New Zealand Under 20s named for match against Fiji

May 1 • General News, Junior Rugby • 1569 Views • Comments Off on New Zealand Under 20s named for match against Fiji

New Zealand Under 20 Coach Craig Philpott has rung in the changes ahead of their second Oceania Rugby U20 Championship match, with six players set to pull on the black jersey for the first time and a total of 18 changes to the squad.

The team face Fiji tonight at 5pm (NZT) at Bond University, Gold Coast, their second of three matches in the competition.

The team is;

1. Sione Asi	Manawatu
2. Flynn Thomas	Southland
3. Suetena Asomua	Counties Manukau
4. Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa	Auckland
5. William Tucker	Canterbury
6. Devan Flanders	Hawke’s Bay
7. William Tremain	Hawke’s Bay
8. Hoskins Sotutu	Auckland
9. Xavier Roe	Waikato
10. Ciarahn Matoe	Taranaki
11. Ngane Punivai	Canterbury
12. Harry Plummer – captain	Auckland
13. Billy Proctor	Wellington
14. Tanielu Tele’a	Auckland
15. Jamie Spowart	Tasman

16. Ricky Jackson	Otago
17. Kaliopasi Uluilakepa	Wellington
18. Tevita Mafileo	Bay of Plenty
19. John Akau’ola-Laula	Auckland
20. Tom Christie	Canterbury
21. Tom Florence	Taranaki
22. Jay Renton	Southland
23. Scott Gregory	Northland

Suetena Asomua, William Tucker, Ngane Punivai and Jamie Spowart take positions in the starting line up after sitting out the first match, while Jay Renton and Scott Gregory join the bench.

Captain Tom Christie moves to the bench which will see Harry Plummer lead the team from second five-eighth. Plummer is just one of four players, along with Flanders, Proctor and Tele’a to retain starting positions.

Philpott said the intention was to make sure all members of the squad got game time during the series, with the aim of giving everyone a run-on start by end of the competition.

“This is about selection for the World Championships first and foremost, so we need to give players the opportunity to put their best foot forward.”

The New Zealand Under 20s opened the Oceania Championships with a dominant 97-0 victory over Tonga on Friday night.

“Both sides of the scoreboard were good for us, we got to exercise our attack strategies and have a very happy defence coach and that sets a good standard for us.”

While the performance was pleasing, Philpott said the group of players selected for this evening’s encounter will have areas to build on.

“Even though we scored a lot of points we probably left a few out there particularly looking after the ball in contact. On defence we had great intent, but we want to focus on the accuracy in that area.”

Schedule for Oceania Under 20 Championship:
Friday 27 April v Tonga – WIN 97-0
Tuesday 1 May v Fiji, 5.00pm NZT
Saturday 5 May v Australia, 9.00pm NZT

Watch the Oceania Under 20 Championship
All games will be live streamed on http://www.rugby.com.au/and the Oceania Rugby facebook page.