IRB U/20 Tournament and Oz Squad

[Brumbies Guy]

Team to play NZ:

1 Scott Sio
2 Siliva Siliva
3 Paul Alo-Emile
4 Blake Enever
5 Luke Jones
6 Colby Fainga'a (C)
7 Michael Hooper
8 Ed Quirk

9 Eddie Bredenhann
10 Ben Volavola
11 Kimami Sitauti
12 Bill Meakes
13 Tom Kingston
14 Chris Nasiganiyavi
15 Simon Morahan

16 Hugh Roach
17 Tim Metcher
18 Ted Postal
19 Jarrad Butler
20 Matt Lucas
21 Rohan Saifoloi
22 Jacob Woodhouse

Where'd we pull Nasiganiyavi from? I'm assuming he is Ratu's brother, played for Fiji last year.

 

[fatprop]

Watched the game last night, they were average.

We had a hookers who can't run and pass at the same time and backs who can't tackle and a pack of forwards who didn't want work.

Whilst the Franch worked as a pack, while their backs ran hard and supported from depth

 

[Lee Grant]

I thought that Siliva was suspended. Looks like Peterson's shoulder hasn't come good.

Yeah - who did Chris N replace in the squad - and for that matter, D. Anderson? They would have had dispensation to replace Ambrosini, though a flyhalf, but who else dipped out?

 

[antipodean]

I thought that Siliva was suspended.

His appeal was upheld.

 

[Brumbies Guy]

I thought that Siliva was suspended. Looks like Peterson's shoulder hasn't come good.

Yeah - who did Chris N replace in the squad - and for that matter, D. Anderson? They would have had dispensation to replace Ambrosini, though a flyhalf, but who else dipped out?

Apo would be my guess

 

[Upright]

I thought that Siliva was suspended. Looks like Peterson's shoulder hasn't come good.

Yeah - who did Chris N replace in the squad - and for that matter, D. Anderson? They would have had dispensation to replace Ambrosini, though a flyhalf, but who else dipped out?

Lee it looks like
Forwards
Enever for Peterson otherwise unchanged - agree they will need to play a whole lot better as a pack in all facets against AB's than they did against France. Coaches showing faith so they must believe they are our best forwards.
Backs
Bredenhann for Lucas(good move), Meakes for Latinapulu (a very good centre in for a player who is better suited to flanker - right move) Nasi (who ever he is) - for Anderson - tough on Damon as I thought he did well with limited chances against France and Morahan for Saifoloi - good move as well. The loss of James Ambrosini is obviously significant as Volavola was not good against the French, so only a lack of an alternative could have kept him in the team. Then again four changes in the backs leading into a semi final is probably enough!!! I hope they can find something - who are the likely stand outs for the Kiwi's?

 

[daz]

who are the likely stand outs for the Kiwi's?

All of them?

Is this game on Foxtel live? I have searched and can't find it. I hope that is an oversight by my eyes, rather than Foxtel not considering this worthy of telecast....

 

[antipodean]

All of them?

Is this game on Foxtel live? I have searched and can't find it. I hope that is an oversight by my eyes, rather than Foxtel not considering this worthy of telecast....

Channel 502 and 204 (HD) from 2am EST. Both semis are live.

 

[Joe Mac]

This NZ team looks phenomenal and we look average. I am scared

 

[Torn Hammy]

Do we not have another 10?

 

[bloodred]

I have a little bit of a problem here in that this young flyhalf was chosen to represent his country and if there was someone else better they would have been chosen. I understand that he was the original back-up 10, but let's not be too critical. I am sure that most of us on this forum have not represented Australia at any level. I have never met this lad but I am sure he is doing his best.

 

[Hawko]

This year we sent the team away telling ourselves that the forward pack was a year older and hungrier, with plenty of Super squad and game experience. We thought so highly of the backs that we brought some home to cover for Red injuries. Then came the reality check: France of all people. Not even the top rated NH team.

Our talent identification and development appears to be somewhat second rate. And on that display against France we will get another shellacking from the wolves across the ditch this weekend. Nucifora wants to coach the Wallabies, but if he is going to he needs to put some results on the board. Very slim pickings since the Super 14 title.

 

[light]

just cause i cannot be bothered looking and you all are encyclopaedias of this tournament. What is the NZ XV for this game?

 

[Brumbies Guy]

This year we sent the team away telling ourselves that the forward pack was a year older and hungrier, with plenty of Super squad and game experience. We thought so highly of the backs that we brought some home to cover for Red injuries.

I don't know what ever gave you that impression. I thought it was clearly the weakest team we have sent over. As for the highly thought of backs, who are they? There are none unlike previous years. Closest in the current squad is Kingston who was a fringe Super player in a depleted Tahs side.

Then came the reality check: France of all people. Not even the top rated NH team..

France were actually impressive in this years U20 6 Nations, only narrowly dropping one game to England to finish 2nd.

 

[bentarmrules]

Just for info. I assume that Chris N is the same guy (formerly known as Chris N but now known as Chris Kuradrini (sp) in recent times. Ratu's brother (maybe). Quality player and kid - Aust Schools (maybe). Played full premier season in Bris last year at 18. Signed by Bris Broncos U20s. Preferred Rugby - back to GPS with no hard feelings from either side. Pulled in by Reds recently as shadow for outside backs. May have got a bench spot but probably specialist winger at that level. Hope he gets the ball and goes well - great strength and leg drive.

 

[Brumbies Guy]

just cause i cannot be bothered looking and you all are encyclopaedias of this tournament. What is the NZ XV for this game?

1 Solomona Sakalia
2 Codie Taylor
3 Ben Tameifuna
4 Steven Luatua
5 Brodie Retallick
6 Brad Shields
7 Sam Cane
8 Luke Whitelock (C)

9 TJ Perenara
10 Gareth Anscombe
11 Charles Piutau
12 Lima Sopoaga
13 Glen Robertson
14 Francis Saili
15 Beauden Barrett

16 Sefo Setefano
17 Michael Kainga
18 D.ominic Bird
19 Carl Axtens
20 Brad Weber
21 Mitchell Scott
22 Waisake Naholo

 

[Nusadan]

Some familiar names from Super 15 NZ teams...their brothers/cousins? Retallick, Whitelock(of course) and Piutau...

 

[Lee Grant]

Yeah - who did Chris N replace in the squad - and for that matter, D. Anderson? They would have had dispensation to replace Ambrosini, though a flyhalf, but who else dipped out?

What I meant was: who did CN and DA replace in the original squad as they weren't picked originally? There is always a protocol on these matters otherwise teams could have another 10 players hiding around the corner.

Postal for Gill, Woodhouse for Shipperley and Meakes for Faulkner we knew about, but who did the other two replace? One probably replaced the injured Ambrosini but I didn't know about any other injury.

Doesn't really matter, just curious.

 

[wamberal]

Two open-sides again. We will get killed.

 

[Brumbies Guy]

What I meant was: who did CN and DA replace in the original squad as they weren't picked originally? There is always a protocol on these matters otherwise teams could have another 10 players hiding around the corner.

Postal for Gill, Woodhouse for Shipperley and Meakes for Faulkner we knew about, but who did the other two replace? One probably replaced the injured Ambrosini but I didn't know about any other injury.

Doesn't really matter, just curious.

Anderson replaced Ambrosini
.. and my guess is Nasiganiyavi has replaced Latunipulu