2021 NZ Schools
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@stargazer This year there are also U18 players in the squads who have already left school so their club is listed.
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@chris-b said in 2021 NZ Schools:
Zinzan Hansen.
Destiny's child!
Yeah, a great name.
I saw him play when I went to watch Waikato Uni in a club rugby game. I hadn't realised he was so young but he scored a 40 m try showing plenty of pace. A tall and athletic lock.
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Top schoolboy talent selected in national teams
The top schoolboy players in the country have been found with New Zealand Rugby today announcing the 2021 New Zealand Schools, New Zealand Barbarian Under 18 and New Zealand MΔori Under 18 NgΔ Whatukura Boys teams.
Links have the full squads.
It looks like two roughly equivalent squads rather than an A and B team.
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Having a closer look at the teams Chicago Doyle looks to be another King's College player that is heading to Wellington.
If they have selected a true NZ Schools and Barbarians squad I am really surprised to see Jeremiah Asi, Ajay Faleafaga and Sam Howling in the Barbarians team.
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@bovidae Geez, what a disappointing selections. Only two players from Hastings Boys in NZ Schools. Cooper Flanders should definitely be there as one of the best 1st XV players in the country, but some other very good players are missing! Where's Mefi Tupou? Kaihau Pasikala? Alex Dickie? And they pick a halfback that I've hardly noticed this year. Such a strong team this year and not even a single player in the other two teams.
And also only one player from Napier Boys, promising halfback Cory Berkett. Where's Afa Moleli? Gilgal Leutele Malasia?
You'll disagree, but I think some schools, including Hamilton Boys and King's College, are overrepresented if you look at the relative strenghts of the schools and talent of players. Wellington based scouts/selectors for players from the Hurricanes region, who couldn't be bothered watching Super 8 games? Why does this keep on happening, year after year?
Pasikala may possibly still have a year to go at school, so hopefully next year!
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@stargazer I said I was surprised at some of the selections, and with the year Kelston has had they are under-represented.
Even with my Hamilton BHS hat on I didn't expect so many in the NZS team. Kemara, Cahill and Spencer were obvious choices, and maybe one of the front rowers like Robinson. Anderson is a huge surprise and I thought he was going to RL.
You can go and watch the camps and see them for yourself.
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ind it interesting that Otago and the Highlander's rock star signing is in the babas. While the home grown boy who is just working away in Finn Hurley has made the top side.
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@stargazer Shit, I read this thinking Flanders had actually missed out before checking out the team itself.
I think Hamilton Boys are the Crusaders of schoolboy rugby and this will elevate a few of their players over comparable similar players.
It is interesting that a top 4 team like Hastings only manages to get two players across all three of those teams. Great coaching I guess.
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@bovidae said in 2021 NZ Schools:
@nepia No Maori in the Hastings team?
St Kent's only gets a single player in the Maori U18s, and he's off to Canterbury.
There'll be a few, clearly not good enough for the team though. I'm pretty sure Kaihau Pasikala is Maori (and Tongan).
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@bovidae said in 2021 NZ Schools:
@nepia Clearly the wrong iwi.
TBH, doesn't really look like an iwi based selection, plus I reckon his iwi is the same as at least three others in the team.
Clearly Hastings Boys, despite it's recent success is still seen as a backwater by the peeps in charge of schoolboy rugby and /or they clearly have the best coaches in the country as they turn these dunderheads into successful teams.
