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No Caleb Clarke, no Etene Nanai. But sevens playmaker Vilimoni Koroi is in.
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The New Zealand Under 20s fly to Australia today to prepare for the looming Oceania Rugby Under 20 Championship. It will serve as a valuable lead-in to their defence of the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in the south of France from late May to June.
In a powerful-looking side laden with talent that permeated the 2016 and 2017 NZ Schools teams, the brilliant Koroi, who should line up in the back three for this team, will clearly not play the final two World Series Sevens tournaments for New Zealand, in London and Paris in early June. However, the situation surrounding Clarke, 19, and Nanai, 18, is not so clearcut.
Clarke is recovering from appendicitis, which removed him from Commonwealth Games sevens calculations, while he is also fully contracted to the ailing Blues in Super Rugby. That franchise’s final match before the June window is the June 2 Blues v Rebels at Eden Park.
Anything can happen, given the Blues already have 18 players out of action.
Last year Jordie Barrett stayed with the Hurricanes rather than going with the New Zealand Under 20s. He ended up winning an All Blacks debut during June.
“Caleb is eligible for the World Cup. We got him to come along on Saturday, just to have lunch with the boys and sit in on some of our meetings. He’s in our selection frame, but there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge on that one, so it’s too hard to comment further,” says NZ Under 20s head coach Craig Philpott.
Nanai, also known as Nanai-Seturo, has had a big year. Originally the subject of an unseemly tug-of- war between New Zealand Rugby and the Warriors, he was cleared for rugby, impressing for the All Blacks Sevens, dropped from the Commonwealth Games squad, then winning a reprieve and clinching a gold medal just eight days ago. He is with the All Blacks Sevens in Singapore, ahead of this week’s tournament.
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“We certainly considered him. He’s fulltime in sevens, as is Vili, but Etene is a year young, whereas with Vili, this is his (final opportunity with the U20s). Etene is still in the frame for the World Cup. Historically the sevens programme and our programme have worked quite separately. Now we are trying to see how we can help other. Vili is a great example of that,” says Philpott.
Some of the squad have already been on ITCs (interim training contracts) with Super Rugby franchises, and Philpott has already seen the benefits with several of his young charges. A shoulder operation ruled out 2017 prop Tim Farrell, while Taranaki loose forward Bradley Slater, son of Andy, has a back injury which has precluded him from the Oceania tournament. Others may yet come back into the World Cup frame.
While New Zealand should have little trouble with Tonga and Fiji, Australia may be more cagey in what should be the Oceania decider, as the Junior Wallabies are in the same World Cup pool as the Kiwis.
New Zealand squad for Oceania Rugby Under 20 Championship:
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Forwards: Rob Cobb, John Akau’ola-Laula, Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, Hoskins Sotutu (Auckland), Tevita Mafileo (Bay of Plenty), Tom Christie (c), Will Tucker (Canterbury), Sue Asomua (Counties Manukau), Devan Flanders, Will Tremain (Hawke’s Bay), Sione Asi (Manawatu), Ricky Jackson (Otago), Flynn Thomas (Southland), Tom Florence (Taranaki), Laghlan McWhannell (Waikato), Kaliopasi Uluilakepa (Wellington).
Backs: Harry Plummer, Tanielu Tele’a (Auckland), Kaleb Trask (Bay of Plenty), Ngane Punivai (Canterbury), Vilimoni Koroi (Otago), Jay Renton (Southland), Ciarahn Matoe (Taranaki), Leicester Faingaanuku, Will Jordan (Tasman), Bailyn Sullivan, Xavier Roe (Waikato), Carlos Price, Billy Proctor (Wellington).
Schedule (Bond University, Gold Coast):
Friday April 27: New Zealand v Tonga
Tuesday May 1: New Zealand v Fiji
Saturday May 5: New Zealand v Australia
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
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