U20 Rugby Championship 2025
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@Bovidae said in U20 Rugby Championship 2025:
The backline isn't correct.
I thought it was odd that Saunoa was in the midfield. The All Blacks website not to be trusted!
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Some interesting choices in that lineup. Both Letiu and Faleafā are probably lucky to return to the starting side, both Oudenryn and Tofilau performed very well in the previous game. Speaking of Tofilau, is he injured? I'd expect him to be involved in this game otherwise, I thought he was the best performing prop of the first two games.
The breakdown went a lot better in the Argentina game so it makes sense that the back five of the scrum remains the same. I thought Treacy, Tengblad and McLeod went very well together. It's good that Baker is back, though, for more starch in the pack later on. Eti hasn't gotten a lot of game time in this tournament. Hopefully he gets another chance somewhere down the line.
They went earlier with the Pledger/Cole-combination than I thought. Should be a good test for Cole to see whether he can be as effective against a side which is going to be much more physical.
The midfield hasn't really convinced so far, it's been a very mixed bag in my view. Tayne Harvey had some excellent moments against Argentina but some real brain fades as well. Wiseman was industrious against the Junior Wallabies but not always that impactful. Roberts does look to be growing in confidence so it's good that he retains his place. But they could use some reinforcements for the World Cup, like James Cameron and Frank Vaenuku.
I think it's a very hard game to call. The Junior Boks have a very good record against the NZ U20s at this level, both because (1) styles make fights, and (2) the Junior Boks have rarely played against vintage NZ U20 sides. The SA U20s will also be looking to make a statement after their own collapse against the Junior Wallabies. Should be a good game!
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The Junior Bok team has also been announced:
Junior Boks geared for massive New Zealand clash
The Junior Springboks are motivated and determined to finish the U20 Rugby Championship on a positive note when they face New Zealand at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Sunday.
It's a mixture of the first two games but important returnees from the first game are Matt Romao at blindside, Albie Bester at 12, and Gilermo Mentoe at 15, all selections which do improve the team (I like Malgas but either at 10 or 13, not particularly at 12 like he was against the Junior Wallabies).
Moyo is retained at 10 but seems likely to have been instructed to kick less, or at least, to not kick as long as he did against Argentina. Foote refers to "kicking patterns [which] were out of character", so I presume he just means that they need to kick less for territory and attack when the space is available.
The job for the NZ U20s seems relatively straighforward: kick smartly so as to not give that back 3 easy counter-attacking opportunities; set a stable lineout platform; and put the Junior Bok skillset under as much pressure as possible. That means double tackles, both low and around the torso, so as to make the offload and passing options more difficult.
I think the NZ scrum is likely to get smashed but if they can get those other things right, they should be in with a decent chance.
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Game day updates ahead of our final game against South Africa U20s
Out:
Tamiano Ahloo (injured)
Dylan Pledger (illness)In:
Riley Tofilau at 3
Charlie Sinton at 9
Dane Johnston moves to 17
Robson Faleafā moves to 18
Jai Tamati at 21Live at 2am NZST on Sky Sport. 📺
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Jeez looked like the South African ducked a bit into that one. I would call that mitigation.
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I don't know why I bother watching rugby sometimes. NZ down to 13.
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NZ did well to shut that out for two minutes but that half back nearly fucked it at the end!
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