2015 IRB Junior Rugby World Cup - Italy

[kiap]

I was a bit skeptical on the 18 y.o. prop hype but reading some of the purported feedback from staff since he joined the training group it seems his development is good.

On the 2013 thing, there was also talk that the player had a shoulder injury. One thought at the time – and time has elapsed now so this could be wrong – was that he might have been a bit older than previously thought.

 

[TOCC]

There are 18yr old hookers in the squad, it's either a calculated decision by RG not to include Taniela or alternatively it's because he isn't eligible.

 

[Wilson]

My understanding was that eligibility rules were more or less the same as the test sides, so he won't be eligible until he's 21 or so and won't be able to play u20s unless there's a Tongan side looking for him.

 

[Lee Grant]

March 20 - March 26, I believe.

Do you have a link for this?

The reason I ask is that I have been advised what the NSW Under 20s trial series is and their last match is on 7th April.
.

 

[Lee Grant]

My understanding was that eligibility rules were more or less the same as the test sides, so he won't be eligible until he's 21 or so and won't be able to play u20s unless there's a Tongan side looking for him.

This is simpler than the BS I wrote.

But it doesn't explain why Kerevi did not qualify on residency in 2013 since he lived in Australia since he was a boy.

He was chosen for, and training with, the squad at Narrabeen in 2013 and the ARU staffer said they were hoping the visa would came through in time, but it didn't.

Weird.
.

 

[Wilson]

My understanding was the kerevi issue was a screw up at one level or another. I don't have a source for this though, it's just how I remembered it.

 

[BigSteve]

so what chances does togan thor have to make the under 20's team like is there any chance or just a straight no.?

 

[Wilson]

I'm not certain but I think it's a straight no this year and next, but a chance he'll skate in his third year here, depending on when he came over and when he turns 21/how they handle eligibility for that year

 

[Braveheart81]

But it doesn't explain why Kerevi did not qualify on residency in 2013 since he lived in Australia since he was a boy.

He was chosen for, and training with, the squad at Narrabeen in 2013 and the ARU staffer said they were hoping the visa would came through in time, but it didn't.

Weird.

If he has a Fijian passport, he would need a visa to travel to most places. Potentially the time between him being named in the squad and needing the visa wasn't long enough for it to come through.

 

[Monty Python]

Do you have a link for this?

The reason I ask is that I have been advised what the NSW Under 20s trial series is and their last match is on 7th April.
.

No link as such, just a training calendar.

 

[Lee Grant]

Generation Blue Colts (NSW Under 20s)

This is their training group of 35 now - to be reduced to 28 before the National Under 20 Championship

Hookers
E. Craig
N. Koutsakis
F. Fainga'a

Props
F. Brown
V. Fifita
C. Orr
M. Gibbon
M. Sandell (also hooker)

2nd Row
L. Cannell
N. Kellaway
H. Williams
L. Lukhan *
N. Hanigan
T. Rudolf (also prop)

Backrow
S. Croke
O. Kamp
H. Dunbar
J. Walker
J. McCalman

Scrumhalves
M. Short
R. Davis

Flyhalves
A. Deegan
C. Tulloch

Centres
B. Starkey
N. Yeomans
J. Redden
D. Stolz
S. Tabuatamata

Back 3
A. Kellaway
H. Jones
A. Newsome
T. Davis
C. Yassmin

Utilities
A. Delore (10/15)
B. O'Donnell

Positions are my guesses only: for example: some of the locks could play 6 or 8, or both, and arguably, should be.

* alternate spelling

Seems light on scrumhalves, but i wouldn't be surprised if Delore could cover - he's like a Swiss army knife.
.

 

[formerflanker]

Generation Blue Colts (NSW Under 20s)

This is their training group of 35 now - to be reduced to 28 before the National Under 20 Championship

etc etc

Quite a few Scots old boys in that list. Good to see them continuing with their rugby post school.

 

[Braveheart81]

So are Craig, Orr, Fifita, Yeomans and Kellaway the ones who were in the Aus under 20 squad last year? (apologies if I'm wrong on any of those or left anyone out).

 

[Lee Grant]

So are Craig, Orr, Fifita, Yeomans and Kellaway the ones who were in the Aus under 20 squad last year? (apologies if I'm wrong on any of those or left anyone out).

From Aus U20s 2014:

S. Croke, A. Kellaway, C. Orr, M Sandell *​

Others from NSW U20s 2014:

F. Fainga'a, N. Hanigan, J. McCalman, H. Jones, A. Deegan **​

From Australian Schools 2014:

E. Craig, V. Fifita, N. Yeomans.​

​

* Called into squad later to replaced injured player.

** Chosen for Aus U20 camp after National U20s but was one of last six cut.
.

 

[Braveheart81]

Heh. I managed to blur the Australian Under 20s and the Australian Schoolboys teams pretty well!

Hopefully Andrew Kellaway gets to go to the JWC again this year so he can set an overall try scoring record that could take a long time to break. I think he could be only an injury or two to certain players away from being required to stay with the Tahs.

 

[Wilson]

Does anyone know what the current protocol is for releasing the under 20's? I remember Nucifora being pretty inflexible about it when he was in charge but I assume that has changed.

 

[qwerty51]

Nothing specific but generally if your team isn't looking like playing finals the u20s get released.

 

[I like to watch]

Generation Blue Colts (NSW Under 20s)

This is their training group of 35 now - to be reduced to 28 before the National Under 20 Championship

Hookers
E. Craig
N. Koutsakis
F. Fainga'a
etc etc

.

I'm surprised a few of the big boppa's from Souths have been omitted.
But I admit I haven't been at training or seen any internal trials.
They look small in the 2row & 8 to me.
The back 3 looks strong though.
Centres are also interesting.
Obviously form in the Rays trial was not taken into account.
I heard last years starter was amongst the first to be cut,despite playing strongly against 2 very poorly performed players that day,who remain in the squad.

 

[Lee Grant]

I heard last years starter was amongst the first to be cut,despite playing strongly against 2 very poorly performed players that day,who remain in the squad.

I didn't understand this bit "I like".

 

[I like to watch]

Abrahams started in the 20's last year,and played strongly for the Rays development team in a trial against this squad.
At least 2 of the centres that remain in the squad,played poorly in this game and looked well out of their depth.
Yet they remain,and he is gone.