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New Zealand U20 team named to face France in crunch match
By Ben Smith
New Zealand U20 have named their side to face France U20 in a crucial pool match at the World Rugby U20 Championships in South Africa.
After beating Wales 27-26 in a tight contest, New Zealand now face the Six Nations U20 runners-up France who present a strong challenge.
Head coach Clark Laidlaw has made a number of tweaks to the line-up, most notably in the forwards to prepare for a physical French pack.
The front row of Ben Ake, hooker Jack Taylor and tighthead Siale Lauaki remains unchanged but at lock Tom Allen replaces Will Stodart to partner Tahlor Cahill. Stodart moves to the bench in the 23. Raymond Tuputupu, Malakai Hala, and Gabe Robinson are the front row reserves.
The loose forwards have been reshuffled with co-captain Peter Lakai moving to openside to accomodate Waikato-product Malachi Wrampling-Alec at No 8.
Che Clark, who cleaned up the scraps from a cross-field kick for the game-sealing try against Wales, retains his place at No 6. Hurricanes U20 loose forward Cooper Flanders comes onto the bench for his first appearance in pool play.
In the halves Crusaders' pair Noah Hotham and Taha Kemara retain their combination for a second straight game, with Jordi Viljoen providing cover for Hotham on the bench.
In the midfield Leo Gordon has been handed a start at second five-eighth to partner impressive centre Aki Tuivailala in his first year of U20s eligibility.
Ajay Faleafaga, who is a regular first-five but played No 12 against Wales in a dual playmaker axis, moves to the bench.
The back three remains unchanged with Crusader Macca Springer starting on the left wing, Hurricane Harry Godfrey at fullback and All Blacks Sevens rep Caleb Tangitau on the right.
Another Sevens rep, Codemeru Vai, has been named in the 23 jersey to provide utility cover.
The two sides will met at 11:30pm NZT on Thursday in a game that will likely decide who tops Pool A and keeps their Championship hopes alive.
New Zealand U20 matchday 23 to face France U20:
1. Ben Ake (Auckland)
2. Jack Taylor (Southland)
3. Siale Lauaki (Wellington)
4. Tahlor Cahill (Canterbury)
5. Tom Allen (Hawke’s Bay)
6. Che Clark (Auckland)
7. Peter Lakai – Vice captain (Wellington)
8. Malachi Wrampling-Alec (Waikato)
9. Noah Hotham – Captain (Tasman)
10. Taha Kemara – Vice Captain (Waikato)
11. Macca Springer (Tasman)
12. Leo Gordon (Auckland)
13. Aki Tuivailala (Waikato)
14. Caleb Tangitau (Auckland)
15. Harry Godfrey (Hawke’s Bay)
Reserves
16. Raymond Tuputupu (Manawatu)
17. Malakai Hala (Manawatu)
18. Gabe Robinson (Waikato)
19. Will Stodart (Otago)
20. Cooper Flanders (Hawke's Bay)
21. Jordi Viljoen (Manawatu)
22. Ajay Faleafaga (Otago)
23. Codemeru Vai (Bay of Plenty)
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Latest Comments
"fl's idea, if I can speak for him to speed things up, was for it to be semifinalists first, Champions Cup (any that somehow didn't make a league semi), then Challenge's semi finalists (which would most certainly have been outside their league semi's you'd think), then perhaps the quarter finalists of each in the same manner. I don't think he was suggesting whoever next performed best in Europe but didn't make those knockouts (like those round of 16 losers), I doubt that would ever happen."
That's not quite my idea.
For a 20 team champions cup I'd have 4 teams qualify from the previous years champions cup, and 4 from the previous years challenge cup. For a 16 team champions cup I'd have 3 teams qualify from the previous years champions cup, and 1 from the previous years challenge cup.
"The problem I mainly saw with his idea (much the same as you see, that league finish is a better indicator) is that you could have one of the best candidates lose in the quarters to the eventual champions, and so miss out for someone who got an easier ride, and also finished lower in the league, perhaps in their own league, and who you beat everytime."
If teams get a tough draw in the challenge cup quarters, they should have won more pool games and so got better seeding. My system is less about finding the best teams, and more about finding the teams who perform at the highest level in european competition.
Go to commentsWalter has been permanently psychologically damaged since his wife left him and moved in with a man from Sydney.
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