Under-20 Competitions including Oceania & World U20s

[dusk]

I actually thought Jack Bowen had a decent game (aside from the obvious) he moved the backline around quickly and has a decent boot on him. He's also not afraid to run at the defenders and managed to break through a couple times. HMP was great coming off the bench, anyone know what position he played when he came on // and his usual position? Leahy was alright on the wing, but he's really a center playing on the wing, would have preferred to have a different player.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Lancaster being out got Leahy back in the starting side. Started a game on each Wing but is a Centre long term. Every chance he ends up close to 100kg and he's not short.

The other Winger looks pretty dangerous in space. Tim Ryan?

Henry O'Donnell has been consistently great in both shute shield and for the u20's. He's a serious contender for the 12/13 jersey for the tahs in a few years.

He's definitely going to give the Waratahs flexibility with the squad. Can play 12, 13 equally. Might have a higher ceiling than a Walton and cost less than Perese. Happy to see him do a job in Shute Shield for a little while yet like Irae Simone did. Same club as well

 

[Dctarget]

Lancaster being out got Leahy back in the starting side. Started a game on each Wing but is a Centre long term. Every chance he ends up close to 100kg and he's not short.

The other Winger looks pretty dangerous in space. Tim Ryan?

He's definitely going to give the Waratahs flexibility with the squad. Can play 12, 13 equally. Might have a higher ceiling than a Walton and cost less than Perese. Happy to see him do a job in Shute Shield for a little while yet like Irae Simone did. Same club as well

Did Lancaster not play?

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Was in concussion protocols.

 

[LRUsoldier]

Our structures are not there and that’s why we finish semi finalists at best

 

[Misunderstood fan]

There has been a lot of inconsistencies with the players. Of the 3 games each player has one good game, one ok, and the other not so good. The pack in the England game were really good in the set but struggled to get the ball to the backs. The last 20 of the game the poms were tiring and that’s when the backs got the advantage. Bowen should have been spreading the ball straight after half time to get the big poms running. Overall a good game.

 

[SouthernX]

I think one of the primary reasons why Australia is not participating in semi finals is because of the rain we saw in the game versus Ireland.

The Irish live and breathe that kind of weather… the junior wallabies however. One rain droplet in the rain gauge and we are cancelling rugby nationwide to protect our fields

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Irish are definitely better wet track runners than Aus but we beat NZ in pretty bad conditions before the tournament.

France handled NZ easily in the wet and Ireland and France were the best in the 6 Nations.

I think they are just very good teams and we ran into them.

 

[Brumby Runner]

It’s laughable for people to think in a pro environment certain players get a leg up because of their name. As if people are prepared to put their job on the line by not selecting the best possible players. This thought process just doesn’t make sense. “Hey I’m prepared to lose my 6 figure salary because I want to pick an ex-players son over a more talented player”. See how stupid that sounds when said out loud.

I generally think there is a strong correlation between past players and their fathers because they have someone growing up that understands what areas to focus on, the mentality needed and from a young age have access to greater resources which ultimately makes them better players.

Wilson and Bowen are potentially the elite halves combo of the competition. Although I think Bowen has a lot of work to do on his kicking, his passing and vision is elite. They also aren’t getting much from the pack in front of them which hampers the best of halves.

WMan, I think Wilson has been fairly poor all tournament. He looked slow to quite a few breakdowns in the games against Fiji and Ireland, and his passing from the deck at the back of rucks leaves a lot to be desired - slow to release and slow through the air. He put the inside backs and forwards runners under a lot of defensive pressure. I think he really hamstrung the backline attack on many occasions and they really showed when they got clean fast ball some exciting attack.

I have only watched the mini of the game against England, but some other posters have mentioned the same deficiencies in Wilson's game.

 

[Brumby Runner]

I'm excited to hear about the dozen 10's who are better than Bowen. I see Maclaughlin-Phillips is getting big wraps in QLD grade rugby. Bowen is impressing with Easts in Sydney. I assume the other 11 better options are also starting for their Shute Shield/Hospital Cup teams? Or has Scott Bowen stopped that from occurring?

I think Bowen is going ok, but I think he is also suffering at the slow delivery of ball from Teddy Wilson.

 

[qwerty51]

Put our halves behind that French pack and we score 10 tries a game.

Our backline has arguably looked the slickest of everyone from what I've seen. Our pack is our weak point.

 

[Love2Scrum]

Put our halves behind that French pack and we score 10 tries a game.

Totally agree. 100% Spot On.

 

[pnut]

Put our halves behind that French pack and we score 10 tries a game.

Our backline has arguably looked the slickest of everyone from what I've seen. Our pack is our weak point.

Out of curiosity is your boy a back?? No judgement meant.

 

[Members Section]

Was in concussion protocols.

With short turn arounds does that mean he's out for the ab's game?

 

[stillmissit]

Watching the U20's, the size difference between the England forwards and ours was significant. They had a very good winger and hooker but our boys were better when they got the ball in a decent position. Still think they would have been better under Jason Gilmore.

 

[2 + 2]

A bit unfortunate his 12 caps and very strong performances for the Reds this season suggest otherwise

HMP, is twice the player he is.

 

[2 + 2]

How many games have you watched of Teddy Wilson? @2+2

ive watched a couple, he might end up being a tremendous player however his performances at this tournament for a professional who has player super rugby have left me feeing underwhelmed. In my opinion very slow service from the ruck, he seems to wait an age before getting the ball away allowing the defensive line to re set. I also see him take 5/6 steps on occassions before passing again reducing the time the other backs have. I think he is a dangerous runner of the ball. I do believe we wouldnt loose anything with a number of other halfback options.

 

[SouthernX]

HMP, is twice the player he is.

HMP is a great talent for AUS - you are doing his skillset a disservice saying he’s been screwed over by other players whom non deserving.

GAGR hates when the relatives get on here and simp/pump up their talented children, siblings etc

 

[2 + 2]

WMan, I think Wilson has been fairly poor all tournament. He looked slow to quite a few breakdowns in the games against Fiji and Ireland, and his passing from the deck at the back of rucks leaves a lot to be desired - slow to release and slow through the air. He put the inside backs and forwards runners under a lot of defensive pressure. I think he really hamstrung the backline attack on many occasions and they really showed when they got clean fast ball some exciting attack.

I have only watched the mini of the game against England, but some other posters have mentioned the same deficiencies in Wilson's game.

agree 100%. This is the point i have been trying to make. Just because he plays 1st Grade Shute Shield of Super Rugby doesnt make him amazing. He has been anointed as a wonderful player as a junior, time & money invested by HPU. If they dont continue with him along the pathways it means that the pathways have failed. Clearly he is not a bad player however he doesn't stand out in this age grade competition. You could replace him easily with any number of u20 half backs across the country and they wouldn't do any worse. So yes i believe he has a leg up because of who his father is. People wouldnt be looking at him if he had a different surname, its the same with Lynagh. If someone is signed out of school on a professional contract i would expect when they go and play 1st grade colts that they would dominate, lynagh didnt. Again if he had a different surname there is no way he would have been signed out of school.

 

[2 + 2]

HMP is a great talent for AUS - you are doing his skillset a disservice saying he’s been screwed over by other players whom non deserving.

GAGR hates when the relatives get on here and simp/pump up their talented children, siblings etc

no relation of mine, he is just a superior player than Bowen.