Rucks in those days we're still rucks. Jan Boland's place.
Craven
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.
I told him that he had to accept, that this could turn out to be his big chance. So it happened, and he had to go on as a substitute. The moment he took the field we began to take more than our share of the ball, particularly in the rucks and loose mauls. It was only then that everyone, especially the selectors, realised how stupid they had been not to select him before.
There has never been a better fetcher of the ball than "Jan Boland". A greatly underrated player, who could have been worth even more to the Springboks had he been given a chance earlier. A great human being, also, in my estimation.
@Bovidae said in TRC U20 2026:
I thought that Lewai had a decent game at centre and beat his defender on the left-hand edge in the 2nd half. The problem was that he wasn't used much in attack.
I don’t think he had a poor game necessarily but I find it hard to get a good grasp on Lewai’s game at 13. Whenever I’ve seen him play at 13, he seems to be unable to really impose himself, whether it’s in defence or in attack.
I’m not too sure what lies at the root of that. He does have game-breaking ability, like you refer to when he beat his man early in the 2nd half, but I don’t think that’s enough involvement in itself. According to the match centre stats on springbok.rugby he had just 3 carries and 2 tackles in 57 minutes. (https://springboks.rugby/match-centre/match/the-rugby-championship-under-20/new-zealand-u20-v-australia-u20/e549dbb2-3631-4054-947f-7bc218e29d06). Compare that to Wiseman at 12, 9 carries and 17 tackles. Of course, that doesn’t tell the whole story but it does show that a lot of the game passed him by.
It could be that it’s just unfortunate timing. But it could also be that he needs to be more demanding of the ball. When Guerin shifted to 13 in the second half, he was a lot more visible with ball in hand than Lewai had been.
NZ didn't fire a shot in the first 30 mins. Lucky to be so close at HT with two players in the sin bin.
That performance was a big step backwards by NZ. Dumb not to take the penalty at the end to at least get a BP.
I guess SA win the title for the first time? Really dumb format where a team can win without even playing the defending champs
SA u20s is going to be strong the next two years. Since Covid our schoolboy rugby has turn professional.
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.
@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.
@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.
@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!
@Bovidae said in TRC U20 2026:
Just judging by the highlights some clown has cobbled together, that team looks very poor. Very poor.
@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
@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.