IRB U/20 Tournament and Oz Squad

[PaarlBok]

Louis Schreuder (x Paarl Gym captain) on SA semi challenge against NZ

The SA Under-20s will be focused on booking their places in a first ever IRB Junior World Championship final when they take on the Baby Blacks in the second semi-final on Thursday which will be played in Rosario at 21h30 (RSA time).

New Zealand are the reigning Under-20 champions and recorded their second title in Japan last year following their 44-28 victory over England. They won the 2008 World Championship in Wales. The Baby Boks on the other hand conceded two semi-final defeats in those tournaments, both against England.

“A South African side has never played in an Under-20 World Championship final and that should be enough motivation for the boys,” said SA Under-20 vice captain and scrumhalf Louis Schreuder.

“The guys were disappointed with the defeat against Australia, but we’re a close group of guys who believe we can turn things around in the semi-finals.

“It’s going to be a huge game on Thursday, as New Zealand ended the Pool phase of the tournament as the leading team in the competition. With that in mind, we don’t need any further reminding of how big this game is going to be.

“New Zealand are a classy side, but we going to focus on our things and how we want to play the game. We were guilty of making a couple of errors in the Australia game, but our intentions are to play and to stick to our systems and structures that successfully saw us defeat Scotland (73-0) and Tonga (40-14).”

The Baby Boks arrived in the Argentinean city of Rosario yesterday evening and will start their on-field training for Thursday’s semi-final today. South Africa conceded a 42-35 defeat to Australia in their final Pool C game in Sante Fe on Sunday.

Only SA Under-20 captain CJ Stander, Sampie Mastriet and Kene Okafor have previously competed in an IRB Junior World Championship semi-final. All three players though were part of the Baby Boks’ 41-20 defeat to England in Tokyo last year. In that particular game, Stander was one of South Africa’s try-scorers.

“This is definitely the biggest game I have ever been involved in and I am seriously looking forward to the challenge of playing against New Zealand. It’s a big game for us.” said Schreuder.

“As a rugby player, you want to test yourself against the best, and New Zealand must have possibly done a few good things to be in a position of where they are at the moment. But it’s a playoff game and anything could happen on the day.

“We just have to ensure that we cut out those match day mistakes and take our opportunities against the Baby Blacks. There won’t be many, so we’ll have to be sharp and ready when they avail themselves.”

The SA Under-20 team to play the Baby Blacks in Rosario will be named on Wednesday.

Tough going, I missed the semi after watching Poofball (watch the socceroos vs Germany) and feel like I can kick myself. Congrats on the win and good luck against the Poms..

 

[the gambler]

PB, Can we stop calling soccer Poofball. While I agree that the sport is softer than rugby I think many would find it discrimatory to call it Poofball and that is not what we are about here.

 

[RugbyReg]

So thoughts on who from this squad might push for Wallaby positions, at the least the touring squad in November? Obviously trying not to get ahead of myself.

I don't think there's too many positions we are too short of from the Wallaby side.

Matty To'omua is a class player and should tour you would think, but we're not really struggling for 10 options.

We are struggling for a No 8 which leads me to think Jake Schatz would be a big chance, even of a bench spot come the Tri-Nations. How long is Cliffy out for? Scotty Higginbottham might be considered too, but this is about U20s.

Obviously none of the front rowers should be considered yet. Gill's too young too. Justin Turner may have been, before injury. Ed Quirk and Colby Fainga'a?

 

[DPK]

Well, I wouldn't have all those things available if I didn't want people to know them.

I suggest "Soccer" be used.

 

[en_force_er]

Obviously none of the front rowers should be considered yet.

Why not? They are big enough and they do take a pretty large squad over.

Obviously it would be more about getting them into a test squad environment rather than a Wallaby jersey, some Aussie A games off the bench would be good for them.

 

[tranquility]

I haven't been all the impressed with Colby. I can't see him really pushing for a Wallaby spot this year.

 

[DPK]

If Slipper wasn't in the Wallabies squad, would he be in the U/20's Squad?

 

[Hawko]

It pains me that the question even arises. Last Saturday we saw what happens when you send out boys against men. There should be a law that says squad members of the front row should be 22 or more and 24 or more to be selected in a full test.

It just occurred to me that enforcer might have gone fishing. If so he caught hawko.

 

[fatprop]

Dunno, pretty accurate to me

[video=youtube;sVGtB9j7QCg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVGtB9j7QCg[/video]

 

[TheTruth]

So thoughts on who from this squad might push for Wallaby positions, at the least the touring squad in November? Obviously trying not to get ahead of myself.

I don't think there's too many positions we are too short of from the Wallaby side.

Matty To'omua is a class player and should tour you would think, but we're not really struggling for 10 options.

We are struggling for a No 8 which leads me to think Jake Schatz would be a big chance, even of a bench spot come the Tri-Nations. How long is Cliffy out for? Scotty Higginbottham might be considered too, but this is about U20s.

Obviously none of the front rowers should be considered yet. Gill's too young too. Justin Turner may have been, before injury. Ed Quirk and Colby Fainga'a?

Reckon Shatz will be in mix but what about Luke Morahan - Gilly, if good enough should get a shot IMO need to increase weight before he starts playing with the really big big boys.

 

[tranquility]

I agree that Gill needs to get bigger. But I just love how we all just neglect the evidence. Since high school people have continually said that Gill is too small, an yet he goes on to dominate Australian schoolboy teams, Brisbane Premiere rugby, World 7s series and now the World U20s where he is the youngest player in the comp.

Can we give the size thing a rest yet? it really isn't becoming an issue.

 

[Lee Grant]

I'll fly the kite one more time - Gill will be a long term Wallaby if his size isn't a factor. End of comments about Gill's weight and should be imputed for any comments I make about this star player in the future.

Given so many players are being used for the Wallabies these days it would be more to the point of who won't be a Wallaby of some sort in this very good U/20 1st XV.

But long term Wallabies apart from Gill with the disclaimer? I will take a punt on:

3. PAE
5. Greg Peterson
Bench: Luke Jones

I picked them all as future Wallabies when they were at school last year without the adjective "long-term", and haven't seen anything to change my opinion even though Jones wasn't in the starting XV.

 

[tranquility]

What time are the semi's being broadcast?

 

[chief]

What time are the semi's being broadcast?

11 pm tommorrow evening. Streamed live on IRB website

 

[PaarlBok]

PB, Can we stop calling soccer Poofball. While I agree that the sport is softer than rugby I think many would find it discrimatory to call it Poofball and that is not what we are about here.

First Biffo, then Cyc now Gambling men, grow a pair of hard balls Boet. Cant help my Paarl talk and dont mean to offend but bliksem life is to short to waiste on kak like this.

 

[tranquility]

ha ha, hats off to that man.

 

[tranquility]

can someone post the line-up when they see it.

 

[chief]

Matt Toomoua is all class. After the RWC, we are going to see players like Berrick Barnes move to the NRL, Matt Giteau will take his pension to France. Its a terrible shame that Matt Toomoua continued on with the Brumbies , he won't be starting next year I don't think. The Rebels would have been the better option.

 

[RugbyReg]

seems team is the same:

http://www.irb.com/jwc/matches/match=11260/index.html

 

[dbla]

Matt Toomoua is all class. After the RWC, we are going to see players like Berrick Barnes move to the NRL, Matt Giteau will take his pension to France. Its a terrible shame that Matt Toomoua continued on with the Brumbies , he won't be starting next year I don't think. The Rebels would have been the better option.

Bit off topic but I see To'omua starting ahead of lealifano(?) next year anway, think maybe the latter should have headed home