2014 Junior World Championship - June 2 to 20

[bobbilycious]

The following players are too old for this tournament, hence their non-selection. If they were born before 1994 they are not eligible.

Tyler Fisher
Cheslin Kolbe
Justin Geduld
Seabelo Senatla
Werner Kok
Shaun Adendorff
Kwagga Smith


However, if we can bring in Patrick Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Jason Emery and Lolagi Visinia, we will let you get away with it.

I'm going to pick NZ to win. Every year I get excited about the quality of our team and expect us to dominate, so take anything I say with a grain of salt, but the backline is looking much better than previous seasons. I'm not completely convinced about the forward pack, though. I would feel better if lock Alainu'uese (200cm, 125kg) was available (injury) and if No.8 Fa'aso'o (195cm, 117kg), who was regarded as the best school boy rugby player a couple of years ago, was selected.

We have now discarded our policy of only picking a couple of guys born after 1994. If we hadn't, our whole backline would be completely different, as all our potentially great backs were born in 1995. We have several options for both halfback and first-five which should enable us to select a pair that perform adequately behind a beaten forward pack. We just need our backline to step up, then.

I'm sure Tevita Li (wing) will be pushing the likes of Sergeal Petersen and Nathan Earle hard for top try scorer. He is big, strong and fast and fairly agile, too. He has already made his SupeRugby debut for the Blues and has performed well.

Anton Lienert-Brown(midfield) has played for the Chiefs, despite barely playing since school due to injuries. The coaching staff there rate him highly.

TJ Faiane (midfield) was probably considered to be the best back in NZ Schools rugby over the last couple of years. Some are saying he is the best talent they have seen in some time. Not only is he a great running threat, but his vision and distribution are top notch.

Simon Hickey (10) and Mitch Drummond (9) have also played at SupeRugby level. Our other wing is likely to be Vince Aso (102kg and fairly quick) who performed well for Auckland, last season. Fullback will most likely be Damien McKenzie (a first-five who is considered, by some, to be the next big thing - I'm not as convinced) or Tauasosi Tuimavave who scored 50 points in one game in club rugby last year.

 

[profitius]

Hmm, I always find this difficult because of the huge amount of player rotation from year to year.

I don't know about the final standings but the way I would rate them (a total gut suck);

SA - I am basing this on the assumption that we would have a pack that at least should get parity and the fact that I know we should have a very dangerous and surprisingly experienced backline.
NZ - because it's NZ
Wales
England are also always there in this tournament
Ireland
Australia
France
Argentina
Scotland
Samoa
Italy
Fiji

Only changes I would feel sure of there is England higher than Wales and Italy higher than Scotland. England gave Wales a big beating in the 6 nations and Italy had a good win over Scotland. I think England will be hard to beat again this year but maybe not as good as last years team.

 

[Darwin]

The following players are too old for this tournament, hence their non-selection. If they were born before 1994 they are not eligible.

Tyler Fisher
Cheslin Kolbe
Justin Geduld
Seabelo Senatla
Werner Kok
Shaun Adendorff
Kwagga Smith


However, if we can bring in Patrick Tuipulotu, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Jason Emery and Lolagi Visinia, we will let you get away with it.

I'm going to pick NZ to win. Every year I get excited about the quality of our team and expect us to dominate, so take anything I say with a grain of salt, but the backline is looking much better than previous seasons. I'm not completely convinced about the forward pack, though. I would feel better if lock Alainu'uese (200cm, 125kg) was available (injury) and if No.8 Fa'aso'o (195cm, 117kg), who was regarded as the best school boy rugby player a couple of years ago, was selected.

We have now discarded our policy of only picking a couple of guys born after 1994. If we hadn't, our whole backline would be completely different, as all our potentially great backs were born in 1995. We have several options for both halfback and first-five which should enable us to select a pair that perform adequately behind a beaten forward pack. We just need our backline to step up, then.

I'm sure Tevita Li (wing) will be pushing the likes of Sergeal Petersen and Nathan Earle hard for top try scorer. He is big, strong and fast and fairly agile, too. He has already made his SupeRugby debut for the Blues and has performed well.

Anton Lienert-Brown(midfield) has played for the Chiefs, despite barely playing since school due to injuries. The coaching staff there rate him highly.

TJ Faiane (midfield) was probably considered to be the best back in NZ Schools rugby over the last couple of years. Some are saying he is the best talent they have seen in some time. Not only is he a great running threat, but his vision and distribution are top notch.

Simon Hickey (10) and Mitch Drummond (9) have also played at SupeRugby level. Our other wing is likely to be Vince Aso (102kg and fairly quick) who performed well for Auckland, last season. Fullback will most likely be Damien McKenzie (a first-five who is considered, by some, to be the next big thing - I'm not as convinced) or Tauasosi Tuimavave who scored 50 points in one game in club rugby last year.

Fantastic summary. I was going to write something on the NZ side, but you seem to have covered it well already!

It is very interesting to see we seem to have abandoned our policy of only selecting 1 or 2 "young" players in the squad. I actually quite liked the policy as it meant as many young player as possible got a chance at this tournament (and it seemed to be quite effective for the first few years). After struggling a bit in these last two tournaments I assume they decided we needed a change!

As you mention the forward pack isn't outstanding, but the backline is stacked full of talent. If the forward pack can get parity we have more than enough talent in the backs to win this tournament, but I'm yet to be convinced we will achieve parity against the likes of South Africa. Faiva is a good young hooker, but I'm not overly familiar with any of the other tight-forwards (as you mention Alainu'uese would have been a big boost if fit). Like you I'm surprised Fa'aso'o isn't in the side. I was expecting him to be one of the first players picked (possibly as captain!). Mitchell Jacobsen is very highly rated by some, but he is very young (he could potentially play 3 U20 world cups....). I expect to see big Mathew Peni at 8 - he could be our main ball runner in the forwards. He is a massive guy (120kgs +) who is reasonably mobile too (played in the Wellington 7's side this year).

The backline is very exciting. As well as Drummond we have Renton as an option as halfback. He has the complete set of skills you need for a halfback, and looked pretty comfortable for Otago in last seasons ITM Cup. We have 3 excellent options at 10 - Hickey, McKenzie, and Mo'unga. Mo'unga made an excellent debut for Canterbury last season - potentially we could see all 3 10's starting (10. Hickey, 12. Mo'unga, 15. McKenzie). Faiane and Lienert-Brown should form and excellent midfield (if we don't use Mo'unga there), and Li, Aso, and McKenzie will form a potent outside back combination. Tevita Li has shown how dangerous he can be at Super Rugby level - he should devastating at this level.....

Overall I'm more confident this year than I have been for the last couple of tournaments. I'm picking us to win the tournament (the home advantage will help), but our first goal will be getting out of our pool!

Interesting to see the brother of massive Waratahs lock Will Skelton - Cameron - is playing for Samoa. If reports are to be suggested he is even bigger than his brother - 6'10 and over 140kgs....

 

[Shaggy]

Fantastic summary. I was going to write something on the NZ side, but you seem to have covered it well already!

It is very interesting to see we seem to have abandoned our policy of only selecting 1 or 2 "young" players in the squad. I actually quite liked the policy as it meant as many young player as possible got a chance at this tournament (and it seemed to be quite effective for the first few years). After struggling a bit in these last two tournaments I assume they decided we needed a change!

As you mention the forward pack isn't outstanding, but the backline is stacked full of talent. If the forward pack can get parity we have more than enough talent in the backs to win this tournament, but I'm yet to be convinced we will achieve parity against the likes of South Africa. Faiva is a good young hooker, but I'm not overly familiar with any of the other tight-forwards (as you mention Alainu'uese would have been a big boost if fit). Like you I'm surprised Fa'aso'o isn't in the side. I was expecting him to be one of the first players picked (possibly as captain!). Mitchell Jacobsen is very highly rated by some, but he is very young (he could potentially play 3 U20 world cups....). I expect to see big Mathew Peni at 8 - he could be our main ball runner in the forwards. He is a massive guy (120kgs +) who is reasonably mobile too (played in the Wellington 7's side this year).

The backline is very exciting. As well as Drummond we have Renton as an option as halfback. He has the complete set of skills you need for a halfback, and looked pretty comfortable for Otago in last seasons ITM Cup. We have 3 excellent options at 10 - Hickey, McKenzie, and Mo'unga. Mo'unga made an excellent debut for Canterbury last season - potentially we could see all 3 10's starting (10. Hickey, 12. Mo'unga, 15. McKenzie). Faiane and Lienert-Brown should form and excellent midfield (if we don't use Mo'unga there), and Li, Aso, and McKenzie will form a potent outside back combination. Tevita Li has shown how dangerous he can be at Super Rugby level - he should devastating at this level.....

Overall I'm more confident this year than I have been for the last couple of tournaments. I'm picking us to win the tournament (the home advantage will help), but our first goal will be getting out of our pool!

Interesting to see the brother of massive Waratahs lock Will Skelton - Cameron - is playing for Samoa. If reports are to be suggested he is even bigger than his brother - 6'10 and over 140kgs....

Geez ... showing my age here, but I remember (so I can't be that old) ... playing against Mitch Drummond's dad ... I haven't seen Mitchell play alot, so it would be great if he got some game time.

With regard to Cameron Skelton ... if Samoa get relegated, does that mean he's in our squad next year?

 

[big ginger 8]

I'm fairly apprehensive about our chances. We had a fairly mixed 6N and are missing our best player Leavy as well as Adam Byrne who was really playing well before injury. Hopefully our set peice has being shored up as the scrum especially wasn't good enough for most of the matches. Madigan at 198cm and 119kg should help there and upping our physicality, hopefully he's not overly rusty as he's been out for ages. Trenier should also help with the scrum but I'm not sure if he'll be a starter.

Dardis has by all accounts not been at his best recently but if being around quality brings out his watch out. His counterattacking could be a major weapon if he starts which considering he wasn't involved in the 6N and has next year as well isn't guaranteed.

We have a decent mix in the pack overall with strong carriers like Dooley and JO'D, workers like Timmins and guys who bring the physically like SO'B 2.0 and Madigan. Our back line also has talent in it with Ross Byrne pulling the strings and people like Robb and Kelleher as strike runners.

We have the potential to be good and hopefully will get out of the group which will be pretty good with our past record. Hopefully the better conditions will mean we can cut down on the errors which really hamstrung us at times. France and Wales were better than us when we played them in the 6N so equally we could come third. If we deal with our set peice problems I'm confident we can turn the Wales result at least around.

 

[profitius]

John Madigan has been withdrawn by Munster. I'm not sure why but hes been injured all season and they might not want to risk him. Pity as he was likely to be a regular starter.

From what I've seen, technically Ireland are good so I hope they play some entertaining rugby and they should score a few tries. Physically they struggled in the 6 nations again but whats new. Until the academies take players in much younger (its not going to happen) this will continue. The England and Wales matches highlighted this.

The team in the 6 nations seemed a bit flakey. Every half could be completely different from the last. For instance the scrums could be dominant in the first half and get hammered in the second half.
The weather will play a big part in it. I'm not sure what that'll be like.

They've made a few changes from the 6 nations so a lot of unknowns to me. For me the scrum, goal kicking and centers are the key. If they perform well in those areas they'll have a good tournament.

 

[Darwin]

Geez ... showing my age here, but I remember (so I can't be that old) ... playing against Mitch Drummond's dad ... I haven't seen Mitchell play alot, so it would be great if he got some game time.

With regard to Cameron Skelton ... if Samoa get relegated, does that mean he's in our squad next year?

Probably not - he's one of the few players in the Samoan squad who isn't based in New Zealand

And yes Shaggy, you are old

 

[Peat]

The Irish U20s always seem to step up more in the JWC than in the 6N recently - likewise England.

 

[Shaggy]

Probably not - he's one of the few players in the Samoan squad who isn't based in New Zealand

And yes Shaggy, you are old

... I think the words you are looking for Darwin, are "Mature", "Refined", ... perhaps "Distinguished" ... anyway, I guess the point is, I still "jog my memory", even if does take a few more warm up laps to do so

 

[Peat]

The Mini Orks

Forwards
Biyi Alo (Saracens)
James Chisholm (Harlequins)
Joel Conlon (Exeter Chiefs)
Tom Ellis (Bath Rugby)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Jonny Hill (Gloucester Rugby)
Paul Hill (Leeds Carnegie)
Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Gus Jones (London Wasps)
Alex Lundberg (London Wasps)
Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby)
Harry Rudkin (Leicester Tigers)
Harry Thacker (Leicester Tigers)
Jack Walker (Leeds Carnegie)
Tom Woolstencroft (Bath Rugby)

Backs
Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby, captain)
Billy Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
Nathan Earle (Saracens)
Tom Fowlie (London Irish)
Aaron Morris (Bedford Blues)
Sam Olver (Northampton Saints)
Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers)
Howard Packman (Northampton Saints)
Harry Sloan (Harlequins)
Tom Stephenson (Northampton Saints)
Henry Taylor (Loughborough University)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens)

 

[Jaguares]

Sean McMahon leads junior Wallabies:

http://www.rugby365.com/article/598...ail&utm_term=0_53e97ccfb4-a0b79e3869-63589685

Head Coach Adrian Thompson said that the current crop of Aussie 20s was especially strong, asserting, "I am very happy with the squad we have selected and I am confident this side will be a real force in Auckland as we look to win the Championship."

Mmmmm... interesting

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Well I hope England do as well as they have in the past. The absolute thrashing they gave Wales recently is certainly a good sign.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I don't think we have the same level of class across the board as last year.

I think we'll probably go well - but I don't think we'll win it.

 

[goodNumber10]

i don't know enough about the youth structure in England, anyone in particular we should be looking out for Rats?

 

[big ginger 8]

Big blow for Ireland this week. Captain Sean O'Brien, Peter Robb and David Busby have all been ruled out. All were starters in the 6N. Oisin Heffernan (a prop), Harrison Brewer and Ian Fitzpatrick have been called up respectively as replacements. Jack O'Donoghue is the new captain.

 

[ratsapprentice]

i don't know enough about the youth structure in England, anyone in particular we should be looking out for Rats?

Sorry for the late reply...

- Maro Itoje - The outstanding player in the group - almost certainly going to be on the shortlist for World Junior Player of the year. A great athlete and a pretty complete rugby player.
- Ross Moriarty was pretty good in last year's competition. My kind of blindside... along the lines of Carl Fearns. Should make a good partnership with Kvesic next year.

- Tom Stephenson - He's played a fair bit for Northampton in the premiership this season and looks very comfortable at that level. I'd expect him to go very well this tournament.
- Harry Sloan, Nick Tompkins and Henry Taylor are also pretty good.

I don't think this team has quite the "star quality" that last year's team had - that team had 4/5 really good players - but the quality across the board this year looks slightly higher to me.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

when Maro Itoje came against tigers he was a beast prob the only English player who would get on any other U20 team imo.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Big blow for Ireland this week. Captain Sean O'Brien, Peter Robb and David Busby have all been ruled out. All were starters in the 6N. Oisin Heffernan (a prop), Harrison Brewer and Ian Fitzpatrick have been called up respectively as replacements. Jack O'Donoghue is the new captain.

I don't think the changes significantly weaken the team. O'Brien looks like an impressive prospect however he may fall between two stools in that he's short for a second row and perhaps not dynamic enough for the backrow. Robb will be a loss but Brewer is a very good prospect in his stead. With Busby out of the squad, it frees up a position for Billy Dardis.

 

[ratsapprentice]

when Maro Itoje came against tigers he was a beast prob the only English player who would get on any other U20 team imo.

What?

Most of our players would walk into every other u20 team barring NZ and SA - where a lot of them would stand a good chance of making the squads.
We're pretty ****ing good at age grade.

 

[big ginger 8]

I don't think the changes significantly weaken the team. O'Brien looks like an impressive prospect however he may fall between two stools in that he's short for a second row and perhaps not dynamic enough for the backrow. Robb will be a loss but Brewer is a very good prospect in his stead. With Busby out of the squad, it frees up a position for Billy Dardis.

For me losing Sean O'Brien is really big, whatever about his future potential I think he's been pretty big for us and brings much needed physicality to this side. Robb also gave us a nice route one option in the centre. He was really coming on with each game. Brewer meanwhile has been fairly poor this year, hopefully he can play to his potential. Busby isn't as big a loss, as you say Dardis will get more time (he'd still have to have started at least once I believe). However he too by all acounts has not had the best season while Ian Fitzpatrick was fairly lacklustre in the games he played in the 6N.

Btw just checked and SO'B is listed as the same height as Mic Mac. Obviously McCarthy is a pretty short lock and listings are usually wrong in some shape or form (pun not intended) but I think if he bulks up a bit he could make a decent tighthead lock.