Malakye Enasio, who started in the win over South Africa.
Pakeho would have been a guaranteed starter.
I read that as Dre Pakeha and was hoping he'd be a fair skinned Maori and that he was studying medicine.
