Australian Barbarians to play Australian Under 20s tonight
Chatswood Oval will tonight play host to an all-Aussie clash, with the Australian Barbarians taking on the Junior World Championship-bound Australian Under 20s side.
The clash will be the young guns’ final preparation before they travel to New Zealand to contest the IRB Junior World Championship, which kicks off in Auckland on June 2.
Leading the charge for the Barbarians side will be NSW Waratahs Tala Gray, Jed Holloway and new recruit Taqele Naiyaravoro. The trio are from Eastern Suburbs, Southern Districts and Parramatta respectively, three of the 11 Shute Shield clubs represented by the Barbarians squad, with Scone also providing a player.
They will line up against an Under 20s side boasting an 11-strong NSW contingent, including fellow Waratah David Horwitz. It’ll be a family affair for the Ala’alatoa family, as brothers Mike (NSW, Barbarians) and Allan (ACT, Under 20s) pack down against each other in the front row.
As he prepared to join up with his Barbarians team-mates today, rugby’s newest recruit Taqele Naiyaravoro said he was excited at the prospect of tonight’s game.
“I’m delighted to be selected to play for the Barbarians against the Australian Under 20s,” said Naiyaravoro, who has been terrorising Shute Shield defences since his switch to union from league earlier this month.
“I want to give the Under 20s a good hit out before their World Cup but for me I want to use it to improve my fitness and my knowledge of rugby and show coach Michael Cheika I am working hard to improve my game.”
A regular for his club side Easts, abrasive No. 8 Tala Gray is another to welcome the fixture. “I’m enjoying my club rugby and this is more game time which is what I need to push for a spot in the Waratahs match squad. It’s great to see a good few Easts boys in the side too.”
Captaining his club side this season has been a step up for Jed Holloway, and the young lock says he’s looking forward to a cracking contest. “I’ve played with or against most of this Baa-Baas squad in the Shute Shield and they’re a quality bunch. We’ll be in for a tough match though, the Under 20s will want a good hit out before their World Cup campaign starts and from what I’ve seen of them so far, they’ll give us a tough test.”
The match kicks off at Chatswood Oval at 6.30pm tonight, entry is free. The contest will be refereed by Michael Hogan.
The game will be the Under 20s final hit out before the seventh edition of the IRB’s Under 20 tournament kicks off on June 2. Australia opens the tournament against Argentina before taking on defending champion England, then locking horns with last year’s trophy winner Italy in the final match in Pool A.
The pool stages will take place at North Harbour Stadium and Pukekohe Stadium, with the semi-finals following on (at the same venues) on June 2, 6, 10 and 15. The final takes place at Auckland’s Eden Park on June 20. Australia has never won the IRB Junior World Cup.
Australian Baa-Baas v Australian Under 20s
Chatswood Oval, Tuesday May 27 (6.30pm)
Australian Barbarians
1. Mike Ala’alatoa (West Harbour)
2. Billy Johnston (Eastern Suburbs)
3. Dave Lolohea (West Harbour)
4. Jed Holloway (Southern Districts)
5. Saia Toleafoa (Penrith)
6. James Cunningham (Northern Suburbs)
7. Jack McCalman (Sydney University)
8. Tala Gray (Eastern Suburbs)
9. Terry Preston (Gordon)
10. Harry Bennett (Eastwood)
11. Sireli Tagicakibau (Warringah)
12. Tom Matthews (Gordon)
13. Jerome McKenzie (Penrith)
14. Taqele Naiyaravoro (Parramatta)
15. David Feltscheer (Warringah)
Replacements:
16. Clay Brodie (Eastern Suburbs)
17. Nigel Vaifale (Penrith)
18. Kevin McNamara (Northern Suburbs)
19. Seilala Lam (Eastern Suburbs)
20. Maguire Tatola (West Harbour)
21. Tim Donlan (Randwick)
22. Michael Ruthven (Scone)
23. Ben Adams (Warringah)
24. Kyosuke Kajikawa (Eastern Suburbs)
Australian Under 20s
1. Rory O’Connor (NSW)
2. Tevita Vea (NSW)
3. Allan Alaalatoa (ACT)
4. Ross Haylett-Petty (WA)
5. Matt Philip (NSW)
6. Sean McMahon (captain, VIC)
7. Michael Gunn (QLD)
8. Sam Croke (NSW)
9. Angus Pulver (NSW)
10. David Horwitz (NSW)
11. Brad Lacy (WA)
12. Jimmy Stewart (NSW)
13. Lalakai Foketi (VIC)
14. Conrad Quick
15. Jonny Vaux (NSW)
Replacements:
16. Feliti Kaitu’u (QLD)
17. Cameron Orr (NSW)
18. Tom Robertson (NSW)
19. Lolo Fakaosilea (QLD)
20. Rowan Perry (ACT)
21. Joe Powell (ACT)
22. Jake McIntyre (QLD)
23. Andrew Kellaway (NSW)
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