2012 IRB Junior World Championship

[peanuts40]

South Africa have named a strong team for their opener against Ireland.

SA U20: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Paul Jordaan, 13 Pat Howard, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Tony Jantjies, 9 Abrie Griesel, 8 Fabian Booysen, 7 Wiaan Liebenberg (captain), 6 Shaun Adendorff, 5 Pieter Steph du Toit, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Allan Dell, 2 Mark Pretorius, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements: 16 Jason Thomas, 17 Oliver Kebble, 18 Ruan Botha, 19 Braam Steyn, 20 Vian van der Watt, 21 Handrè Pollard, 22 Tshotsho Mbovane, 23 Maks van Dyk.

Can't actually wait for this to start! For those of you who don't know many of the players, you should be able to find some footage of a few players on youtube. There is a great video on Dill Leyds.

Anyone know why Timo Swiel did not make the squad?

 

[peanuts40]

Also wish there was fantasy rugby for this tournament, would be cool.

 

[Draggs]

Jordaan and PSdT are great prospects.
Didn't know that Tony and Elton are brothers, except Tony is a Bull.

 

[bobbilycious]

NZ Team to play against Samoa.
Obviously it isn't our top side but there are still a lot of good players in there. Latta, Ahki and McKenzie has all played ITM Cup. I've heard good things about Keresoma and Hall.


1 Tuki Raimona
2 Rhys Marshall
3 Fraser Armstrong
4 Nick Ross
5 Joe Latta
6 Jimmy Tupou
7 Jake Heenan
8 Jordan Taufua
9 Bryn Hall (C)
10 Ihaia West
11 Milford Keresoma
12 Pita Ahki
13 Jason Emery
14 Ambrose Curtis
15 Martin McKenzie

16 Nathan Harris
17 Eric Sione
18 Ofa Tu'ungafasi
19 Glenn Preston
20 Hugh Blake
21 Jono Kitto
22 Scott Eade
23 Marnus Hanley


Sorry about the format. The only place I've found the team is on the IRB site and copying and pasting doesn't wanna work.

Edit: Solved by posting into notepad before posting here.

 

[Darwin]

NZ Team to play against Samoa.
Obviously it isn't our top side but there are still a lot of good players in there. Latta, Ahki and McKenzie has all played ITM Cup. I've heard good things about Keresoma and Hall.


1 Tuki Raimona
2 Rhys Marshall
3 Fraser Armstrong
4 Nick Ross
5 Joe Latta
6 Jimmy Tupou
7 Jake Heenan
8 Jordan Taufua
9 Bryn Hall (C)
10 Ihaia West
11 Milford Keresoma
12 Pita Ahki
13 Jason Emery
14 Ambrose Curtis
15 Martin McKenzie

16 Nathan Harris
17 Eric Sione
18 Ofa Tu'ungafasi
19 Glenn Preston
20 Hugh Blake
21 Jono Kitto
22 Scott Eade
23 Marnus Hanley


Sorry about the format. The only place I've found the team is on the IRB site and copying and pasting doesn't wanna work.

Edit: Solved by posting into notepad before posting here.

Looks a pretty good team to me - I wouldn't have thought it was too far away from out top side, but it is hard to tell until the tournament starts. I'm looking forwards to seeing how Akhi and Emery go in the midfield, and how our big loosies Tupou and Taufua go. I'm also interested to see how Heenan goes at 7 - apparently he is a vice-captain, therefore looks like he will start at 7 in the big games ahead of Hugh Blake, so he must be an exceptional player as Blake is very good player himself.

 

[bobbilycious]

Looks a pretty good team to me - I wouldn't have thought it was too far away from out top side, but it is hard to tell until the tournament starts. I'm looking forwards to seeing how Akhi and Emery go in the midfield, and how our big loosies Tupou and Taufua go. I'm also interested to see how Heenan goes at 7 - apparently he is a vice-captain, therefore looks like he will start at 7 in the big games ahead of Hugh Blake, so he must be an exceptional player as Blake is very good player himself.

Like you I would have expected Hugh Blake in there at openside (didn't know that Heenan was vice-captain). Against a top team I would also expect to see Tu'ungafasi instead of Raimona (Armstrong to loosehead), perhaps Taniela Manu in there somewhere (to be honest, I haven't seen him play at all but I've heard good things about his performances for Sydenham and he's the brother of Nasi so he's bound to be good ), Eade over Ihaia West, Peleseuma at second five (perhaps Ahki moving to centre?) and Proctor or Tofa Va'a or someone else over Curtis. Very hard to tell, though.

Yep, I'm also looking forward to seeing Taufua and Tupou (Taufua seems a bit short, though - you almost wonder if he will make a Keven Mealamu-esque move to hooker). We need a good hooker to come through and I've heard that Rhys Marshall is decent but I no little about him so will keep a close eye on him too.
It is almost a bit unfair on the Samoans. I expect that Raimona and Armstrong will give them a very tough time in the scrums, and then late in the game, on come both Tu'ungafasi and Sione. I'm sure they will have a huge impact off the bench with some strong running.

 

[Darwin]

Like you I would have expected Hugh Blake in there at openside (didn't know that Heenan was vice-captain). Against a top team I would also expect to see Tu'ungafasi instead of Raimona (Armstrong to loosehead), perhaps Taniela Manu in there somewhere (to be honest, I haven't seen him play at all but I've heard good things about his performances for Sydenham and he's the brother of Nasi so he's bound to be good ), Eade over Ihaia West, Peleseuma at second five (perhaps Ahki moving to centre?) and Proctor or Tofa Va'a or someone else over Curtis. Very hard to tell, though.

Yep, I'm also looking forward to seeing Taufua and Tupou (Taufua seems a bit short, though - you almost wonder if he will make a Keven Mealamu-esque move to hooker). We need a good hooker to come through and I've heard that Rhys Marshall is decent but I no little about him so will keep a close eye on him too.
It is almost a bit unfair on the Samoans. I expect that Raimona and Armstrong will give them a very tough time in the scrums, and then late in the game, on come both Tu'ungafasi and Sione. I'm sure they will have a huge impact off the bench with some strong running.

Yeah, I only read today that Heenan was vice-captain (oops - actually a co-captain: http://www.unitec.ac.nz/?DC6072FD-1...&NEWS_ID=4f2b1e6a-4f86-4c5a-999e-f555a2a16e9f).

Like you I'm expecting Tu'ungafasi to start at tighthead in the top team, and I'm not sure what our starting loose-trio will look like (I know Glenn Preston, who can play lock or 6 is very highly regarded by some). Not sure who will start at 10 - Eade has some great skills, but I've always seen him as a little soft in defense - hopefully he has improved in this area. I've got no idea about any of the wings really, so will have to watch them closely in this match.

 

[bobbilycious]

I would have thought Preston was in this squad primarily as a lock, though. Otherwise we have 3 locks and 6 loose forwards. I think last season we usually have 4 loose fowards, 3 locks and one loosie/lock. He looks to be covering lock on the bench at least. Either that or Jimmy Tupou will play lock in the second half.
Yea, I remember Donald running over Eade in the ITM Cup. West has been going pretty good for his club (and he must have been pretty good to get selected over Michigan Lam who I thought was playing well for the Blues development side) so he could definitely find himself starting the tough matches. At the moment, until I've seen West I would go with Eade for his ITM Cup experience. If West goes well he could potentially find himself in the NZ Maori tour (or should I say Maori All Blacks ) this year (Dan Kirkpatrick is heading off overseas, Brett is gone, I assume Ripia won't be available etc.).

 

[peanuts40]

Gutted I will be at work when SA's game is on, but will be recording and watch it when I get home. By far our best chance to win the comp and end NZ dominance of the tournament.

 

[TNT88]

Australia fielding a top team against Scotland. I don't think they've played together very much, so the entire 80mins is important.

 

[bobbilycious]

Australia fielding a top team against Scotland. I don't think they've played together very much, so the entire 80mins is important.

I thought they played for 60 minutes at this level. I could be wrong, though.

 

[TNT88]

The lawbook states U19 games must not last any longer than 70 minutes. But U20's is seniors so it is 80 minutes here.

 

[bobbilycious]

Yea, you're right. Interestingly 10 a side games are supposed to be 20mins long. I played a whole season of 10s that was (I believe) at least 20 mins per half.

 

[Darwin]

I would have thought Preston was in this squad primarily as a lock, though. Otherwise we have 3 locks and 6 loose forwards. I think last season we usually have 4 loose fowards, 3 locks and one loosie/lock. He looks to be covering lock on the bench at least. Either that or Jimmy Tupou will play lock in the second half.
Yea, I remember Donald running over Eade in the ITM Cup. West has been going pretty good for his club (and he must have been pretty good to get selected over Michigan Lam who I thought was playing well for the Blues development side) so he could definitely find himself starting the tough matches. At the moment, until I've seen West I would go with Eade for his ITM Cup experience. If West goes well he could potentially find himself in the NZ Maori tour (or should I say Maori All Blacks ) this year (Dan Kirkpatrick is heading off overseas, Brett is gone, I assume Ripia won't be available etc.).

From what I understand, Preston is primarily a 6 who can play lock if necessary - I've heard people describe him as a very similar player to Brad Shields (he is an almost identical size too). I don't know much about Tupou, but given his height I'd assume he is covering lock too - so in the squad they have 3 specialist locks, plus 2 players capable of covering lock if required (the same as they had last year).

I'm really looking forward to seeing West too, as he is another I've heard good things about. Do you know what his goal-kicking is like? Not sure it will be required in any case, with Hall likely to be taking the shots at goal.

 

[bobbilycious]

Everything I've read suggests he is a good goalkicker. He was the first player to reach 100 points this season in HB club rugby (although his team is top of the table).
HB coach Craig Philpott has mentioned West's kicking as a strength.
Regarding Preston: it isn't that I think we don't have enough locks in the team. More that I wouldn't think we'd need 6 loose forwards. Perhaps competition was tight enough that the selectors decided to bring an extra one? I guess we'll find out though.

I'm very excited that this is on Maori TV this year (as I don't have Sky). I'm really looking forward to seeing how our boys go, particularly in the playoffs.

 

[Darwin]

Everything I've read suggests he is a good goalkicker. He was the first player to reach 100 points this season in HB club rugby (although his team is top of the table).
HB coach Craig Philpott has mentioned West's kicking as a strength.
Regarding Preston: it isn't that I think we don't have enough locks in the team. More that I wouldn't think we'd need 6 loose forwards. Perhaps competition was tight enough that the selectors decided to bring an extra one? I guess we'll find out though.

I'm very excited that this is on Maori TV this year (as I don't have Sky). I'm really looking forward to seeing how our boys go, particularly in the playoffs.

Good to hear West is a good goal-kicker. It means we have plenty of good goal-kicking options in the team (West, Eade, Hall, and McKenzie is pretty handy too), and given our team isn't exactly full of superstars this year we need to take all the points we can get!

It is great that it is on Maori TV, as I'm in the same boat as you, not having Sky at the moment. The coverage of the NZ kicks off at 2.30am NZT, so I might be a bit tired at work tomorrow!

 

[peanuts40]

Oh and great to see Ray Rhule in the squad, who is born in Ghana.

 

[Tomsey]

Australian team for the opening game against Scotland has been named:

1 Silatolu Latu
2 Hugh Roach
3 Leslie Makin
4 Jed Holloway
5 Steve Cummins
6 Curtis Browning
7 Liam Gill (C)
8 Benn Melrose
9 Matt Lucas
10 Kyle Godwin
11 Allan Faalaavau
12 Apolosi Latunipulu
13 Christopher Feauai-Sautia
14 James Dargaville
15 Nick Frisby


16 Maile Ngauamo
17 Pettowa Paraka
18 Sam Reiser
19 Tom Cusack
20 Jock Merriman
21 Con Foley
22 Ulupano Seuteni
23 Allan Alaalatoa

Not a bad looking side.

Roach, Lucas, Latunipulu, Gill and Feauai-Sautia where all part of the side last year. Gill, Frisby, Feauai-Sautia and Goodwin have all played Super Rugby and Foley, Faalaavau and Lucas have all represented Australia in Sevens.​

Not our best team but should be enough to beat Scotland.

Players to watch include Gill, Faalaavau, Feauai-Sautia and Ulupano Seuteni off the bench. Gill has been one of Australia's best flankers in Super rugby this year and should do very well at this level. Faalaavau is only 18 and has already played sevens for Australia. Feauai-Sautia has the record for the most caps in Australian Schoolboy rugby, playing since he was 16. Also made his Super rugby debut a few weeks ago and scored a try with his second touch of the ball, the next big thing in Australian rugby. Ulupano Seuteni is also a child star and one of the best young fly halves in the country. Didn't play schoolboys because he was injured but has still made it into the Reds EPS.

 

[bobbilycious]

It is great that it is on Maori TV, as I'm in the same boat as you, not having Sky at the moment. The coverage of the NZ kicks off at 2.30am NZT, so I might be a bit tired at work tomorrow!

Haha, that is dedication right there! I'm just going to watch the replay at 7.00am (as well as the two following games). I'm at uni on study break so I've all the time in the world

 

[Shosoloza]

Looking really forward to this games. Always nice to see the Future stars. Pity we couldn't see Serfontein and Jordaan together. Also looking forward to have a look at Pollard if he gets a chance from the bench. Heard a lot of good things about him.

It is strange not to see William Small-Smith part of the SA group. Is he injured or to old. I though he is still under 20.