WR U20 Championship 2025
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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.
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Updated squad list:
Hookers
Shaun Kempton, Highlanders/Southland
Manumaua Letiu, Crusaders/Canterbury
Eli Oudenryn, Crusaders/ Ta$manProps
Robson Faleafā, Blues/Auckland
Dane Johnston, Chiefs/Taranaki
Sika Pole, Blues/Auckland
Israel Time, Hurricanes/Wellington (replacing Tamiano Ahloo)
Logan Wallace, Hurricanes/ManawatuLocks
Jayden Sa, Chiefs/Taranaki
Josh Tengblad, Highlanders/Otago
Aisake Vakasiuola, Chiefs/Bay of PlentyLoose Forwards
Mosese Bason, Hurricanes/Manawatū
Micah Fale, Chiefs/Waikato
Oli Mathis, Chiefs/Waikato
Xavier Treacy, Crusaders/Canterbury
Caleb Woodley, Blues/Auckland
Finn McLeod, Crusaders/CanterburyHalfbacks
Ollie Burra, Crusaders, Canterbury (replacing Charlie Sinton)
Dylan Pledger, Highlanders/Otago
Jai Tamati, Hurricanes/ManawatūFirst five-eighth
Will Cole, Hurricanes/Hawke’s Bay
Rico Simpson, Blues/AucklandMidfield
James Cameron, Crusaders/Canterbury
Tayne Harvey, Highlanders/Southland
Cooper Roberts, Crusaders/ Ta$man
Jack Wiseman, Chiefs/TaranakiOutside Backs
Maloni Kunawave, Crusaders/ Ta$man
Harlyn Saunoa, Blues/Auckland
Stanley Solomon, Hurricanes/Wellington
Frank Vaenuku, Chiefs/Bay of PlentyCo Head-Coaches
Jarrad Hoeata and Alex RobertsonScrum Coach:
Craig DunleaDefence Coach:
Dave DillonNew Zealand Under 20s match schedule:
Monday 30 June, 6:30am NZT
New Zealand v Italy – Stadio San Michele, CalvisanoSaturday 5 July, 4:00am NZT
New Zealand v Georgia – Stadia Luigi Zaffanella, ViadanaThursday 10 July, 4:00am NZT
New Zealand v Ireland – Stadio San Michele, CalvisanoTBC
Playoff matches -
@booboo said in WR U20 Championship 2025:
Any word on the real reasons for Haig going?
It was him that headbutted Razor
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@Mamuka said in WR U20 Championship 2025:
Where is Eli and Maloni? Mathis?
Vaenuku would be the no.1 winger so they've moved Solomon to accommodate Simpson at fullback. I expect all players will get a game in the pool matches. The Italians look to have some giant forwards. Let's see how Wallace's return helps the scrum.
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@Mamuka said in WR U20 Championship 2025:
Where is Eli and Maloni? Mathis?
Vaenuku would be the no.1 winger so they've moved Solomon to accommodate Simpson at fullback. I expect all players will get a game in the pool matches. The Italians look to have some giant forwards. Let's see how Wallace's return helps the scrum.
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Junior Wallabies are getting smacked by the Junior Boks in Italy. Some poor kicking by Sharples, Fowler and Harvey has given the Junior Bok back 3 plenty of opportunities to attack in open space. Couple that with Junior Wallaby handling errors and a malfunctioning set-piece, and you’re looking at a hard road back for them in the 2nd half.
As far as the Junior Boks are concerned, players like Haashim Pead and Gilermo Mentoe look a whole lot better with space and a hard pitch to run around on. Still a bit concerned that some of those Saffa fatties are going to run out of gas sooner rather than later. Still looking good so far, though.
Halftime score Junior Wallabies 5-33 Junior Boks.
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Well, it didn't improve much in the second half, as it finished 73-17 in favour of the Junior Boks.
While things genuinely didn't go their way, the Junior Wallabies made some poor errors in their planning as well, seemingly not having (or executing) a proper kicking strategy while being way too loose in their attacking structures. The (counter-)attacking prowess of the Junior Boks shouldn't have come as a surprise to them, though, as the game against the NZ U20s already showed that they're a side with a lot of attacking potential.
The Junior Boks looked good, Pead and the back three looking very dangerous on counter-attack. It'll be interesting to see how they fare against the England U20s.
