2014 Junior World Championship - June 2 to 20

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

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.

I know we are a extremely good age grade but really imo Itoje is the only one who would be guaranteed imo a spot on the Baby blacks and boks team.

Who else do you think would be able to get into the NZ and AB squad.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I don't know their players well enough to answer than, but I'm pretty sure if you were to compile a team from all three squads then it would be fairly representative.

 

[Jaguares]

Pumitas Under 20:

• Santiago Ãlvarez (CASI â€" URBA - Centre).
• Felipe Arregui (Duendes â€" Rosario â€" Prop).*
• Lautaro Bazan Vélez (Córdoba Athletic â€" Cordobesa- Scrum-half)*
• Lautaro Bavaro (Hindú Club â€" URBA- Loose forward).
• Juan Bernardini (Urú Curé- Cordobesa- *Scrum-Half).*
• Emiliano Boffelli (Duendes â€" Rosario â€" Centre).*
• Ignacio Calas (La Tablada â€" Cordobesa - Lock).*
• Ignacio David Calles (Liceo Naval - URBA â€" Hooker).*
• José Deheza (Jockey Club de Córdoba â€" Cordobesa - Loose forward).*
• Ariel Del Cerro (La Plata Rugby Club - URBA â€" Prop).*
• Rodrigo Etchart (SIC â€" URBA â€" Wing).*
• Bautista Ezcurra (Hindú Club â€" URBA- Centre).*
• Patricio Fernández (Jockey Club de Rosario â€" Rosario- Fly-Half) (Captain)*
• Facundo Gigena (Tala Rugby Club â€" Cordobesa â€" Prop).*
• Federico Giménez (Liceo R.C. *â€" Cuyo â€" Wing).
• Tomás Granella (Liceo R.C. *â€" Cuyo â€" Fly-Half).
• Ignacio Larrague (CASI - URBA - Lock).*
• Tomás Lezana (Santiago Lawn Tennis - Santiagueña - Loose Forward).*
• Domingo Miotti (Tucumán Lawn Tennis â€" Tucumán â€" Fly-Half).*
• Santiago Montagner (Alumni - URBA - Loose forward).*
• Guido Petti Pagadizábal (SIC - URBA - Lock).*
• Enrique Pieretto (Córdoba Athletic - Cordobesa â€" Prop).*
• Santiago Portillo (Los Tarcos - Tucumán - Loose forward).*
• Tomás Ramírez (Jockey Club de Córdoba - Cordobesa â€" Prop). *
• Joaquín Riera (Los Tarcos â€" Tucumán â€" Fly-Half).*
• Vittorio Rosti (Duendes â€" Rosario - Lock).*
• Juan Ignacio Sánchez (Córdoba Athletic â€" Cordobesa â€" Hooker).*
• Germán Schultz (Tala Rugby Club â€" Cordobesa â€" Wing).*
Head coach: Rodolfo Ambrosio
Assistant: Nicolás Fernández Lobbe

C'mon Pumitas!!!

 

[KingAlexander]

I know we are a extremely good age grade but really imo Itoje is the only one who would be guaranteed imo a spot on the Baby blacks and boks team.

Who else do you think would be able to get into the NZ and AB squad.

I can't speak for the Baby Blacks but I do know Itoje would not be guaranteed a spot on the Baby Boks team. JD Schickerling at 202cm and 108kg has been playing for SA U18 for the past 2 years and looks set to play at the JWC for the next 2 years too.

Dan du Preez has the other lock position, and him and his twin brother Jean-Luc (who plays flank, also a year young) aren't going anywhere.

Here's a clip of their school's year 2 years ago, and the du Preez twins (#5 & #7) at age 16 completely dominate their opposition with their trademark tackles and big hits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYjXeyYbEVc

 

[KingAlexander]

Anyway, my silver ball for JWC2014 has spoken:

Semis
England vs. South Africa
France vs. New Zealand

Final
New Zealand vs. South Africa

Player of the Year
Nathan Earle/Maro Itoje - England
Tevita Li/TJ Faiane - New Zealand
Andre Esterhuizen/Sergeal Petersen - South Africa

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Anyway, my silver ball for JWC2014 has spoken:

Semis
England vs. South Africa
France vs. New Zealand

Final
New Zealand vs. South Africa

Player of the Year
Nathan Earle/Maro Itoje - England
Tevita Li/TJ Faiane - New Zealand
Andre Esterhuizen/Sergeal Petersen - South Africa

I dont know the others but the 3 in bold are good shouts. Li is a typical PI wing; pure power. Petersen reminds me of a young Habana; blistering pace and enthusiasm with a good work rate off the ball. Both have looked good at SR level. Do you know if Petersen has gotten back to pre-injury form? I've also been very impressed with Esterhuizen. Pity he hasn't had a chance for the Sharks in SR yet but they just have soooo much depth at center (and wing) ATM it's understandable.

 

[nickdnz]

I dont know the others but the 3 in bold are good shouts. Li is a typical PI wing; pure power. Petersen reminds me of a young Habana; blistering pace and enthusiasm with a good work rate off the ball. Both have looked good at SR level. Do you know if Petersen has gotten back to pre-injury form? I've also been very impressed with Esterhuizen. Pity he hasn't had a chance for the Sharks in SR yet but they just have soooo much depth at center (and wing) ATM it's understandable.

Not sure I agree Tevita Li is pure power. He's 95kgs and just on 6'0''. He's a guy with a fair bit of balance and some solid all round skills. That said I'm not sure I buy the hype surrounding him. He's still very young and hasn't looked bad in Super Rugby (which I guess is justification in of itself), but I don't think he'll make the same sort of impact like Julian Savea or Christian Wade. I could be wrong however.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Well, yes, 'pure power' is certainly not the entire picture. TBF I should probably have qualified my statement further.

 

[nickdnz]

Well, yes, 'pure power' is certainly not the entire picture. TBF I should probably have qualified my statement further.

I'm certainly excited to see Petersen again, he was my essentially my reason for watching the Kings. Still remember when he got a double on one of his first games.

 

[Darwin]

Not sure I agree Tevita Li is pure power. He's 95kgs and just on 6'0''. He's a guy with a fair bit of balance and some solid all round skills. That said I'm not sure I buy the hype surrounding him. He's still very young and hasn't looked bad in Super Rugby (which I guess is justification in of itself), but I don't think he'll make the same sort of impact like Julian Savea or Christian Wade. I could be wrong however.

I'm not yet convinced about all the hype surrounding Li, but I think he will dominate at this tournament, and I think "pure power" is probably a fair description of him. He isn't massive (but 95kgs is pretty solid for an 18 year old), but he has a phenomenal ability to bump off opposition players. While he does have a very good step, some handy pace, and some excellent balance, it seems his preferred methods of breaking tackles is running straight at the opposition player - in many ways he reminds me of Rene Ranger in the way he runs the ball.

Faiane would be my prediction for player of the tournament though. He is a very complete 12 - he has a strong running game, is a rock solid defender, reads the game excellently, and distributes well.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Pumitas Under 20:

• Santiago Ãlvarez (CASI – URBA - Centre).
• Felipe Arregui (Duendes – Rosario – Prop).*
• Lautaro Bazan Vélez (Córdoba Athletic – Cordobesa- Scrum-half)*
• Lautaro Bavaro (Hindú Club – URBA- Loose forward).
• Juan Bernardini (Urú Curé- Cordobesa- *Scrum-Half).*
• Emiliano Boffelli (Duendes – Rosario – Centre).*
• Ignacio Calas (La Tablada – Cordobesa - Lock).*
• Ignacio David Calles (Liceo Naval - URBA – Hooker).*
• José Deheza (Jockey Club de Córdoba – Cordobesa - Loose forward).*
• Ariel Del Cerro (La Plata Rugby Club - URBA – Prop).*
• Rodrigo Etchart (SIC – URBA – Wing).*
• Bautista Ezcurra (Hindú Club – URBA- Centre).*
• Patricio Fernández (Jockey Club de Rosario – Rosario- Fly-Half) (Captain)*
• Facundo Gigena (Tala Rugby Club – Cordobesa – Prop).*
• Federico Giménez (Liceo R.C. *– Cuyo – Wing).
• Tomás Granella (Liceo R.C. *– Cuyo – Fly-Half).
• Ignacio Larrague (CASI - URBA - Lock).*
• Tomás Lezana (Santiago Lawn Tennis - Santiagueña - Loose Forward).*
• Domingo Miotti (Tucumán Lawn Tennis – Tucumán – Fly-Half).*
• Santiago Montagner (Alumni - URBA - Loose forward).*
• Guido Petti Pagadizábal (SIC - URBA - Lock).*
• Enrique Pieretto (Córdoba Athletic - Cordobesa – Prop).*
• Santiago Portillo (Los Tarcos - Tucumán - Loose forward).*
• Tomás Ramírez (Jockey Club de Córdoba - Cordobesa – Prop). *
• Joaquín Riera (Los Tarcos – Tucumán – Fly-Half).*
• Vittorio Rosti (Duendes – Rosario - Lock).*
• Juan Ignacio Sánchez (Córdoba Athletic – Cordobesa – Hooker).*
• Germán Schultz (Tala Rugby Club – Cordobesa – Wing).*
Head coach: Rodolfo Ambrosio
Assistant: Nicolás Fernández Lobbe

C'mon Pumitas!!!

How many of those guys recently played against the Baby Boks?? They got smashed in all 3 games...

 

[ratsapprentice]

Anyway, my silver ball for JWC2014 has spoken:

Semis
England vs. South Africa
France vs. New Zealand

Final
New Zealand vs. South Africa

Player of the Year
Nathan Earle/Maro Itoje - England
Tevita Li/TJ Faiane - New Zealand
Andre Esterhuizen/Sergeal Petersen - South Africa

Nathan Earle?

...why?

Judging by the six nations, he's nowhere near the best players in our squad.

 

[KingAlexander]

Nathan Earle?

...why?

Judging by the six nations, he's nowhere near the best players in our squad.

I just have the feeling he's going to be on the end of a couple of tries at the tournament and that counts for a lot when they consider.

I personally am also backing James Chisholm to have a bigger JWC than Maro Itoje, but Maro is rated very highly and unless he has a really poor few weeks his name will most likely be thrown in the hat.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I find that strange... based on the games they've played in so far (both Eng u20 and Premiership) Itoje has looked miles better than any other Eng u20 player.

He's up there with Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jack Clifford from last year's group.

 

[fale009]

Agreed. Li is a destructive runner but his overall game is lacking. Defence is a worry for him. Can have trouble against faster more agile players. Faiane is my pick for the player of the tournament too. I think his potential partnership with Lienert Brown will be one to watch.

 

[Jaguares]

How many of those guys recently played against the Baby Boks?? They got smashed in all 3 games...

It's the same team



But in Junior WC I think NZ, SA, England and Wales are the best teams. We are in the second platoon of teams with Australia, France and others.

 

[Draggs]

I can't speak for the Baby Blacks but I do know Itoje would not be guaranteed a spot on the Baby Boks team. JD Schickerling at 202cm and 108kg has been playing for SA U18 for the past 2 years and looks set to play at the JWC for the next 2 years too.

Dan du Preez has the other lock position, and him and his twin brother Jean-Luc (who plays flank, also a year young) aren't going anywhere.

Here's a clip of their school's year 2 years ago, and the du Preez twins (#5 & #7) at age 16 completely dominate their opposition with their trademark tackles and big hits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYjXeyYbEVc

Dan du Preez is out, shoulder injury.

 

[big ginger 8]

Potential player of the tournament nominees? From and Irish perspective?


Dan Leavy
Adam Byrne
Sean O'Brien
John Madigan


eh...


I'm a lot less confident about a good run than I was a few months ago. Those guys are all pretty talented and then there's the other injuries as well...


Even if those guys were fit Jack O'Dongohue is probably up there in our three best candidates.

EDIT: Those names are meant to have a line through them...

 

[KingAlexander]

Dan du Preez is out, shoulder injury.

Yeah, apparently he tweaked something in his neck. But his replacement is 2013 SA Schoolboy Player of the Year, Jacques Vermeulen, so fortunately the depth is okay.

 

[KingAlexander]

Potential player of the tournament nominees? From and Irish perspective?


Dan Leavy
Adam Byrne
Sean O'Brien
John Madigan


eh...


I'm a lot less confident about a good run than I was a few months ago. Those guys are all pretty talented and then there's the other injuries as well...


Even if those guys were fit Jack O'Dongohue is probably up there in our three best candidates.

EDIT: Those names are meant to have a line through them...

It's a shame, I also think Peter Robb would have been a candidate had he not been ruled out by injury.