@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
@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 sillyOh ok, think @mikethesnow was talking about the SA game.
No I was talking about NZ v Arg
Thought she went ok
@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 sillyOh 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
@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.
@cgrant said in TRC U20 2026:
Each year, the All Blacks U20 look weaker than the previous year.
Huh? 2nd at the World Champs last year and lost to the overall winners in the semi (after beating them in pool play) in 2024
@cgrant said in TRC U20 2026:
Each year, the All Blacks U20 look weaker than the previous year. This 2026 team is the weakest AB U20 I have ever seen. Things may change but I don't see any of these players becoming an All Black in a near future.
Haki Wiseman looks the goods to me.
If the goal is to develop future ABs you only need a few from each cohort to make it. It would be no different to the other tier 1 countries. Occasionally you get an exceptional year (e.g., the 2017 U20s) but that isn't the norm.
@Bovidae said in TRC U20 2026:
If the goal is to develop future ABs you only need a few from each cohort to make it. It would be no different to the other tier 1 countries. Occasionally you get an exceptional year (e.g., the 2017 U20s) but that isn't the norm.
I actually think last years U20's was a rather exceptional group, deep in the midfield, outside backs, halves, locks, and backrow, (EDIT: forgot about the hookers) suspect we'll see more trickle through from 2025 than 2024 or 2026.
@WoodysRFC The 2024 starting XV was better than 2025, and this year.
The 2017 U20s had Aumua, Jacobson (c), Papalii, Perofeta, Clarke, Ennor and Jordan. The majority of the other starters are former or current SR players.
@Bovidae said in TRC U20 2026:
@WoodysRFC The 2024 starting XV was better than 2025, and this year.
The 2017 U20s had Aumua, Jacobson (c), Papalii, Perofeta, Clarke, Ennor and Jordan. The majority of the other starters are former or current SR players.
Genuinely curious, how do you measure that?
I'm basing it on their quick progression to NPC and SR, with most now fully contracted SR players. Obviously that is no guarantee those players make the ABs but many are talked up on here.
@WoodysRFC said in TRC U20 2026:
Would be interested to see Mauss take on this year's U20 side, but it does seem pretty average.
Two games is probably a bit too early to make a definite call but let’s just say I’m not particularly optimistic they’ll be able to turn things around. I was rewatching the game against Argentina a few days ago and some of the decision-making, both on attack and in defence, was really naïve.
Again, they are able to show flashes of quality throughout the game but most of it is reactionary. The quality only seems to come through when the pressure’s really on, whether it’s due to playing with only 13 men or trying to find a score in the final minutes. A big part of why I liked the 2025 team was because they tended (not always, but tended) to be sensible in their decision-making: when to attack, when to play for territory, when to recycle through phases, when to kick, when to go wide. That control just isn’t there with this team.
As far as individual talent is concerned, I think there are certainly potential future Test players there (McLeod, Wiseman, Fale) but there’s a few too many ‘glue guy’-types in the team for mine. Putting Aio Keith and Drew Berg-McLean into this side would immediately add more of an edge, both on attack and at the breakdown. Xavier Leota would also add a genuine carrying option to a tight five that doesn’t currently offer a lot in that area.
The 2019 team seemed piss weak at the time, and finished 7th at the U20 WC that year. Apart from the 2011 U20s, I think this team has produced the most ABs, so you never know how players will mature and develop etc.
ABs from the 2019 U20s.
Vaii, Newell, Finau, Norris, Parker, Williams, Grace, Leroy Carter, Proctor, McLeod , Tupaea, Faingaanuku.
Flanders, Reihana, Burke and Nanai Seturo were also in that team.
I'll be intrigued to see if any additions are made to the WC squad. Last year there were a number of players unavailable for the RC U20 tournament through injury who were then selected for the WC. That isn't the situation this time, although we never saw a list of injured players.
Even though that's his position, Pahulu will need to tackle much better at centre than he did on the wing (almost non-existent).
South Africa U20: 15 Akahluwa Boqwana, 14 Jack Benade, 13 Samuel Badenhorst, 12 Ethan Adams , 11 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Hendré Schoeman, 8 Kebotile Maake, 7 Wasi Vyambwera, 6 Luke Canon, 5 Riley Norton (captain), 4 Heinrich Theron, 3 Danie Kruger, 2 Liam van Wyk, 1 Rambo Kubheka
Replacements: 16 Mahle Sithole, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Luan van der Berg, 19 JD Hattingh, 20 Risima Khosa, 21 Jayden Brits, 22 Vusi Moyo, 23 Jade Muller
SA Rugby
"Despite New Zealand’s recent stumble against Argentina, Foote believes the rivalry with the Kiwis remains the ultimate challenge for any South African rugby player, and feels the stage is set for another classic encounter between the two traditional rivals in the Friendly City.
“For us in rugby, it doesn’t get better than South Africa versus New Zealand,” said Foote.
“They are our greatest rivals and the opportunity to play them in front of the Gqeberha crowd at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is a privilege for everyone involved with the Junior Boks.
“We have huge respect for the New Zealanders and, like us, they will be highly motivated to end the tournament on a high.”
A combined total of more than 20,000 supporters attended the opening two rounds at the NMB Stadium, prompting Foote to emphasise the impact of home support.
“There is a unique energy that comes with playing in the Eastern Cape,” he said.
“We’ve felt the passion from the Gqeberha crowd since we arrived here two weeks ago and having that passionate support behind us means a great deal to the team.”
Looking ahead to the final round, Foote stressed that the team’s focus extends beyond silverware: “Our objective on Saturday is about more than just the trophy – it’s about our growth and continuing the journey we’ve started with this group.
“These two teams have a history of producing memorable encounters when they meet, and it’s every South African rugby player’s dream to stand facing the haka and take on New Zealand.”
Foote added that he was pleased with the team’s preparation for the clash: “We’ve had a good week of preparation. The players are excited for this massive challenge, and the staff have done a tremendous job in keeping the group close-knit and in a very positive space.
“Gqeberha is a wonderful venue to host an international tournament such as the U20 Rugby Championship, and the people of the Eastern Cape have been outstanding hosts. We hope to repay that support with a quality performance against our greatest rivals on Saturday,” he added."
Foote selected the same team. Sadly we havent see u19 stars like Jordan Jooste, Kai Pratt, Markus Muller, Siyaya & Gert Kemp,
@jimmyb said in TRC U20 2026:
how did Mika go at 10?
A very mixed performance, in my view. I liked his pass selection: good variation in his option-taking and putting a few runners through the gap as a result. But his lack of a running game cost the team, I felt: Argentina was willing to push their defenders out wide, anticipating the NZ U20s going to the edge quickly, and this meant that there were opportunities for the NZ halfbacks to attack the spaces closer to the ruck.
But neither Sinton nor Muliaina were really able to aggressively target these areas. Snipes off 9 or switch plays to the blind from 10, with running options off either shoulder, could’ve been effective, I think, but those tactics never really came into play. I’m guessing that’s why Boston Krone was subbed on early in the 2nd half, to get that halfback running option, but I'm not sure Krone is that much of a running halfback either. So in my view Muliaina needs to be more aggressive in targeting those seams when teams are pushing out their defensive lines.
And the obvious point is probably that his kicking this tournament, both in general play and from the tee, hasn’t been good enough. Norrie took over the goalkicking in this game which isn’t a good sign in its own right. Muliaina seems to have trouble stacking up positive involvements right now: he’ll kick a great contestable one moment, and the next he’ll kick it out on the full. That’s pretty much been the story so far. It looks to have knocked his confidence somewhat.
@Mauss said in TRC U20 2026:
@jimmyb said in TRC U20 2026:
how did Mika go at 10?
A very mixed performance, in my view. I liked his pass selection: good variation in his option-taking and putting a few runners through the gap as a result. But his lack of a running game cost the team, I felt: Argentina was willing to push their defenders out wide, anticipating the NZ U20s going to the edge quickly, and this meant that there were opportunities for the NZ halfbacks to attack the spaces closer to the ruck.
But neither Sinton nor Muliaina were really able to aggressively target these areas. Snipes off 9 or switch plays to the blind from 10, with running options off either shoulder, could’ve been effective, I think, but those tactics never really came into play. I’m guessing that’s why Boston Krone was subbed on early in the 2nd half, to get that halfback running option, but I'm not sure Krone is that much of a running halfback either. So in my view Muliaina needs to be more aggressive in targeting those seams when teams are pushing out their defensive lines.
And the obvious point is probably that his kicking this tournament, both in general play and from the tee, hasn’t been good enough. Norrie took over the goalkicking in this game which isn’t a good sign in its own right. Muliaina seems to have trouble stacking up positive involvements right now: he’ll kick a great contestable one moment, and the next he’ll kick it out on the full. That’s pretty much been the story so far. It looks to have knocked his confidence somewhat.
Brilliant, thanks for such a great response
I must be an old relic out of touch with the game these days. I really can't fathom how that was an automatic red card.
Baby Blacks should have won it. They played with a lot of pride and passion. This again show Springboks vs All Blacks is th greatest rivalry. Good result for both going into the JWC.
@OomPB said in TRC U20 2026:
Baby Blacks should have won it. They played with a lot of pride and passion. This again show Springboks vs All Blacks is th greatest rivalry. Good result for both going into the JWC.
If only'd played with a competent kicker. 
