New Zealand Under 20 team named for final match against Australia

May 4 • General News, Junior Rugby • 1328 Views • Comments Off on New Zealand Under 20 team named for final match against Australia

The New Zealand Under 20 team will be looking to retain the Oceania Championship title tomorrow when they face Australia in the final match of the 2018 tournament at Bond University tomorrow, kick off 9pm (NZT)

The team is;

1. Robert Cobb	Auckland
2. Ricky Jackson	Otago
3. Tevita Mafileo	Bay of Plenty
4. Laghlan McWhannell	Waikato
5. Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa	Auckland
6. Tom Florence	Taranaki
7. Tom Christie	Canterbury
8. Devan Flanders	Hawke’s Bay
9. Jay Renton	Southland
10. Kaleb Trask	Bay of Plenty
11. Leicester Faingaanuku	Tasman
12. Harry Plummer	Auckland
13. Tanielu Tele’a	Auckland
14. Jamie Spowart	Tasman
15. Vilimoni Koroi	Otago

16. Flynn Thomas	Southland
17. Sione Asi	Manawatu
18. Kaliopasi Uluilakepa	Wellington
19. John Akau’ola-Laula	Auckland
20. William Tremain	Hawke’s Bay
21. Carlos Price	Wellington
22. Ciarahn Matoe	Taranaki
23. Ngane Punivai	Canterbury

Coach Craig Philpott said his team are expecting a big challenge from the home team.

“We know Australia will be physical at the breakdown and bring real line speed. They have a big pack so will provide a challenge there and we haven’t been tested too much on defence – that will change tomorrow.”

Philpott said this match will prove to be a curtain raiser for when the two teams meet at the World Championship in a months’ time.

“We’ll be finding out each other’s strengths and weaknesses but at the same time you don’t want to show everything.”

Tevita Mafileo, Jay Renton and Vilimoni Koroi all earn their first starts, with sevens-star Koroi set to be an exciting prospect from fullback.

“Vili has a great skillset, he’s a counter-attack player and can read defence and create opportunities for himself and others.”

Depth at first five-eighth sees Kaleb Trask take the 10 jersey, while Harry Plummer starts at second five-eighth and Ciarahn Matoe expected to add impact from the bench.

Tom Christie will lead the team from the openside, combining with Tom Florence and Devan Flanders to form a strong loose forward trio.