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World Rugby U20 Championship

Super Rugby and 7s talent on show as NZ U20s name team for opener

(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

The New Zealand U20s have named a star-studded side for their World Rugby U20 Championship opener against Wales which includes some talented players with Super Rugby experience.

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Crusaders halfback Noah Hotham will captain the side against Wales U20, and will partner another member of the champion franchise in the halves – that being Baby Blacks vice-captain Taha Kemara.

Fullback Harry Godfrey is another member of the backline who starred in Super Rugby Pacific this season, having impressed for the Hurricanes against Moana Pasifika in round 12.

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Godfrey actually played eight matches for the Canes this season, and started two of those games in the No. 15 jersey.

Fellow Hurricanes star Peter Lakai will pack down at No. 8 for the Baby Blacks, and joins All Blacks Sevens representative Che Clarke in the back row.

Going through the team, coach Clark Laidlaw has named the menacing front row trio of loosehead Ben Ake, Highlanders hooker Jack Taylor, and tighthead Siale Lauaki.

Taylor Cahill, who won the AFL New Zealand Rising star award for round one in the 2021 season, joins Otago talent Will Stodart in the second row.

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Along with Che Clark and vice-captain Peter Lakai, Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo will pack down in the backrow – starting at openside flanker.

Outside the extremely exciting halves duo of Hotham and Kemara is Ajay Faleafaga and Aki Tuivailala in the midfield.

Crusaders winger Macca Springer will start on the left, while Auckland’s Caleb Tangitau has been named on the right.

Another All Blacks Sevens player in Codemeru Vai will look to provide some impact off the bench.

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The match between the Baby Blacks and Wales U20 will kick-off at 2.00 am (NZST) on Sunday (4pm SAT on Saturday) at Paarl Gymnasium.

New Zealanders can watch the match live and exclusive on Sky Sport.

New Zealand U20s to take on Wales U20s

  1. Ben Ake
  2. Jack Taylor
  3. Siale Lauaki
  4. Tahlor Cahill
  5. Will Stodart
  6. Che Clark
  7. Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo
  8. Peter Lakai (vc)
  9. Noah Hotham (c)
  10. Taha Kemara (vc)
  11. Macca Springer
  12. Ajay Faleafaga
  13. Aki Tuivailala
  14. Caleb Tangitau
  15. Harry Godfrey

Replacements:

  1. Raymond Tuputupu
  2. Malakai Hala
  3. Gabe Robinson
  4. Tom Allen
  5. Malachi Wrampling-Alec
  6. Jordi Viljoen
  7. Leo Gordon
  8. Codemeru Vai

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Comments

1 Comment
A
Andrew 761 days ago

"the menacing front row trio of loosehead Ben Ake, Highlanders hooker Jack Taylor, and tighthead Siale Lauaki."


Menacing? Is this the front row that tge AusU20s absolutely owned in that recent 2 match series? Or are they a completely different lot?

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Comments on RugbyPass

S
SC 17 minutes ago
New All Blacks locks squeezing captain Barrett out of contention

Razor axed David Havili and Ethan Blackadder who are two of his very favourite Crusaders plus, George Bell.


How many Crusader legends does he have to axe to prove he is not one eyed or blind loyal ffs.

25 Go to comments
M
Mark 55 minutes ago
'He didn’t miss a beat...When he talks, everyone listens'

To misquote Winston churchill…”Never, in the face of human sporting endeavour, has so little been done by an individual, to garner the support of so many”.

He's there because of his dad.

Let’s stop gaslighting the rugby public!!

1 Go to comments
C
CO 1 hour ago
The stat in which the Springboks outperformed everyone fivefold in July

Parson having a chortle over the mismatches

30 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
Steve Hansen: The Boks are 'rolling the dice and so far they’ve got away with it'

It's how it will always be. We have a hate / love relationship.

24 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
Steve Hansen: The Boks are 'rolling the dice and so far they’ve got away with it'

Not true. In the public eye, the Boks is one dimensional and the AB's the Kings of running exciting rugby. The AB's are the most feared team with talent that no other nations can match. Even though that is just pure speculation and maybe true of the past, most NZ folks live in the past era, expecting the AB's to always be the strongest and best. So what chance does poor old SA have against a mighty Giant like the AB's? Despite beating them 4 times in a row which they claim was 4 lucky wins. Despite the Boks being double WC winners, which they say the refs helped them win the WC with 3 single point victories. Despite the Boks winning the RC back to back in 2023 and 2024. It was all lucky wins right? Even the trashing at Twickenham was just a lucky wins. I mean, now they claim these same Boks are going to get “SMASHED”.

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H
Hellhound 2 hours ago
Steve Hansen: The Boks are 'rolling the dice and so far they’ve got away with it'

Most often Kings create their own destruction by creating their own worst enemies. By going after Rassie, WR and it's puppets tried to kill the Boks, only to find that all they did was peel away the outer onion layer only. The Boks have so much more endless layers. Keep peeling those layers, and it will make them cry harder with each peel.

24 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 2 hours ago
Steve Hansen: The Boks are 'rolling the dice and so far they’ve got away with it'

They were a team testing different plays and players. They are a much better side than last year or the WC of ‘23. There is no guarantee of any team winning no, but who wants it more? Who’s mindset will be the strongest? Because that is where the game will be won or lost. Both SA and NZ have exceptional talent. We know it's going to be humdingers. How much is that 4 losses going to bother the AB's? They lost to the Boks and baby Boks in 2 WC Finals. It rankles the NZ public, I know that. Can the AB's players bring back some pride by winning both Tests? Nothing less would be acceptable

24 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 2 hours ago
Steve Hansen: The Boks are 'rolling the dice and so far they’ve got away with it'

Of course they are favourites. Despite losing 4 in a row. In every game the AB's play they are the favourites. It will be 2 great Tests. However, unlike other seasons, the Boks isn't using the RC to build depth. Rassie wants a full house of wins. The WC grouping is at the end of this year. They mean serious business. The question is how the AB's will handle that mindset? That is what is going to decide these Tests. If the AB's mindset isn't set to WC standards, that will cost them big time. This will be 2 WC Final type of matches. What people see from the Boks is a lot of changes, different players. They think it's just depth building. That is an ongoing process and not the main reason anymore. The Boks have various strategies and various players for those strategies. They are ready for the WC. They are looking at the best players. The in team competition is much harder than what the public knows. It's all about who will be the best of the best to represent the Boks. The AB's are good, but they will face a Bok team a whole lot better than the WC Final team. If the AB's can pull off wins, that will mean they are ready, but be sure that the Boks will thrive with every little mistake. The intensity of the game will run the full 80 minutes and the AB's better be fit and ready to go the full 80 minutes.

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T
Toaster 2 hours ago
Are other All Blacks better suited to number six than Tupou Vaa'i?

Yep the breakdown goes on “whatever is in their heads”


The Aotearoa rugby pod brings well prepared analysis

141 Go to comments
C
Carlos 2 hours ago
‘USA have a way to go to fulfil Moonshot mission but 2031 RWC will be a success’

I’ve been reading a variation of this story for the last 30 years. Never happens. Always the land of tomorrow.


WR is even jiggling classification to try to get the USA into the next World Cup. They couldn’t beat Uruguay or Chile to get to the last one. Chile!

1 Go to comments
T
Toaster 2 hours ago
Are other All Blacks better suited to number six than Tupou Vaa'i?

I think we will see Holland and Barrett (health food chain) with Vaai at 6


Tuipolotu for bench grunt with Finau foe the big boys or Kirifi for a faster game


My hope anyway

141 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 2 hours ago
'Would be great': Ronan O'Gara backs rugby to ape football-style rule change

A weak coach who can't innovate looks for a cheat code to beat the game.

5 Go to comments
S
SC 2 hours ago
New All Blacks locks squeezing captain Barrett out of contention

With Savea playing 7 and his lack of ruck cleaning and low tackling rate (he is a world class ball carrier and jackal), the All Blacks need a lock- type player playing blindside and smashing as many offensive rucks as possible so that Savea is freed up to ball carry along with whoever is at 8.

25 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 2 hours ago
'Would be great': Ronan O'Gara backs rugby to ape football-style rule change

If you can't beat a team knowing who you are going to face, then why become a coach? The players deserve to know who is going to play and to get themselves mentally ready for the game. Ever wondered why soccer players always flip around, acting like the the weakest men in the universe? Like Nigel Owens used to say…” This is rugby, not soccer”. Already people want rugby to become like League where the weak players dwell. Weak coaches can't innovate the game, instead looking to a cheat move to try and gain an upper hand. That is the difference between a coach like Rassie, a double WC winning coach in par for a triple, and coaches like O’Gara. A King in coaching vs a wannabe. Who knew O’Gara would be the next Matt Williams? I would be very ashamed if they were from my country, and luckily they are not. Drivel like that shouldn't be posted unless it is willing to accept the hate that will come with it

5 Go to comments
T
Toaster 2 hours ago
Are other All Blacks better suited to number six than Tupou Vaa'i?

He’s alright doing the tight stuff as shown by his tackle and ruck stats

He’s got some way to go and maybe they will bench him for the Boks

They shouldn’t

It will be good for him


It’s actually his dominant tackles and open game they will develop but we have seen signs with his offload to Vaai for the try

141 Go to comments
T
Toaster 2 hours ago
Are other All Blacks better suited to number six than Tupou Vaa'i?

34 isn’t past it for a World Cup and he will be 34 just after we win the final 😃🙏


Yes it’s entirely possible and probable that the Vaai experiment might be shelved for games and they do play lock together


We may unearth another by then

Lord still hasn’t had a proper go yet and Tuipolotu at a similar Barrett age seems back to great form too

141 Go to comments
S
SC 2 hours ago
New All Blacks locks squeezing captain Barrett out of contention

As a former lock, it’s frustrating that most media and supporters do not know that there is a significant difference in the roles and duties (even body types) of a 4 power tight lock and 5 aerial loose lock.


The 4 lock is an enforcer who is very physical and carries hard in tight, a very effective nasty ruck cleaner, a very powerful scrummager behind the tighthead, and hard hitting defender. Often the are the second lineout option at the back. This is the spot Scott Barrett and Patrick Tuipulotu, Isaiah Walker- Leawere play. Big tough hard men. Think Bakkies Botha and Brodie Retallick.


The 5 lock is almost always taller and leaner as their primary responsibility is winning the ball in the air on lineouts and restarts. Height is essential. They clean a ton of rucks and make a lot of tackles but their carries tend to be out wider in space and which requires more athleticism than tight lock. This is where Holland, Va’ai, and Darry play. Think Victor Matfield and Sam Whitelock.


My point is Holland is way too lean in his body shape at this point, and too inexperienced, and not quite enough mongrel to play 4. Give him time to physically mature and harden up. He is playing great at 5 and Va’ai looks very good at 6.


And if Hamish believes that Tuipulotu has suddenly become a better tight lock at test level over Barrett based on two performances vs France B god bless him but I’ll base my decision over their career test form, which Barrett has clearly been superior. I do like Tuipulotu as a bench lock playing the last 20-25 minutes for Barrett with a 6-2 bench.

25 Go to comments
T
Toaster 2 hours ago
Two All Blacks praised as 'potential superstars' in France whitewash

Haha brave calls as a Canes fan!

Lomax is world class and has been unlucky with injury

I won’t count the last game as he’s been out a while

Props need game time

47 Go to comments
T
Toaster 3 hours ago
Two All Blacks praised as 'potential superstars' in France whitewash

I think the ABs will be best when the starters are strong but the bench arguably more impactful


I’d be happy to see EDG and Lomax starting and Williams and Newell to smash it around the 45-55 mins mark


Tosi is massive too with such great hands


I think like Finau they can get much more out of EDG for sure

Agree on your comments

47 Go to comments
S
SC 3 hours ago
New All Blacks locks squeezing captain Barrett out of contention

Josh Lord is the only player more injury prone than Blackadder and Jacobson.

25 Go to comments
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TRENDING The stat in which the Springboks outperformed everyone fivefold in July Where the Springboks outperformed everyone fivefold