New Zealand Under 20 team named to play South Africa

Jun 17 • General News, Junior Rugby, World Rugby Junior Championship • 2178 Views • Comments Off on New Zealand Under 20 team named to play South Africa

New Zealand Under 20 Coach Craig Philpott has made several changes to the team named to face South Africa in the play off for third at the World Rugby U20 Championship.

The match will be played at a Stade De La Mediterranee in Béziers, kick off 4.30pm (2.30am Monday NZT).

The team is;

1. Oliver Norris	Waikato
2. Ricky Jackson	Otago
3. Kaliopasi Uluilakepa	Wellington
4. Laghlan McWhannell	Waikato
5. Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa	Auckland
6. Devan Flanders	Hawke’s Bay
7. Tom Christie – Captain	Canterbury
8. Hoskins Sotutu	Auckland
9. Jay Renton	Southland
10. Kaleb Trask	Bay of Plenty
11. Caleb Clarke	Auckland
12. Harry Plummer	Auckland
13. Billy Proctor	Wellington
14. Bailyn Sullivan	Waikato
15. Ngane Punivai	Canterbury

16. Flynn Thomas	Southland
17. Sione Asi	Manawatu
18. Suetena Asomua	Counties Manukau
19. John Akau’ola Laula	Auckland
20. William Tremain	Hawke’s Bay
21. Xavier Roe	Waikato
22. Scott Gregory	Northland
23. Jamie Spowart	Tasman

NOTE: Xavier Numia, Tevita Mafileo and Will Tucker have all been ruled out with injury. Suetana Asomua and Sam Matenga have joined the squad as replacements.

Injury has forced a number of changes to the team that went down to France in the semi final.

Waikato prop Oliver Norris gets his first start, in his first match at the tournament, while Kaliopasi Uluilakepa joins him on the otherside of the front row. Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa moves from the flanks to lock, to replace Will Tucker, making room for Hoskins Sotutu to start at number 8.

Changes to the backline see Kaleb Trask start at first five-eighths, moving Harry Plummer to the midfield, while Canterbury’s Ngane Punivai gets his first chance of the tournament, starting at fullback.

“We have made a number of changes and there is a lot of excitement amongst the players and there is a real feeling amongst the group that we want to finish strong.

“It’s a challenge for these guys who have joined us as injury replacements, it’s a lot of travel to get to France. But we’ve been really impressed with how they have looked after themselves. They’ve adapted well to the new time zone and fit into our systems pretty seamlessly.”

While the team was disappointed to miss out on the Final, Philpott said they aren’t lacking motivation.

“Its an opportunity to wear the black jersey again and it’s against South Africa. It doesn’t take much to motivate a team wearing black against the junior Springboks.”

Philpott said one of the keys to beating a strong South African team will be getting set piece ball.

“They are similar to France particularly up front, they have a big forward pack and will be quite confrontational, if we get our share of set piece ball we will be able to trouble them.”