WR U20 Championship 2026

@Fale009 said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

This should be a winnable game. This French side doesn't seem to have the same quality of the past couple of years. The Aussies should have beaten them.

Firstly, the on-screen clock stopped midway through the 2nd half while play continued for a few minutes. Even with that added time why the hell were Aust kicking the ball away at the end?

For NZ, we will need to survive their scrum, defend the inevitable lineout drives and match their physicality in the forwards.

@akan004 said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

@Steven-Harris said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

@Fale009 just watched the highlights the NZ v Italy game not wrong about the Italian no 8 ..6’4 120kgs plus at a guess .? What do you reckon ?

Have never seen a no 8 that big at any level.

Henry Tuilagi would like a word!

Those bloody kiwis at it again.

@stodders said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

@akan004 said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

@Steven-Harris said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

@Fale009 just watched the highlights the NZ v Italy game not wrong about the Italian no 8 ..6’4 120kgs plus at a guess .? What do you reckon ?

Have never seen a no 8 that big at any level.

Henry Tuilagi would like a word!
View image

SU Agen used to field a Nr.8 named Fonua a few years ago. He was well above 150 kg and used as a battering ram.

And Brive had Sisa Koyamaibole about 10 years ago. Another man mountain.

JUNIOR SPRINGBOKS – 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Ethan Adams, 11 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Hendré Schoeman, 8 Gert Kemp, 7 Luke Cannon, 6 Kebotile Maake, 5 JD Hattingh, 4 Heinrich Theron, 3 Danie Kruger, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele (c), 1 Oliver Reid.
Bench: 16 Liam van Wyk, 17 Rambo Kubheka, 18 Luan van der Berg, 19 Jaythen Orange, 20 Thomas Beling, 21 Risima Khosa, 22 Jayden Brits, 23 Alzeadon Felix.

Wiseman and Muliaina are back.

NZ 20s went down to France this morning 26-22 brilliant French try with about 3 to go
Halftime France 14-12
Credit to the French for what was a superb match winner but the chase from the NZ backs left a lot to be desired
Wasn’t the underlying reason the Baby Blacks lost as the scrum again proved a massive point of weakness also defending mauls
We have no idea
NZ Rugby has to put some resources into tight five development at age group rugby or we are just never going to be successful at this tournament
Often hear at provincial level there is a real shortage of genuine scrummaging props coming through

@Steven-Harris Slow learners. The scrum at this level has been an issue for a number of years. Why hasn't it been addressed?

@Steven-Harris the chase on the kick was poor, 1 player chased hard, then several others 5-10m back, giving them too much room and a poor staggered d line.

@akan004 the feedback I get from HP guys is they want to play high paced game hence they want ball carrying props with high work rates
Ok I get that but when it gets to pointy ends at big tournaments your scrum and lineout maul defence is everything
I don’t think taking pathways has helped every now and then you find that gem who was identified in the system or is playing number 8 but looks more like a potential prop Pasilo Tosi is a great example of a number 8 who was converted into a prop as an 19 year old by
Dale Macleod when he coached Southland

@Steven-Harris They have been trying to play the high paced game with ball carrying props for years while struggling at set piece
You would think that someone at NZRFU would realize we.havent won the tournament since 2017 as a result
And every year the coaches trot out the same line about winning doesn't matter, it's about getting guys playing NPC instead
No other top 4 nation spouts this nonsense at under 20 level. They are there to win it

@Bones said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

Those bloody kiwis at it again.

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Firstly, why is his name in quotation marks?

Interesting calendar in SA ...

The B sample was taken on 7 July 2026, with the results released on 22 June 2026,

Was there and attended the match. Met lots of Kiwis here. Frustrated, but still proud of the boys.
maul defense and scrummaging are the main issues.

It's interesting that we struggle so much in the scrum at this level but front row is a real position of depth at the senior level

@akan004 said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

The scrum at this level has been an issue for a number of years. Why hasn't it been addressed?

I've said before that it starts with selection and I don't think the best props were chosen this year or last year. There also seemed to be a lack of trust in the reserves given that Findlay plays the entire game and Stuart big minutes.

Having said that, and despite the expected problems in the scrum and lineout maul defence, that game was there to win and a couple of costly errors in the last 20 mins were the difference. Wiseman knocking the ball on to overturn the Fale try, a poor kick out on the full from Muliaina, and the final kick-chase from the French turnover.

To be honest, thought Team did very well considering what I thought was a pretty average playing group vs. teams from last couple of years and thought what was great was that they improved over the tournament.

However if you can't scrum, execute basic skills under pressure and maul - it's going to be hard to progess.

Really these continued losses are the result of the NZRFU not picking required resources into both Schoolboys and U20 Level - this year U20 Super touranment was canned and instead they had an internal camp and then played games internally - hopeless really.

Must say the tournament thus far - these new maul rules are going to kill the game - every game seems to be decided by teams just mauling for tries and not sure if that is healthy for the game. Reality is now, if you get lineout 5 metres from the tryline, just about a guaranteed try.

The other thing I would say is that the coaches have to be commended for being proactive and going with a 6:2 bench in most games. Tocker on the wing would have been interesting to watch.

South Africa struggled through the 1st half until England nr 7 lost the plot. They will have to be much smarter against France in the final. The backline have enough striking power if they get enough possession.

@grant said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

Must say the tournament thus far - these new maul rules are going to kill the game - every game seems to be decided by teams just mauling for tries and not sure if that is healthy for the game. Reality is now, if you get lineout 5 metres from the tryline, just about a guaranteed try.

U20s catching up on BrumbieBall.

England player sees red in today’s match

@grant said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

Reality is now, if you get lineout 5 metres from the tryline, just about a guaranteed try.

yep
the best way to stop the 5 metre lineout-maul try now is before it even starts
compete at the actual line-out, try for possession, or at the very least mess up the other teams maul set-up
hate it when defending teams dont compete at the lineout in that situation

@Steven-Harris said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

Ok I get that but when it gets to pointy ends at big tournaments your scrum and lineout maul defence is everything

i get it too
but if you want to play that high tempo game you still have to have a competitive set piece
to easy for the other team to prevent you playing that way if you dont
if the other team are dominant at set piece, they are the ones who will decide how the game is to be played

and your set piece does not have to be dominant
just good enough to secure your own put ins, throw wins, and jam a 5 metre maul
achieve that, and it's game on
otherwise you may as well phone in the forfeit when you are at the pointy end

@mohikamo said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

the best way to stop the 5 metre lineout-maul try now is before it even starts
compete at the actual line-out, try for possession, or at the very least mess up the other teams maul set-up
hate it when defending teams dont compete at the lineout in that situation

Agree 100%, especially now when the hooker needs to throw straight if you compete. Stop the lineout at the source.

@W32 said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

England player sees red in today’s match

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Thanks for posting.

What an idiot. Reminiscent of the Eyetie.

Think NZ U20's are going to have their hands full vs England - who until they lost their 7 to a RC, were I thought physically dominating the Boks - they have some massive units in their pack.

Some of the Kiwi players look physically underdeveloped vs some of the units in the European teams - see how clealy the likes of the Top 14/English Premiership sides develop their players skill-wise(in the pack) and physically.

Will they roll out their strongest team again or give some players who haven't played much a game . There's two or three players who haven't featured at all so far

@Kiwidom said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

Will they roll out their strongest team again or give some players who haven't played much a game . There's two or three players who haven't featured at all so far

Would love to see Hughan be given a fair run, haven't been impressed by Sinton personally.

@WoodysRFC Doesn't seem to have much of a running game

Junior Springboks: 15 Alzeadon Felix, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Ethan Adams, 11 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Hendré Schoeman, 8 Wasi Vyambwera, 7 Luke Cannon, 6 Risima Khosa, 5 JD Hattingh, 4 Heinrich Theron, 3 Danie Kruger, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele (captain), 1 Oliver Reid.
Replacements: 16 Liam van Wyk, 17 Rambo Kubheka, 18 Luan van der Berg, 19 Jaythen Orange, 20 Thomas Beling, 21 Gert Kemp, 22 Jayden Brits, 23 Samuel Badenhorst.

Date: Saturday, July 18
Venue: Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi
Kick-off: 18.30 (16.30 GMT)
Referee: Reuben Keane (Australia)
Assistant referees: George Selwood (England), Gonzalo de Achaval (Argentina)
TMO: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)

Giliomee suspended and will miss the final. Big loss.

@OomPB said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

Giliomee suspended and will miss the final. Big loss.

No, not suspended:

@W32 Hope he can play in the final.

@Kiwidom said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

Will they roll out their strongest team again or give some players who haven't played much a game . There's two or three players who haven't featured at all so far

That looks to be what is happening, to some degree. The official website has Hughan and Hewitt starting, Norrie at 1st 5, and the forgotten Jake Hutchings in the reserves.

Unavailable for selection: Mika Muliaina (quadricep strain), David Lewai (illness)

Is Triumph Voice in the squad?

@ARHS He is but hasn't featured at all..if he was injured you would think they would have called up a replacement by now

@ARHS said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

Is Triumph Voice in the squad?

He was also selected for the NZ Schools but didn't play because of injury. Quite the career so far.

@Bovidae said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

@ARHS said in WR U20 Championship 2026:

Is Triumph Voice in the squad?

He was also selected for the NZ Schools but didn't play because of injury. Quite the career so far.

Which is why I asked. Odd? Jinxed?

Great win for the u20s
Cohen Norrie the new Damien Mckenzie with that footwork
Finn McLeod pick of the forwards