2024 Under 20 Rugby Champs all match discussion thread
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Steve_Grey
Fred Wood (13)
I don't think they care imho - they have made over 25 changes to their starting XV over 3 games - each position has a genuine alternative who can slot in without a huge drop in quality - and they have won every game with those changes.
Rudderless
Bill McLean (32)
Australia U20 vs. Wales U20
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
7pm Sunday 14 July (local) / 3am Monday 15 July (AEST)
1. Lington Ieli - ACT Brumbies, Tuggeranong Vikings
2. Ottavio Tuipulotu - Melbourne Rebels, Eastern Suburbs
3. Nick Bloomfield - Queensland Reds, Easts Brisbane
4. Toby Macpherson (c) - ACT Brumbies, Uni-Norths Owls
5. Harvey Cordukes - ACT Brumbies, Uni-Norths Owls
6. Aden Ekanayake - Australia Sevens, Gordon Rugby Club
7. Dane Sawers - Western Force, Kalamunda Districts
8. Jack Harley - ACT Brumbies, Gungahlin Eagles
9. Dan Nelson - ACT Brumbies, Canberra Royals
10. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips - Queensland Reds, Souths Brisbane
11. Archie Saunders - NSW Waratahs, Warringah Rugby Club
12. Jarrah McLeod - ACT Brumbies, Canberra Royals
13. Kadin Pritchard - ACT Brumbies, Gungahlin Eagles
14. Ronan Leahy - Western Force, Sydney University
15. Shane Wilcox - ACT Brumbies, Tuggeranong Vikings
Reserves
16. Bryn Edwards - NSW Waratahs, Sydney University
17. Nathaniel Tiitii - NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs
18. Trevor King - Queensland Reds, Souths Brisbane
19. Eamon Doyle - NSW Waratahs, Sydney University
20. Ollie McCrea - NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs
21. Austin Durbidge - NSW Waratahs, Sydney University
22. Billy Dickens - NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs
23. Boston Fakafanua - Western Force, Sydney University
Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
7pm Sunday 14 July (local) / 3am Monday 15 July (AEST)
1. Lington Ieli - ACT Brumbies, Tuggeranong Vikings
2. Ottavio Tuipulotu - Melbourne Rebels, Eastern Suburbs
3. Nick Bloomfield - Queensland Reds, Easts Brisbane
4. Toby Macpherson (c) - ACT Brumbies, Uni-Norths Owls
5. Harvey Cordukes - ACT Brumbies, Uni-Norths Owls
6. Aden Ekanayake - Australia Sevens, Gordon Rugby Club
7. Dane Sawers - Western Force, Kalamunda Districts
8. Jack Harley - ACT Brumbies, Gungahlin Eagles
9. Dan Nelson - ACT Brumbies, Canberra Royals
10. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips - Queensland Reds, Souths Brisbane
11. Archie Saunders - NSW Waratahs, Warringah Rugby Club
12. Jarrah McLeod - ACT Brumbies, Canberra Royals
13. Kadin Pritchard - ACT Brumbies, Gungahlin Eagles
14. Ronan Leahy - Western Force, Sydney University
15. Shane Wilcox - ACT Brumbies, Tuggeranong Vikings
Reserves
16. Bryn Edwards - NSW Waratahs, Sydney University
17. Nathaniel Tiitii - NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs
18. Trevor King - Queensland Reds, Souths Brisbane
19. Eamon Doyle - NSW Waratahs, Sydney University
20. Ollie McCrea - NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs
21. Austin Durbidge - NSW Waratahs, Sydney University
22. Billy Dickens - NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs
23. Boston Fakafanua - Western Force, Sydney University
Rudderless
Bill McLean (32)
Head coach Richard Whiffin has named his Wales men’s side to face Australia in the 5th-place semi-final of the U20 World Championship at Danie Craven Stadium on Sunday (6pm BST).
There will be seven players – Jonny Green, Ryan Woodman, Morgan Morse, Kian Hire and Lucas de la Rua in the forwards, along with backs Harri Wilde and Louie Hennessey – who played against the junior Wallabies in last year’s 5th place final when Australia secured a 33-57 victory.
Ospreys No 8 Morgan Morse will be playing in his 23rd international to join former Scarlets winger Ryan Conbeer as the highest capped Welshman at U20 level.
“The nature of the tournament means you have to be smart and rotate the squad,” said Whiffin. “Harry Beddall is back fit now and therefore comes in to give us big energy. That gives Lucas de la Rua an opportunity to make an impact off the bench. We’ve been smart around our backline. We’ve been asking a lot of the amount of metres we want our backs to get through in terms of kick chase and territory gain so we’ve changes a few of those positions. We’re reasonably healthy – we’ve had to make a couple of changes but we’re looking forward to Sunday.”
Whiffin is adamant the next two games are not just about performance, but also getting results. “We’re in a rugby championship and these boys don’t get a lot of opportunities to play southern hemisphere teams and play against different styles. Our challenge is to take these scalps, we want our players to get used to beating tier one teams on a regular basis so when they graduate through to the international senior set-up they are playing guys that they have beaten before. And that is important as you don’t want any scar tissue. We’ve put a bit of pressure on the boys to come away with a couple or results in the next two games. Yes we want a performance but we’re in a window now where it is about results.”
Wales U20 v Australia U20, 5th-place semi-final, Danie Craven Stadium, Sunday 14 July, 6pm BST
1 Jordan Morris (Dragons RFC)
2 Isaac Young (Scarlets)
3 Sam Scott (Bristol Bears)
4 Jonny Green (Harlequins)
5 Nick Thomas (Dragons RFC)
6 Ryan Woodman (Dragons RFC – Capt)
7 Harry Beddall (Leicester Tigers)
8 Morgan Morse (Ospreys)
9 Rhodri Lewis (Scarlets)
10 Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby)
11 Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears)
12 Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby)
13 Macs Page (Scarlets)
14 Kodie Stone (Cardiff Rugby)
15 Matty Young (Cardiff Rugby)
Replacements
16 Harry Thomas (Scarlets)
17 Ioan Emmanuel (Bath Rugby)
18 Kian Hire (Ospreys)
19 Gethyn Cannon (Cardiff Met)
20 Lucas de la Rua (Cardiff Rugby)
21 Lucca Setaro (Scarlets)
22 Harri Ford (Dragons RFC)
23 Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby)
There will be seven players – Jonny Green, Ryan Woodman, Morgan Morse, Kian Hire and Lucas de la Rua in the forwards, along with backs Harri Wilde and Louie Hennessey – who played against the junior Wallabies in last year’s 5th place final when Australia secured a 33-57 victory.
Ospreys No 8 Morgan Morse will be playing in his 23rd international to join former Scarlets winger Ryan Conbeer as the highest capped Welshman at U20 level.
“The nature of the tournament means you have to be smart and rotate the squad,” said Whiffin. “Harry Beddall is back fit now and therefore comes in to give us big energy. That gives Lucas de la Rua an opportunity to make an impact off the bench. We’ve been smart around our backline. We’ve been asking a lot of the amount of metres we want our backs to get through in terms of kick chase and territory gain so we’ve changes a few of those positions. We’re reasonably healthy – we’ve had to make a couple of changes but we’re looking forward to Sunday.”
Whiffin is adamant the next two games are not just about performance, but also getting results. “We’re in a rugby championship and these boys don’t get a lot of opportunities to play southern hemisphere teams and play against different styles. Our challenge is to take these scalps, we want our players to get used to beating tier one teams on a regular basis so when they graduate through to the international senior set-up they are playing guys that they have beaten before. And that is important as you don’t want any scar tissue. We’ve put a bit of pressure on the boys to come away with a couple or results in the next two games. Yes we want a performance but we’re in a window now where it is about results.”
Wales U20 v Australia U20, 5th-place semi-final, Danie Craven Stadium, Sunday 14 July, 6pm BST
1 Jordan Morris (Dragons RFC)
2 Isaac Young (Scarlets)
3 Sam Scott (Bristol Bears)
4 Jonny Green (Harlequins)
5 Nick Thomas (Dragons RFC)
6 Ryan Woodman (Dragons RFC – Capt)
7 Harry Beddall (Leicester Tigers)
8 Morgan Morse (Ospreys)
9 Rhodri Lewis (Scarlets)
10 Harri Wilde (Cardiff Rugby)
11 Aidan Boshoff (Bristol Bears)
12 Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby)
13 Macs Page (Scarlets)
14 Kodie Stone (Cardiff Rugby)
15 Matty Young (Cardiff Rugby)
Replacements
16 Harry Thomas (Scarlets)
17 Ioan Emmanuel (Bath Rugby)
18 Kian Hire (Ospreys)
19 Gethyn Cannon (Cardiff Met)
20 Lucas de la Rua (Cardiff Rugby)
21 Lucca Setaro (Scarlets)
22 Harri Ford (Dragons RFC)
23 Steffan Emanuel (Cardiff Rugby)
The Whisperer
Bill Watson (15)
Interesting that Will McCulloch was named in the rugby championship U20 team of the tournament but hasn’t been named to date in the World Cup?
Rudderless
Bill McLean (32)
- Italy v Spain (9th Place)
28-15
- Argentina v South Africa (5th Place)
34-24
- Georgia v Fiji (9th Place)
40-36
- England v Ireland (Semi-final 1)
31-20
- Australia v Wales (5th Place)
36-29
- New Zealand v France (Semi-final 2)
31-55
28-15
- Argentina v South Africa (5th Place)
34-24
- Georgia v Fiji (9th Place)
40-36
- England v Ireland (Semi-final 1)
31-20
- Australia v Wales (5th Place)
36-29
- New Zealand v France (Semi-final 2)
31-55
Strewthcobber
Steve Williams (59)
France flexed their muscles there
Cockatoo Run
Herbert Moran (7)
Just watched the Junior Wallabies replay.
The good: scrum for first 60mins was awesome, HMP is a brilliant footballer, Archie Saunders is lightning, and some excellent multi-phase movements.
The not so good: Lineout a shambles the whole game, kick-offs and kick-off receipts, securing own ball at breakdown at times after 6-7 phase build up was sloppy.
The attacking play was excellent and we really should have won by 30+ but allowed Wales back with too much cheap territory and some soft tries at times. Welsh centres were very good.
Some good talent playing well are eligible for U20 next year as well – Wilcox, Ekanayake, Doyle, King, Fakafanua, Durbidge etc. with some other current U19s also having experience in this current squad (Sharples, Dillon, Fowler, Goldsborough, Goddard, Tiitii).
5th placed final vs Argentina on 10pm east coast time Friday. Be good to see who has improved most since game 1 of the RC at Sunshine Coast where they bulldozed us in the wet.
The good: scrum for first 60mins was awesome, HMP is a brilliant footballer, Archie Saunders is lightning, and some excellent multi-phase movements.
The not so good: Lineout a shambles the whole game, kick-offs and kick-off receipts, securing own ball at breakdown at times after 6-7 phase build up was sloppy.
The attacking play was excellent and we really should have won by 30+ but allowed Wales back with too much cheap territory and some soft tries at times. Welsh centres were very good.
Some good talent playing well are eligible for U20 next year as well – Wilcox, Ekanayake, Doyle, King, Fakafanua, Durbidge etc. with some other current U19s also having experience in this current squad (Sharples, Dillon, Fowler, Goldsborough, Goddard, Tiitii).
5th placed final vs Argentina on 10pm east coast time Friday. Be good to see who has improved most since game 1 of the RC at Sunshine Coast where they bulldozed us in the wet.
Hawko
Tony Shaw (54)
Just watched the highlights (and the lowlights) of the France v NZ semifinal. The French will be no push-over in the final, they gave NZ an almighty thrashing. Their offload plays in the tackle just cut NZ to pieces. I can't remember the last time a NZ team was so totally demolished. If they reproduce that in the final I suspect they will win clearly. The NZ red card was totally deserved, but did not affect the outcome of the match. France was in complete control and 20+ points in front when it happened.
Rudderless
Bill McLean (32)
Host Scotland and USA will contest the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2024 final on Wednesday, 17 July after wins over Japan and Kenya took them to within touching distance of a return to the World Rugby U20 Championship in 2025.
USA were the first to confirm their place in the title decider after beating Kenya 30-17 in the second match of the day at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh on Friday to finish top of Pool B.
They had to wait until the final match of the day to learn their opponents when Scotland met Japan in the Pool A decider.
It had been billed as a contest between the speed and slick handling of Japan against the strength and power of Scotland, but it proved to be a one-sided affair with the hosts nullifying Japan's dangerous back three to secure a dominant 46-10 victory.
Japan will now face Uruguay in the third place play-off after Los Teritos overcame the Netherlands 32-16 in their Pool B encounter.
The Netherlands will meet Samoa in the battle for fifth place after the Pacific Islanders overcame Hong Kong China 39-19 for their first victory of the tournament. Hong Kong China and Kenya will contest seventh place in the opening game on Wednesday.
Wed 17th (AEST)
- Hong Kong China v Kenya 8.45pm (7th place)
- Samoa v Netherlands 11.30pm (5th place)
Thurs 18th (AEST)
- Japan v Uruguay 2.15am (3rd place)
- Scotland v USA 4.45am (Final)
USA were the first to confirm their place in the title decider after beating Kenya 30-17 in the second match of the day at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh on Friday to finish top of Pool B.
They had to wait until the final match of the day to learn their opponents when Scotland met Japan in the Pool A decider.
It had been billed as a contest between the speed and slick handling of Japan against the strength and power of Scotland, but it proved to be a one-sided affair with the hosts nullifying Japan's dangerous back three to secure a dominant 46-10 victory.
Japan will now face Uruguay in the third place play-off after Los Teritos overcame the Netherlands 32-16 in their Pool B encounter.
The Netherlands will meet Samoa in the battle for fifth place after the Pacific Islanders overcame Hong Kong China 39-19 for their first victory of the tournament. Hong Kong China and Kenya will contest seventh place in the opening game on Wednesday.
Wed 17th (AEST)
- Hong Kong China v Kenya 8.45pm (7th place)
- Samoa v Netherlands 11.30pm (5th place)
Thurs 18th (AEST)
- Japan v Uruguay 2.15am (3rd place)
- Scotland v USA 4.45am (Final)