U20 6 Nations 2025

[OllyM97]

Wales hung onto win in Italy. Had the penalty gone over, they'd have lost.

Italy seem to be slipping a bit at U20 level which is not a great sign. They should have won that game.

 

[Geordie]

Surely these performances at U20 level will eventually translate into success in the Test arena? Please someone tell me they will???!!

The issue that's the big debate is not what's coming out of the academy its what the prem is developing them in to....are they being prepared for test match rugby.....?

We shall see ......

 

[McTallshort]

Good win that. Some good talent on display

 

[Lé Ddanno]

Timmins was excellent off the bench last week and stood out tonight....one to watch coming through at Bath!

Looks like a proper nuggetty 6 already, could be some player

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Welsh?

Not unless you've annexed Macclesfield - Kane James looks very good though, and he is Welsh



Very excited about Ollie Davies though - only 18 so got plenty of u20s eligiblity left in him and by all accounts is incredibly promising. Played 15 for us in the Prem cup last week and tore up there too

 

[IT157]

Under 20 scrumhalf looked like a little **** disturber. Good stuff!

 

[Tooting Carmen]

Italy seem to be slipping a bit at U20 level which is not a great sign. They should have won that game.

Well they gave Wales U20's their first away win for five years, so cannot complain.

 

[AlRums]

Surely these performances at U20 level will eventually translate into success in the Test arena? Please someone tell me they will???!!

Sure they will




For Scotland, Ireland, Wales, France and italy

 

[irisht]

The Scrumhalf rule is a load of bullshit

 

[BPM]

The issue that's the big debate is not what's coming out of the academy its what the prem is developing them in to....are they being prepared for test match rugby.....?

We shall see ......

I think we often have unrealistic expectations on how quickly players should be regularly playing senior level rugby, let alone test rugby. It's also easier in certain positions than others.

In the last couple of seasons we've seen Baxter, Cunningham-South and Opoku-Fordjour make the step up, Fasogbon probably would have done had he not picked up a poorly-timed injury, Pollock has already been training with the seniors. That's a pretty good return IMO and it's very quick for the props - arguably too quick.

Having the A team is already making a difference and is definitely being treated as the 'pathway' set-up it was proposed as.

From this batch, about half of last night's starting XV have already played in the Premiership or Prem Cup so the green shoots are there.

 

[Reiser99]

The Scrumhalf rule is a load of bullshit

I feel like at the scrum I don't have an issue because the last thing we want is another scrum because the scrumhalf knocked the ball out of the 8's hands. Scrums are supposed to be a quick reset and are anything but that. At the ruck though it's ridiculous.

 

[Which Tyler]

I feel like at the scrum I don't have an issue because the last thing we want is another scrum because the scrumhalf knocked the ball out of the 8's hands. Scrums are supposed to be a quick reset and are anything but that. At the ruck though it's ridiculous.

See, even at the scrum - as a SH, I hate it.
Keep each SH on their side of the ball (or maybe increase that distance to 0.5m if you insist), and apply the "no tackling off the ball" law to SHs at scrum time, and it's absolutely fine; it's just that the SH and #8 need to have... the skills of a SH and #8.

If you want the SH to pass off the scrum, then you put the #8 between the ball and the opposing SH - that's plenty of room for any half decent SH to get the ball away - if he isn't, then it's because he's choosing not to do it cleanly. Choices SHOULD have consequences.

If you want the #8 to pick and charge, then A] he has a free mulligan if he screws up - because the nearest defender is both 5m away, and unsighted. B] if he picks up cleanly, he has a 5m run-up before hitting the smallest defender in the opposition line.

Controlling a rugby ball at the back of a scrum is a skill. Picking a rugby ball up off the floor cleanly is a skill. Shaking off a much smaller defender is a skill.
Or at least, those things used to be skills - not anymore.
Passing the ball from the base of a scrum is a skill. Picking up the ball, and taking a step or two before passing, whilst being hassled is a skill.
Or at least, those things used to be skills - not anymore.
Hassling your opposite number is a skill. Hassling the #8 is a skill.
Or at least, those things used to be skills - not anymore.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

BP wrapped up in 22mins. This is men against men who are far worse at rugby.

 

[Tooting Carmen]

BP wrapped up in 22mins. This is men against men who are far worse at rugby.

Without wishing to minimise the problems of Welsh rugby, the Scottish U20's really take the cake in terms of uselessness. Were it not for lots of SA project players in particular, Scotland at senior level would not go very far IMHO.

 

[Half Pint]

See, even at the scrum - as a SH, I hate it.
Keep each SH on their side of the ball (or maybe increase that distance to 0.5m if you insist), and apply the "no tackling off the ball" law to SHs at scrum time, and it's absolutely fine; it's just that the SH and #8 need to have... the skills of a SH and #8.

If you want the SH to pass off the scrum, then you put the #8 between the ball and the opposing SH - that's plenty of room for any half decent SH to get the ball away - if he isn't, then it's because he's choosing not to do it cleanly. Choices SHOULD have consequences.

If you want the #8 to pick and charge, then A] he has a free mulligan if he screws up - because the nearest defender is both 5m away, and unsighted. B] if he picks up cleanly, he has a 5m run-up before hitting the smallest defender in the opposition line.

Controlling a rugby ball at the back of a scrum is a skill. Picking a rugby ball up off the floor cleanly is a skill. Shaking off a much smaller defender is a skill.
Or at least, those things used to be skills - not anymore.
Passing the ball from the base of a scrum is a skill. Picking up the ball, and taking a step or two before passing, whilst being hassled is a skill.
Or at least, those things used to be skills - not anymore.
Hassling your opposite number is a skill. Hassling the #8 is a skill.
Or at least, those things used to be skills - not anymore.

Good post.
There was a point in the U20 Eng v Fra game where the Eng ScrumHalf got the ball slapped from his hands when he'd taken a step away from the scrum, before passing, and it looked like a brilliant steal, but was called as a penalty in the name of 'protecting the 9'.
DuPont takes a couple of steps towards his own goalline to give himself extra time, if he needs it.
A decent SH (even one not quite the calibre of GOAT) should have enough time to play the ball cleanly (be that pass/kick/run) without needing the extra protection from the ref.