@stargazer The Blues have named an exciting and talent-laden squad for the Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa Under-20 tournament starting in Taupo on Sunday.
The 28-strong Ganellen Blues Under-20s will play three games at the tournament, starting with the Crusaders on Sunday with further games against a Barbarians side and final clash against the Hurricanes.
The team is coached by the Blues Wilsher Scholarship recipient, Steven Bates with assistants Gus Leger and Dan Bowden.
It includes two members of the Blues Super Rugby team in hooker Soane Vikena, last year’s Blues Development player of the year, and outside back Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, a member of the All Blacks Sevens squad last year. Both will be available for the opening game on Sunday while the Blues are on bye week.
The side is laden with leaders with hooker Ray Sua, former captain at Kelston Boys; Leandro Vakatini captained Kings; Chlayton Frans was captain of Westlake Boys while fellow loosies Cam Church and Will Bason were rugby captain and head boy respectively at St Kents.
A number of players have earned national school selection including hooker Hanz Leota (Auckland), locks James Brown (Auckland) and Allan Craig (Northland); loose forward Vaiolini Ekuasi, who was in the Auckland Mitre-10 Cup squad this year; halfback Manu Paea, first five Christian Stenhouse, and midfielder Meihana Grindlay, while fellow midfielder Corey Evans was in the Wider national under-20 squad 2020.
There are players with strong family links to sporting success including Auckland prop Josh Fusitua, a brother of Warriors player David Fusitua and loose forward Wallace Sititi (Auckland), whose father Semo played in the Rugby World Cup for Manu Samoa.
Others multi-sporting talents in their background including captain Cam Church, a competitive age-group swimmer, Bason was a water polo prospect and midfielder Sage Shaw-Tait was part of the Tuatara pro baseball squad.
They warmed up with a 26-12 win over the Chiefs before final preparations for Taupo.
The Ganellen Blues U20s will play the Crusaders at 3pm on Sunday 11 April; the Barbarians at 11.30am on Wednesday 14 April and the Hurricanes at 3pm on Saturday 17 April.
All games will be live on Sky Television.
The team is:
Hooker: Soane Vikena (Blues), Ray Sua (Auckland), Hanz Leota (Auckland); Prop: Leandro Vakatini (Auckland), Josh Fusitua (Auckland), Esile Fono (Northland), Sione Ahio (Auckland), Ryan Mead (North Harbour); Lock: James Brown (Auckland), Allan Craig (Northland), Josh Beehre (Auckland); Loose forward: Wallace Sititi (Auckland), Chlayton Frans (North Harbour), Cam Church (Auckland, Captain), Will Bason (Auckland), Jordan Hutchings (Auckland); No 8: Vaiolini Ekuasi (Auckland); Halfback: Manu Paea (Auckland), Dayton Iobu (Auckland); First five: Christian Stenhouse (Auckland), Jock McKenzie (Auckland); Midfield: Meihana Grindlay (Auckland), Corey Evans (Auckland), Sage Shaw-Tait (Auckland); Wing: Joel Cobb (Auckland), Ryan Nankivell (Auckland); Fullback: Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (Blues), Sofai Maka (Auckland).
Coaches: Steven Bates, Gus Leger, Dan Bowden.
Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck (brother of) who 'retired' from the NRL in 2019 at 22 years old, is playing rugby this season for the Ponsonby Premiers.
The Ganellen Blues Under-20s enjoyed an encouraging shakedown ahead of the 2021 Super Rugby Aotearoa Under-20 tournament with a win over their Chiefs counterparts near Pukekohe.
They beat the Chiefs 26-12 in the friendly, scoring four tries to two in hot conditions at the Bombay Rugby Club, and will now prepare for the Super Rug by Aotearoa Under-20 tournament in Taupo starting on Sunday 11 April.
Head coach Steven Bates was pleased with their first outing and prospects for Taupo.
“I am rapt, I am absolutely rapt. The big positive for me was how we responded. They put a fair bit of pressure on us in the first 25 minutes and we had to defend a lot. We were able to withstand that pressure and reverse it and put the pressure on them.
“Another big positive was our scrum. We have worked hard on it and the scrum was fantastic.
“It was a good platform looking ahead to the tournament. We certainly did not get everything right but we got enough things right to know we are a team that can dig deep, and we will definitely put our best foot forward in Taupo.”
The Chiefs took the early lead after 10 minutes with an unconverted try from a driving maul before Manu Paea levelled the scores out wide.
The Ganellen Blues took the lead after 30 minutes when Allan Craig forced his way over from a driving run off the maul with Jock McKenzie adding the extras, before the Chiefs levelled the scores with an intercept try on halftime.
With a superior scrum, improving lineout work and some aggressive defence, the Ganellen Blues began to take control midway through the second half.
They made a number of telling breaks before diminutive replacement halfback Dayton Iobu darted over by the posts.
Rather than closing the game down, the Ganellen Blues showed their attacking flair five minutes later when winger Joel Cobb went over in the corner after a prolonged attack. McKenzie slotted the extras off the post for the final 26-12 scoreline.
Ganellen Blues 26 (Manu Paea. Allan Craig, Dayton Iobu, Joel Cobb tries; Jock McKenzie 3 conversions) Chiefs 12
Halftime: 12-12.
Replacement halfback Dayton Iobu stretches out for the try but was bundled into touch
@african-monkey Starting any game is a bit of a novelty for Tolai. Until last npc he rarely got more than 10 or 15 mins off the bench for Harbour with the perennial Parsons in his way.
@african-monkey Vikena is due back for the upcoming U20 comp and Niuia may not be far away so it will be interesting to see how they use them going forward. Entirely agree that Ekland is number one though. Has he got one more game to sit out?
@african-monkey said in Blues v Hurricanes:
Also not convinced by Tolai at this stage
Considering Tolai and Apisai were originally fifth and sixth ranked hookers behind Parsons, Niuia, Vikena and Ekland, I think they are generally going OK. Tolai is 23 and Apisai 24, so both are still young for hookers at this level with time to develop.
@nogusta I wonder if he is being lined up to coach the Pacifica Super team next year?
he Blues are amped and ready to ensure that the Easter break will be no holiday for the visiting Hurricanes when they clash in the Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa match at Eden Park on Saturday night.
The second placed Blues, with two wins and two losses in their opening four games, will begin the second round of the competition following their 31-16 victory over the Canes in the opening match in Wellington.
Coach Leon MacDonald has made several changes after the disappointing loss to the Chiefs, although most of the Blues squad from that win in Wellington last month will take part this weekend.
The only “new faces” from the opening match are veteran TJ Faiane, who gets his first start after an injury-delayed season, and exciting young lock Sam Darry, who made his impressive Super Rugby debut against the Highlanders.
Darry comes in for captain Patrick Tuipulotu, who has not recovered from a shoulder injury received in last weekend’s match.
Loose forward Tom Robinson, who made a significant impact off the bench against the Chiefs, has earned his first start of the season at loose forward and will captain the side.
“The performance overall against the Chiefs was disappointing, especially at set-piece, our lack of accuracy and discipline. The players who made an impact off the bench or have been working hard on the training field have earned their chance.
“Sam gets another start at lock after he impressed us earlier in the season and Tom will lead this team in place Patrick,” said coach Leon MacDonald.
Sam Nock gets his opportunity to start at halfback for the second time this season with Jonathan Ruru expected to add real thrust again from the reserves.
The front row continues the inter-change of All Black props with Ofa Tuungafasi welcomed at home in front of friends and family for his 101st game in blue, and Karl Tu’inukuafe, both starting.
The potential new cap will come in the form of strong-running winger AJ Lam, outstanding in the Mitre-10 Cup, and rewarded after continuing to impress on the training field.
“We are primed to get back on track with a much better all-round performance,” said MacDonald. “When we got some go-forward ball we showed how dangerous we can be. But we need to be more accurate at set-piece, and continue to improve in terms of our discipline.
“We started the season well but lacked precision over the last two games and last week’s game was disappointing. That has led to some changes this week as players who have done the mahi at training get their opportunity.
“We are back at Eden Park and looking to put together a performance of quality that we and our loyal fans will be proud of.”
The Blues team is:
15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 Mark Telea, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Otere Black, 9 Sam Nock; 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Tom Robinson (c), 5 Sam Darry, 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 3 Ofa Tuungafasi, 2 Luteru Tolai, 1 Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Reserves: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Josh Goodhue, 20 Akira Ioane, 21 Jonathan Ruru, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 AJ Lam.
FYI:
Chiefs v Blues
Saturday 27 March, 7:05pm
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Referee: James Doleman
Assistant 1: Paul Williams
Assistant 2: Angus Mabey
TMO: Aaron Paterson
@stargazer said in 2021 New Zealand U20s:
Super Rugby Aotearoa Under 20 Draw
Sunday 11 April
11.30am Hurricanes v Chiefs
1.30pm Barbarians v Highlanders
3.30pm Crusaders v Blues
Wednesday 14 April
11.30am Barbarians v Blues
1.30pm Hurricanes v Highlanders
3.30pm Crusaders v Chiefs
Saturday 17 April
11am Crusaders v Highlanders
1pm Barbarians v Chiefs
3pm Hurricanes v Blues
Rugby Pass says that all three of these matchdays in Taupo will be broadcast live by Sky.
Means nothing to me but may interest NFL followers?
An alternate reality where rugby is as popular as American football in the States.
Surprise, not many Englishmen -
Jamie Roberts' Lions XV to face South Africa
15 Stuart Hogg (Scotland), 14 Anthony Watson (England), 13 George North (Wales), 12 Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), 11 Josh Adams (Wales), 10 Dan Biggar (Wales), 9 Conor Murray (Ireland); 1 Wyn Jones (Wales), 2 Ken Owens (Wales), 3 Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), 4 Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), 5 Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), 6 Hamish Watson (Scotland), 7 Tom Curry (England), 8 Taulupe Faletau (Wales).
Not sure if this interests anyone but the Warriors are the third most followed 'footy' sports team in Oz on social media.
Blackcaps great Brendon McCullum to front Australian sport radio’s expansion into New Zealand
Australian broadcaster Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) is expanding into New Zealand and has acquired the services of former Blackcaps captain Brendon McCullum as key talent.
SENZ, as it will be known, will hit Kiwi airwaves as "New Zealand's new home of sport and racing", aiming to blend live sport with local programming.
SEN will acquire 29 TAB frequencies across both AM and FM bands, filling the void vacated by Radio Sport's closure during COVID-19.
"New Zealand is one of the most passionate places in the world for international and local Sport," SEN chief executive Craig Hutchinson says.
"We are delighted to have reached agreement to unleash SENZ onto an unrivalled
radio footprint across the whole country."
McCullum's signature is a key acquisition for SEN, with the former NZ cricket captain also boasting a wealth of expertise in racing, as both a commentator and an owner. McCullum will front SENZ’s breakfast radio show.
"I'm obviously hugely excited to be taking the lead on such an inventive move forward for
sports radio in New Zealand," McCullum says.
"I still live for sport and this is another opportunity to remain immersed in it in my own
country, putting my stamp on SENZ's coverage and hopefully having a lot of fun along the way."
SEN currently holds broadcast rights for the NRL, A-League, international and domestic cricket in Australia, and the AFL, and will soon announce what New Zealand rights it has acquired.
The New Zealand expansion will establish radio studios in both Auckland and Wellington, producing content from both locations.
