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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Darwin" data-source="post: 477827" data-attributes="member: 24910">I think that is the main reason that the NZRFU don't tend to pick young players - they see it as a vital development tool, and want to give as many players as possible a chance at this level.  I understand the NZRFU even has a policy that they will only select players in the final year that they are eligible, unless there are exceptional circumstances (e.g. a player is phenomenally talented, or they have a major weakness in a certain position). Obviously NZ has enough talent that this policy does not affect them too adversely at the U20 World Cup.Cane vs Kvesic would be a good match-up. Do you think Kvesic will be starting at 7 though? I know he's more than capable there, I just noted they have Chris Walker starting there in this match (and I understand Nuttley is another quality option at 6 or 7...).  I really hope Cane is available for the U20's as we may well need him.  Incidentally Australia will possibly have Liam Gill back at 7 for the third year in a row (assuming he himself isn't playing for Australia).  He's a phenomenal player at the breakdown - I'd suggest he's as good as any player in world rugby in that area.  His only downside is that he lacks the size of Sam Cane, so doesn't have the powerful running game that Cane possess.England were very close to winning last season - indeed we needed to rely on some phenomenal goal-kicking to confirm our victory (where in previous years we just scored lots of tries...).  I thought last seasons NZ team was pretty good, so given England looked to have retained approximately 50% of the team that all but matched that team, we need to have a strong team this year to compete.  In terms of the quality of this years crop... I'm not really sure.  I haven't been following age grade rugby as much this season, so many of the players are unknown to me.  In previous years there have been at least 4-5 that have already had experience at ITM Cup level, but this year there is only three (Scott Eade, and the already mentioned Cane and Perenara).  Maybe it is simply a case of me being nervous as I don't really know what the team will look like!  There will certainly be some talent in the following years team - the likes of Ardie Savea (younger brother of Julian, and currently in the NZ Sevens team), Joe Webber (whose already played several Sevens tournaments already), and Michael Collins (signed to the Otago ITM Cup squad as an 18 year old).  In theory they could all be picked this year, but because of the NZRFU's selection policy they may not.  I'm sure once I get a bit more familiar with some of the players I will feel a lot more comfortable!</blockquote>

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