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Junior Wallabies side named for first-ever round of U20 Rugby Championship
By Finn Morton
Brumbies lock Toby Macpherson will lead the Junior Wallabies into battle on Thursday evening when the Australians take on Argentina in the opening round of the first-ever U20 Rugby Championship.
Macpherson, who started in the No.4 jersey against traditional rivals New Zealand at the World Rugby U20 Championship last year, will serve as skipper while Ronna Leahy is the team’s vice-captain.
Recent Super Rugby Pacific debutant Jack Barrett will pack down in the front-row along with the Waratahs’ Bryn Edwards and the Brumbies’ Tevita Alatini.
Captain Macpherson joins fellow-ACT-based second-rower Harvey Cordukes in the run-on side, while backrowers Aden Ekanayake, Joe Liddy and Jack Harley round out the forward pack.
Blindside flanker Ekanayake is one to look out for with the loose forward having been identified as a potential prospect of the Australian sevens side.
In the backs, Western Force halfback Doug Phillipson joins the Rebels’ in the halves, while vice-captain Leahy and the Brumbies’ Jarrah McLeod are the two starting midfielders.
The Reds have two wingers in the starting side with Xavier Rubens set to wear the No.11 jumper while Will McCulloch gets a start on the right. Shane Wilcox is the Junior Wallabies’ fullback.
There are three Waratahs on the bench, as well as two players from the Reds and Brumbies, and finally one member of the Rebels in Nick Bloomfield.
“We’re excited to see what these 23 young men bring to the gold jersey,” coach Nathan Grey said in a statement.
“This first game against Argentina is going to be a real challenge but we’ve prepared well.
“It’s an excellent opportunity to test new combinations and launch our TRC U20 campaign.”
The Junior Wallabies take on Argentina at 7 pm local time at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Thursday, May 2. Stan Sport will broadcast the fixture in Australia.
Australia U20 to take on Argentina
- Jack Barrett
- Bryn Edwards
- Tevita Alatini
- Toby Macpherson (c)
- Harvey Cordukes
- Aden Ekanayake
- Joe Liddy
- Jack Harley
- Doug Phillipson
- Joey Fowler
- Xavier Rubens
- Ronan Leahy (vc)
- Jarrah McLeod
- Will McCulloch
- Shane Willcox
Replacements
- Nathaniel Tiitii
- Tavi Tuipulotu
- Nick Bloomfield
- Ben Daniels
- Ben Di Staso
- Hwi Sharples
- Cullen Gray
- Angus Staniforth
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Latest Comments
Yes for sure, thanks for sharing. I fully understand that both parties are better off, no one needs to lose, neither competition suffers, in fact both can be better as a result.
Too many true rugby fans (and analysts) don't understand that.
I wouldn't imagine there is a date aye. It was a long decline rugby in SA and Australia was going through, and was so bad it even effected NZ, caused them to argue to can a couple of teams. The nation of SA probably grew into it? I know I watch more of the NH now specifically because of the SR teams playing there. I actually had to mention to Nick Bishop (because of his stubborn perspective) the other day that I've never been a fan of Super Rugby, I don't think they chose the right way to go about professionalism back in 1995. Unfortunately, NZR was stuck between a rock and a hard place, because it had SA's and Australians that ran their unions by States, so we had to separate into "two or three" teams as a result. Our game is in the kak now because of it, they want to kill off the lifeblood of our National Provincial Championship. But now we might see a way out of it, so it's all good.
Go to commentsOh, so the Boks going back to half way means they definitely scored?
Don’t make me laugh…..
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