SR U20s 2025

SouthernMann

@Steven-Harris said in SR U20s 2025:

Blues in a high scoring game 48-45 over the Landers some great tries but the defence lacking from both teams ..more questions than answers out of this game ..Pledger is a talent

Really entertaining.

Blues pack bossed us a bit. Just bigger kids.

Players to impress me for the Landers.

Not including Pledger or Tengblad who were two of the best on the field.

Shaun Kempton:

A small hooker, but his skillset is wild. He can contest up and unders, winning them in the air. Throw cut out passes and is very quick for a hooker.

Gregor Rutledge:

Another smallish player. Into everything. Despite his size, he held his own well in the collisions. Gets some good yards with ball in hand too.

Mika Muliaina:

Ran the backline well. Some really impressive kicks for territory. Including a 50/22. Wiling to take on the line. First year out of school. Still a bit small.

Tayne Harvey:

Nice angled runs and a strong passing game. All the talent required to step up, may need to put a bit of weight on.

Kyan Rangitutia and Josh Augistine:

Both had strong performances on the wings. When Rangitutia played in the NPC, he looked a boy against men. At this level he looked like a man against boys. Augistine played the same way he did in Dunedin Club Rugby. Strong into contact, and willing to give it a go.

Disappointing to lose that game. Plenty of talent in the side.

Left Right Out 0

I thought Otago were the better team. Some silly errors in crucial times and defence really let them down.

So how do the semi's work out? Whose playing who?

Bovidae

After watching all of the games, I am still concerned about our prop depth. We have some mobile props like Pole and Palmer but they aren't very big by international U20 standards. We'll need some power in the locks to help with the scrum.

I think the SFs will be Hurricanes v Blues and Chiefs v Crusaders if PD is used for the ranking.

ballrunner

Crusaders v Blues in 2nd round
Highlanders v Moana Pasifika

ballrunner

Was based off rankings I believe

Bovidae

These were the rankings:

Crusaders
Chiefs
Hurricanes
Blues
Highlanders
Fiji
NZ Barbarians
Moana Pasifika

I wish they would just rotate who plays who each year as the rankings system just leads to more predictable results unless there is a big upset.

Steven Harris

@SouthernMann actually thought the Landers looked the better team for long periods problem is whenever they scored the Blues scored
Agree with many of the lads you mentioned those big bodies of the Blues very much the difference
Thought Atiken,Simpson and Saunoa were good value for the Blues in the backs and Woodley ,Keith and Tuitupou were a busy loose trio
A couple of questionable decisions from Winter who is an experienced whistler but will take the win .

ballrunner

Landers were deserving the win. Feel for those lads. Starting prop who got most minutes was in moon boot Friday and Saturday, gets most minutes for prop. Anyone that watches will see who that was. Some management decisions did not help these guys.
Blues were good too, great to see 2 competitive games.
Agree with earlier ranking comments. Its hard to rank as teams change yearly and it appears to be ranked from previous years placings.

Left Right Out 0

Difficult to make rankings accurate with teams only playing once p/year.

Perhaps they change it evey year so the NZ Super teams play a different non NZ Super team. They determine rankings via points for and against?

Its not great but neither is current setup.

Anyway, caught up with our nephew and sounds like Chiefs are fighting fit with only minor niggles for Tues game. He said the Canes might have a few players out in the midfield and loose trio.

Not trying to look too far but my head and heart are saying Chiefs for the win and i expect a different Crusaders team to turn up vs the Blues. I think theyll settle down early and run some of those big Blues forwards ragged.

WoodysRFC

@SouthernMann was impressed with Mika as well, thought he may have outplayed Rico in this one. Believe too that he's still eligible for New Zealand U18.

Bovidae

@Left-Right-Out-0 said in SR U20s 2025:

Difficult to make rankings accurate with teams only playing once p/year.

Perhaps they change it evey year so the NZ Super teams play a different non NZ Super team.

What I am suggesting is what happens in the 1st XV Top 4. The Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes and South Island play a different team in sequence over a 3-year period. You could do the same amongst the 8 teams.

robbo01

Instead of pre tournament rankings deciding the semifinal position, They could have just used the scoring system 4 tries bonus point, when they are tied then point differential?