TRC U20 2026

OomPB

Adams is a rugby freak

W32

I guess SA win the title for the first time? Really dumb format where a team can win without even playing the defending champs

OomPB

SA u20s is going to be strong the next two years. Since Covid our schoolboy rugby has turn professional.

ARHS

Very disappointed with NZ. Braindead decision at the end to waive the bonus point.
Can't figure why Fale not starting. He provide the go forward when we had so little in first half. Wiseman is the other standout. We just did not use those two in first half.
Thought Findlay, Frost, McLeod and Sinton looked useful too.

Bovidae

@ARHS Fale seems to be pigeon-holed as an impact player for the U20s despite playing 80 mins in the other teams he plays for.

McLeod was probably the best ball-carrier of the starting forwards but NZ seemed to lack any go-forward for much of the game. I didn't think Findlay was that good in this game as the lineout misfired. Interesting that Sinton was subbed early compared to game 1. Krone looked useful.

Let's see who their best 23 is for SA. I haven't seen any of their games but based on the scores it could be ugly.

MiketheSnow

@W32 said in TRC U20 2026:

I guess SA win the title for the first time? Really dumb format where a team can win without even playing the defending champs

Agreed

Could be a blessing in disguise mind given the demolition the Argies had against SA

Thought the ref went well

@MiketheSnow said in TRC U20 2026:

Thought the ref went well

Talk about over officiating!
The officiators formed a committee at the end there.
And they thought well, we look stupid, but if we double down . . .
They were just making work for themselves, F all to see there, move on.

PN

@W32 said in TRC U20 2026:

I guess SA win the title for the first time? Really dumb format where a team can win without even playing the defending champs

I agree - we need a better format like the 2025 under 20 RWC to see who the best team truly is!

W32

@mohikamo said in TRC U20 2026:

@MiketheSnow said in TRC U20 2026:

Thought the ref went well

Talk about over officiating!
The officiators formed a committee at the end there.
And they thought well, we look stupid, but if we double down . . .
They were just making work for themselves, F all to see there, move on.

Which game are you talking about?

@W32 said in TRC U20 2026:

Which game are you talking about?

the disallowed try right at the end of NZ v Arg
was a good no call originally
then someone decided they should convene a committee meeting and have a debate about it
should have stayed a no-call, F all in it
but to justify winding the game back several phases, and the long confabulation, I guess they felt they had to call it
and try and make themselves look less silly

W32

@mohikamo said in TRC U20 2026:

@W32 said in TRC U20 2026:

Which game are you talking about?

the disallowed try right at the end of NZ v Arg
was a good no call originally
then someone decided they should convene a committee meeting and have a debate about it
should have stayed a no-call, F all in it
but to justify winding the game back several phases, and the long confabulation, I guess they felt they had to call it
and try and make themselves look less silly

Oh ok, think @mikethesnow was talking about the SA game.

W32

@PN said in TRC U20 2026:

@W32 said in TRC U20 2026:

I guess SA win the title for the first time? Really dumb format where a team can win without even playing the defending champs

I agree - we need a better format like the 2025 under 20 RWC to see who the best team truly is!

I was trying to be a gracious winner. I know, totally unexpected and out of character. I reserve the right to be a dickhead in future postings

MiketheSnow

@W32 said in TRC U20 2026:

@mohikamo said in TRC U20 2026:

@W32 said in TRC U20 2026:

Which game are you talking about?

the disallowed try right at the end of NZ v Arg
was a good no call originally
then someone decided they should convene a committee meeting and have a debate about it
should have stayed a no-call, F all in it
but to justify winding the game back several phases, and the long confabulation, I guess they felt they had to call it
and try and make themselves look less silly

Oh ok, think @mikethesnow was talking about the SA game.

No I was talking about NZ v Arg

Thought she went ok

W32

@MiketheSnow said in TRC U20 2026:

@W32 said in TRC U20 2026:

@mohikamo said in TRC U20 2026:

@W32 said in TRC U20 2026:

Which game are you talking about?

the disallowed try right at the end of NZ v Arg
was a good no call originally
then someone decided they should convene a committee meeting and have a debate about it
should have stayed a no-call, F all in it
but to justify winding the game back several phases, and the long confabulation, I guess they felt they had to call it
and try and make themselves look less silly

Oh ok, think @mikethesnow was talking about the SA game.

No I was talking about NZ v Arg

Thought she went ok

Yeah I thought she went ok as well. Trying to blow the whistle while she was gassed was funny though

Bovidae

@mohikamo said in TRC U20 2026:

the disallowed try right at the end of NZ v Arg
was a good no call originally
then someone decided they should convene a committee meeting and have a debate about it

Aust had a try disallowed against NZ for interference too. The local TMOs seem to be looking out for this. These decisions are always subjective.

@Bovidae said in TRC U20 2026:

Aust had a try disallowed against NZ for interference too. The local TMOs seem to be looking out for this. These decisions are always subjective.

very subjective.

it was a kick, a team can have up to 14 players in front of the ball when they field a kick
so the players were allowed to be in front of the ball
they cannot disappear
there were argentine defenders all around them
the players realised this, and did the correct thing by not moving at all
if they had moved they definitely would have obstructed a defender (there were so several close by)
the argentine defender ran into them (bit of a soccer move), not the other way round

the player in possession of the ball did not alter his line to take advantage of their position
he ran directly down field after catching the ball
the officiators agreed with this
there was no/little discussion about the player in possession
only about the players in front of him
who did absolutely nothing, the correct thing to do in that position

there were other argentine defenders there who could have made the tackle
they missed
bad luck
play on
just a normal rugby play

the only reason it looked a bit different was because there were so many defenders in the vicinity

a good no call by the ref originally
turned into a lets re-write history

@OomPB said in TRC U20 2026:

When the Stellenbosch under-18 side was formed Jan was the first ever captain. His play improved steadily over the years but after playing one test in 1974 he was on the reserve bench for the Springboks so often he became a bit disheartened. When he was again selected as reserve for the test match against the French in 1975 in Pretoria he told me he didn't want to go.

Young guys!
It's rugby, you are always going to get a chance sooner or later.

Had a bit of rethink on that 1974 Lions team.
While they were very good, the 74 bokke were soooo bad.
Brought Marais out of retirement to lead; while he had been great, I think he was mentally done 1974.
Several of the players had not played any rugby at all the previous season (after the NZ tour got called off).
Chopping and changing; 38 players in 4 games!
The Lions in contrast, up to then, were probably the best organised Lions team ever, only used 17 players!
Not the best time to make it into Big rugby for Coetzee.