26 - 23

Baby Blacks change five for massive U20s clash with champions France

275 days ago

New Zealand players during their match day one anthem last Saturday in Athlone (Photo by Thinus Maritz/World Rugby)

New Zealand boss Jono Gibbes has named a Baby Blacks side to face France showing five changes from match day one at the World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa. The Kiwis got the show on the road with a 41-34 Pool A win over Wales at Athlone last Saturday and they have now changed three forwards and two backs for their eagerly anticipated clash with the French.

It was in match day two at last year’s tournament when France stole a march, comprehensively defeating New Zealand 35-14 in Paarl. They went on to win the title, their third in succession at U20s, while the Baby Blacks, with Clark Laidlaw at the helm of the class of 2023, finished down the rankings in seventh.

Sifting through the match day two changes to the forwards for the French rematch in Stellenbosch, 2024 boss Gibbes has promoted Logan Watson-Wallace as the starting tighthead with Joshua Smith dropping to the bench.

HITS, BUMPS AND HANDOFFS! | The biggest collisions from the U20s World Championships

Video Player is loading.

Current Time 0:00

Duration 14:30

Loaded: 0%

Stream Type LIVE

Remaining Time 14:30

HITS, BUMPS AND HANDOFFS! | The biggest collisions from the U20s World Championships

In the back row, Andrew Smith and Mosese Bason have been chosen to respectively start at blindside and No8 with Tai Cribb missing out and Matt Lowe switching to the bench.

Out the back, the two starting line-up alterations are in the back three with Isaac Hutchinson at full-back in place of the benched Sam Coles while Xavier Tito-Harris, a replacement the last day versus the Welsh, takes over on the right wing from Frank Vaenuku.

Fixture

World Rugby U20 Championship

France U20

26 - 27

Full-time

New Zealand U20

All Stats and Data

New Zealand (vs France, Thursday): 1. Will Martin, 2. Vernon Bason (capt), 3. Logan Watson-Wallace, 4. Tom Allen, 5. Liam Jack, 6. Andrew Smith, 7. Jonathan Lee, 8. Mosese Bason; 9. Dylan Pledger, 10. Rico Simpson; 11. Stanley Solomon, 12. Xavi Taele, 13. Aki Tuivailala, 14. Xavier Tito-Harris; 15. Isaac Hutchinson. Reps: 16. Manumaua Letiu, 17. Sika Uamaki, 18. Joshua Smith, 19. Cameron Christie, 20. Matt Lowe, 21. Ben O’Donovan, 22. Sam Coles, 23. King Maxwell.

Click here to sign up to RugbyPass TV for free live coverage of matches from the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship in countries that don’t have an exclusive local host broadcaster deal

Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

Argentina v France | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Men's Match Highlights

New Zealand v Australia | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Women's Match Highlights

Tokyo Sungoliath vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Reds vs Force | Super Rugby W 2025 | Full Match Replay

The Rise of Kenya | The Report

New Zealand in Hong Kong | Brady Rush | Sevens Wonders | Episode 4

The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

Comments

2 Comments

Andrew 275 days ago

Whats happened to Malachi Wrampling? He looked unstoppable in the Aussie tournament

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Latest Features

LONG READ

Munster-ROG reunion a ‘love story’ but no return likely for La Rochelle boss

Munster and La Rochelle have "given him the most in rugby", but Ronan O'Gara has no plans to return home soon.

LONG READ

Mick Cleary: 'Can we have our Champions Cup back, please?'

A game between two three-time winners of the Champions Cup should whet the appetite of fans but Saracens' weakened side risks its credibility

LONG READ

Why NZR's Ineos settlement may be the most important victory they'll enjoy this year

The decision by Ineos to renege on a lucrative six-year deal was looking like having a catastrophic impact on NZRU's finances

Comments on RugbyPass

OJohn 16 minutes ago

Can Samoa and Tonga ever become contenders when their top talent is skimmed?

And a few Australians too ……

17 Go to comments

Janie Eish 31 minutes ago

Maro Itoje hits back at England critics over repeated claim

MY HERPES STORY AND HOW I WAS CUREDFor years, I struggled with the emotional and physical burden of the herpes virus, believing I would have to live with it forever. I tried countless treatments, medications, and therapies, but nothing seemed to bring lasting relief. It felt like a battle with no end in sight until I discovered a natural remedy that changed everything (herbs). Skeptical at first, I decided to give it a try, and to my surprise, I started noticing improvements in my overall well-being within two days of taking the medication. With consistency as prescribed by the herbal doctor, I felt healthier, more energized, and free from the symptoms that had once controlled my life. After completing the treatment, (14days) I visited my doctor for confirmation, and I was overjoyed with the results. I tested negative. I was cured from my HSV1&2This experience has given me back my confidence, peace of mind, and a renewed sense of hope. If you or someone you know is struggling with herpes or other health concerns like HPV, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, PCOS, or hepatitis, know that there are alternative options available and you will be cured. For those seeking a natural approach to wellness, I encourage you to explore this path with an open mind. You never know how life-changing it might be. Just if you want to reach out, you can contact: Email: dr.awaseherbalhome@ gmail. com WhatsApp: +2349074997110

1 Go to comments

DP 53 minutes ago

The raw data that proves Super Rugby Pacific is currently a cut above

Hi all. Thanks for commenting. JD is right: the headline is not mine. My headline was what ended up as the first sentence: “Why is Super Rugby Pacific so exciting this season?”. I am certainly not claiming that teams from one competition are better than the teams from another. This type of discussion is entirely subjective (as the teams do not play each other, and even with the players face each other in their national teams, it is in different systems, conditions, etc.). The season being exciting has nothing to do how well the Wallabies will do against the Lions, or against New Zealand.

My sole purpose here was to try explore quantitatively a ‘qualitative’ impression (that the season is exciting).

On Graham’s point about extreme results skewing the results, and Ed’s comment on removing outliers, this is precisely why I report the median values as well as the averages. The median is not skewed by outliers. If the margins of 5 games are 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10 points, the median margin is 5. If there was one blowout and the margins were 3, 4, 5, 8 and 57 points, the median margin is still 5.

19 Go to comments

Head high tackle 57 minutes ago

Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Price, venue, Hosting only done by 1 country, Profits going mostly to one country. Done in Perth…Furtherest away from NZ. Nothing works for NZR there Spew. NZR could host a Nth v Sth and make more money.

59 Go to comments

Head high tackle 59 minutes ago

Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

That test is on the way into the NH EOYTs. Its got a perfect window and effects no other comp at all. Very very different.

59 Go to comments

Head high tackle 1 hour ago

Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Whats wrong with 4 matches between Aus and NZ SR sides? I think perhaps we just dont need more matches when we already have 5 on that weekend. I see no need for a test match in the middle of a domestic comp and I see far less need for one that only benifits 1 of the two participating sides.

59 Go to comments

Head high tackle 1 hour ago

Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

I think you are reading way too much into a game Spew.

59 Go to comments

DP 1 hour ago

The raw data that proves Super Rugby Pacific is currently a cut above

Hi NB. I will probably include the Premiership if I repeat the analysis at the end of the season. I had limited time now, and the change of format (with teams disappearing mid-season, etc.) made it difficult to automate the analysis.

19 Go to comments

Head high tackle 1 hour ago

Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

Ireland players wouldnt win a 1/4 final at a WC either so who cares what Ireland players would or wouldnt do. NZR took that match to Chicago to reward their sponsors.

59 Go to comments

DP 1 hour ago

The raw data that proves Super Rugby Pacific is currently a cut above

Thanks Ed, much appreciated.

There are many factors that could each partly explain what we are seeing this season in SRP (redistribution of talent, sped-up games, etc.). It makes it difficult to ensure that it stays like this, but I agree it would be nice if it could.

19 Go to comments

DP 1 hour ago

The raw data that proves Super Rugby Pacific is currently a cut above

Hi RedWarriors,

I agree that excitement and quality are not the same thing (I did not pick the title), but my focus was on trying to understand what drives the excitement beyond just looking at the margins.

The analysis is not based on 7 games. It is based on 7 rounds (34 games). For a 16-round competition, it is not a small sample.

And for previous seasons, it is including all regular-season games.

19 Go to comments

Head high tackle 1 hour ago

Rugby down under could have hit high gear with Anzac Tests

The money was very unequal, the hosting rights very unequal, the travel unequal. Absolutely nothing WAS equal. Thats why it aint happening I suppose.

59 Go to comments