2016 Under-20 Rugby World Championships - Manchester UK

[kiap]

Thanks Lee, that should still be a good prep for the sides.

 

[Seymour Butz]

A few nice pics of some of last year's U20s training with the Waratahs, on the Tah's FB page: https://www.facebook.com/waratahs/

Andrew Kellaway, Paddy Ryan, Jock Merriman, Cameron Orr, Harry Jones and Will Skelton.

 

[Hawko]

A few nice pics of some of last year's U20s training with the Waratahs, on the Tah's FB page: https://www.facebook.com/waratahs/

Andrew Kellaway, Paddy Ryan, Jock Merriman, Cameron Orr, Harry Jones and Will Skelton.

I know Harry Jones is a winger but he certainly has the pretty-boy-flyhalf look down pat.

 

[Lee Grant]

Lee Grant, I think I recall James Perlowski (Easts) being listed in the 7's extended squad (or trial squad) for a series of games they had in Rotorua NZ against the Kiwi 7's (October-ish). Unsure if he is still part of the extended 7's training group.

Pelowski was doing rehab training yesterday.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^ Have the names of the remaining thirty something sized squad been released?

 

[Lee Grant]

^^^^^^
No - and Rapp told me yesterday that there were still about 40 left and that looked about the number that was there training. I thought he said earlier that a lower number would greet the new year, but never mind.

Last year the number was 36 at about Feb 1st but that had one or two add-ons, I think.

He said it would be trimmed after the first trial on 6th Feb though I expect a few withdrawals before then.

So - if there were 64 on the original list and you take out the two Sevens players and McCauley (in the senior group) that's 61.

If 40 is the right number that means 21 have been cut since the original list was made, but there is no list of the 40.
.

 

[Lee Grant]

Adrian Thompson has given me some information on the Super Rugby Under 20s competition but the ARU want it quarantined until the launch of Super Rugby proper on Feb 17th to give it maximum exposure.

Believe me, there are no big secrets but I am just saying this to tell folks when the details and fixtures will be known.
.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

The more I am hearing about the Super Rugby Under 20 "Curtain Raiser" competition, the more sense it makes to have larger squads than previous years. This may be why NSW and QLD seem to be keeping squads at a bigger size than many punters have expected. It also provides for more insurance against injury, and let's face it, these happen with monotonous regularity.

Previously a squad of 28 (IIRC) had to be assembled and moved to Canberra, and fed, transported and accommodated for a week or so, while they played in the National Championships, then they dispersed back to clubs.

This time, if the tea leaves are correct, a squad of 23 will travel to wherever (Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne, or Perth) to play the Aust Local Derby Super Rugby curtain raiser, and where practical they will return home the same day (a la NRC "procedures").

A different 23 could be used for each game, without impacting the logistics of the exercise. The results and overall team performances may vary however if that was the case.

That being said, the "Competition" rules may stipulate a maximum extended squad size to level the playing field towards the Ponies, Rebels, and Force who don't have the same depth of players to choose from that NSW and QLD have.

It is this bit of Hugh's Logic, which may be why Reds and Tahs U20's haven't announced their "finalised" squads yet, while the Rebels, Ponies and Force have.

It is not as if the young men are being paid any money while they are in the "Extended" U20 Squad.

 

[Happy to Chat]

Round 1:
Brumbies v Canes (ACT bye)
Tahs v Reds (NSW v QLD)
Force v Rebels (WA v VIC)

Round 2:
Brumbies v Tahs (ACT v NSW)
Reds v Force (QLD v WA)
Bulls v Rebels (VIC bye)

Round 3:
Force v Brumbies (WA v ACT)
Rebels v Reds (VIC v QLD)
Tahs bye (NSW Bye)

Round 4:
Canes v Force
Tahs v Highlanders
Sunwolves v Rebels
Reds v Blues
Stormers v Brumbies

Round 5:
Rebels v Highlanders
Reds v Tahs
Chiefs v Force
Cheetahs v Brumbies

If the first 3 rounds pick themselves. The remaining fixtures would be:

VIC v NSW
VIC v ACT
NSW v WA
QLD v ACT

Then that should be

Round 4: NSW v WA, ACT v VIC (non-aligned game), QLD bye
Round 5: VIC v NSW, QLD v ACT, WA bye

or

Round 4: NSW v VIC, QLD v ACT, WA bye
Round 5: VIC v ACT, NSW v WA (non-aligned game), QLD bye.

There's more permutations, but those look the most likely. Any other confirmation on Fixtures I've missed?

Rounds 1, 2 & 3 would be correct and 4 & 5 would be your second alternative.
Round 1:
(ACT bye)
(NSW v QLD)
(WA v VIC)

Round 2:
(ACT v NSW)
(QLD v WA)
(VIC bye)

Round 3:
(WA v ACT)
(VIC v QLD)
(NSW Bye)

Round 4:
(SW v VIC)
(QLD v ACT)
(WA bye)

Round 5:
(VIC v ACT)
(NSW v WA)
(QLD Bye)


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[girtbysea]

Rounds 1, 2 & 3 would be correct and 4 & 5 would be your second alternative.
Round 1:
(ACT bye)
(NSW v QLD)
(WA v VIC)

Round 2:
(ACT v NSW)
(QLD v WA)
(VIC bye)

Round 3:
(WA v ACT)
(VIC v QLD)
(NSW Bye)

Round 4:
(SW v VIC)
(QLD v ACT)
(WA bye)

Round 5:
(VIC v ACT)
(NSW v WA)
(QLD Bye)


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This might muck up the above permutations but the chat I am hearing from the Qld lads is that they have the first bye. And they play the Tahs in the Rd 5 game at Suncorp.

 

[Brumby Runner]

Rounds 1, 2 & 3 would be correct and 4 & 5 would be your second alternative.
Round 1:
(ACT bye)
(NSW v QLD)
(WA v VIC)

Round 2:
(ACT v NSW)
(QLD v WA)
(VIC bye)

Round 3:
(WA v ACT)
(VIC v QLD)
(NSW Bye)

Round 4:
(SW v VIC)
(QLD v ACT)
(WA bye)

Round 5:
(VIC v ACT)
(NSW v WA)
(QLD Bye)


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ACT travel to Perth, Brisbane and then Melbourne in successive weeks, while NSW have only one game away from home? Think there might be some bias behind this suggested program.

 

[girtbysea]

Ok. I have no idea. One of the other Reds 20's lads said they have the first game in Sydney. Not sure anyone knows for certain yet. Would be nice to get an official draw. C'mon ARU it is only a month away.

 

[Seymour Butz]

Ok. I have no idea. One of the other Reds 20's lads said they have the first game in Sydney. Not sure anyone knows for certain yet. Would be nice to get an official draw. C'mon ARU it is only a month away.

Pretty sure reds are v Waratah's round 1 at SFS Moore Park. Then Tahs 20s have an away game in Canberra v Brumbies the following week. Then a Bye, Rebels, Force and Final.

 

[redblack]

Pretty sure reds are v Waratah's round 1 at SFS Moore Park. Then Tahs 20s have an away game in Canberra v Brumbies the following week. Then a Bye, Rebels, Force and Final.

Does anyone know why it is such a secret?
Just like naming the squads, poor kids who are putting everything on hold for months ..
Agree with the concept just feel that Rugby is missing a tremendous opportunity to promote the game right here

 

[Highlander35]

I don't think it's too unreasonable to want it to be announced at the Super Rugby launch, it's just slightly frustrating for those not quite ITK.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

This is probably why it is a "State Secret" as far as the "authorities" are concerned. vvvvv

Adrian Thompson has given me some information on the Super Rugby Under 20s competition but the ARU want it quarantined until the launch of Super Rugby proper on Feb 17th to give it maximum exposure.

Believe me, there are no big secrets but I am just saying this to tell folks when the details and fixtures will be known.
.

It will not take the brains of a Rocket Surgeon to look at the Super Rugby Draw and see when there is a "local Derby". As each team will play their conference "brothers" at home and away, it would be a fairly safe bet that on the first such occasion there will be an Super Rugby Curtain Raiser Cup game between the respective U20 teams. I would speculate that most of the players their teams itinerary.

@Redblack, all squads have been named, less the Qld squad.
IIRC, Brumbies, Rebels, and Force have named their final squad (of about 28-30 players). NSW named a squad of approx 60 players back in November, and this has been pared back as planned although the final "reduced" squad hasn't been published. QLD haven't published any of their names yet.

With greater depth of player numbers in NSW and QLD, I can understand why the Coaches and Selectors are keeping their options open as wide as possible, to cover injuries (which happen) and to keep competition for all positions.

I am fairly sure that the "top" 18 players in the extended squads know that they will be in the respective game day 23 (injury permitting), and the rest of the squad would have either been informed of their relative position in the pecking order, or they would have worked that out for themselves. Most squads would have only about 5 places in the roster where there is any uncertainty about who will be in the game day 23.

Because the Super Rugby Curtain Raiser Cup will be taking place over a 6 week period, some players may have legitimate personal or compassionate reasons to miss out on a game or two, such as an important family occasion like a siblings wedding, or a grand parents funeral etc.

In a previous post, @Lee Grant has also hinted at the number of NSW players who are currently in Team Rehab. If that player has "The Right Stuff", then the Coaches would want to give them maximum time to fully rehab, so they will most likely carry an extra player as cover for that person during their rehab.

Players get injured during training sessions. There is a whisper that one of the NSW players has done their ACL. If true, then their season is probably over. Players pick up knocks, bumps, and strains all the time and their rehab will need to be managed. With the bigger picture in mind, these minor injuries can result in a player being rested for a match or two to reduce the risk of aggravation and a much longer period of time in Team Rehab.

 

[TOCC]

I find it strange as well, the launch is supposed to symbolise the start or launch of a new season, it's not supposed to be the the announcement of a completely new competition starting in a matter of weeks.

Heck, Super Rugby is scrapping to even get an article in the newspapers currently, surely any announcement is better then the cone of silence currently over Australian Rugby.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Do you think that the delay in announcing the Super Rugby Curtain Raiser Cup competition will impact on crowd numbers for those fixtures?

Most of the folks that will be going to the Curtain Raiser fixtures will be friends and relatives of the players, along with the usual array of Clipboards, and they will not number in the many hundreds.

It is possible that ARU are still negotiating with a sponsor/s.

 

[TOCC]

No It's unlikely it will impact on the crowd figures regardless of when it's announced, which begs the question, why not make an announcement about it during a period where there has been minimal reporting and coverage of Super Rugby?

It's also possible that everyone at the ARU went on holidays and couldn't be bothered with the press release..


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[Seymour Butz]

This is probably why it is a "State Secret" as far as the "authorities" are concerned. vvvvv



It will not take the brains of a Rocket Surgeon to look at the Super Rugby Draw and see when there is a "local Derby". As each team will play their conference "brothers" at home and away, it would be a fairly safe bet that on the first such occasion there will be an Super Rugby Curtain Raiser Cup game between the respective U20 teams.

I don't know for sure, but I think this is incorrect. The NSW squad will only play up to round 5. Then there will be a 'final' of some description. Then I presume the Aust U20 side will be chosen and, with Oceania comp and trip to England, round 5 will be the end of their Super Rugby appearances. Unless the remnant plays on to the end of the competition. But surely the boys would want to play for their own clubs by that point in the season? Or will the Super Rugby Waratah's, Reds, etc, become an alternative to Shute Shield and other State comps for these boys?