It's time for a rethink for the New Zealand U20s after another low finish
The New Zealand Under 20s are in the doldrums. At the World Rugby Championship in South Africa, they finished in seventh place with a 50-26 win over Georgia U20 after suffering their heaviest loss in tournament history to France (14-35) and then conceding their highest score against Australia (44) in another loss.
It’s the second consecutive tournament that New Zealand have contested a lowly consolation fixture. Since winning the first four World Championships between 2008 and 2011, New Zealand has only won twice since 2015 and has missed the semis three times in the last five tournaments.
It should be noted New Zealand played an hour against the Junior Wallabies with 14 men after Tom Allen was red-carded. However, the ‘Baby Blacks’ were no certainties of winning with a full complement after splitting a home series with Australia in June where they were outscored across two Tests.
Against the defending world champions France, the Kiwis looked out of their depth.
Does success at this tournament really matter? The fact that 913 players, including 64 All Blacks, have become internationals from it resoundingly answers that question.
Sam Whitelock, Codie Taylor, Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane, Beauden Barrett, Waisake Naholo, and TJ Perenara are just some of the long-term All Blacks to have graduated from the Under 20 World Championship.
Furthermore, it’s no coincidence as Ireland and France’s results have improved at the Under 20 level so too has the fortunes of their senior teams.
Senior World Cup-winning All Blacks coach Sir Steve Hansen observed in the New Zealand Herald recently.
“Our high-performance department at the moment has to be squirming at our record at under-20 level. Are we getting that business, right? I don’t think so. If we’re not winning under-20 World Cups, we’re not producing world-class players at a younger level to bring into this team [the All Blacks].”
It hasn’t been all doom and gloom in the talent department. Taha Kemara (First-Five), Macca Springer (Wing), Harry Godfrey (Fullback), and Peter Lakai (Flanker) are all individuals who’ve shown they could be very good in the senior ranks. The quartet all debuted in Super Rugby in 2023.
However, New Zealand’s set-piece implosions and failure to measure up physically have been alarming. Without tough and regular age group competition, New Zealand looks comparatively disorganised and undercooked against Northern Hemisphere opposition.
Geographical isolation, worsened by recent Covid lockdowns, is a barrier that disproportionately disadvantages New Zealand. Since when, though, has New Zealand used the excuse of being at the bottom of the world for not being able to achieve?
New Zealand needs to rethink how it resources and prepares its leading age group talent, otherwise where will the next generation of stars come from?
The biggest issue appears to be the lack of hard, regular rugby. Combinations look cluttered, different styles appear unfamiliar, and impressive fitness scores in the gym don’t equal battle-hardened athletes.
Why don’t the New Zealand Under 20s take a leaf out of the Black Ferns book and play internal matches against men? Invitational teams, provincial unions, club sides, and a proper season of matches, following the Super Rugby Under 20s, could surely improve outcomes.
All Blacks legends Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Ali Williams, Ben Smith, and Kevin Mealamu all helped the Black Ferns in their positions. Daniel Carter taught the kickers and Sir Graham Henry cast his eye over trainings and the girls flourished.
Stronger mentoring programs are required with a particular emphasis on forward play, the style of which is often the antithesis of the New Zealand approach. The expertise of Mike Cron, Jason Ryan, and the like should be summoned.
In the NPC last year there were 183 players who debuted for the Union which they represented aged 20 years or younger. Why don’t the New Zealand Under 20s compete in the NPC?
The NPC is largely a development competition now with 2022 finalists Wellington and Canterbury having a combined 38 players in their squads who debuted at 20 or younger. Wellington won the competition with 13 of their 33 players born in 2000 or after.
Junior sides competing in senior competitions isn’t without precedent. The Wellington Phoenix Reserves for example compete in the Central and National football leagues.
Running the New Zealand Under 20s like an NPC team would create better continuity and opportunity for those competing at the World Cup and help really good prospects assimilate more successfully into a senior professional environment.
The team could be coached full-time and include an overarching mentoring role. Present coach Clark Laidlaw was previously tied up with the All Blacks Sevens for the best part of a decade. Is he as immersed as he could be in our best young XV’s prospects?
The team should take their home games to small unions and rural venues to provide isolated and disconnected grassroots fans a chance to watch quality rugby.
Unfortunately, the tumbling numbers and financial struggles of rugby clubs are complex issues not easily resolved. Weaker clubs mean fewer players and fewer pathways.
Club rugby might not be an adequate preparation ground for the rigorous of the Under 20 World Championship, but it’s better than younger players not playing at all.
The present model seems to involve the best youngsters playing a smattering of club fixtures before being wrapped in cotton wool for several weeks, playing the odd game among themselves, ticking some Academy boxes, and then getting dispatched overseas to get their butts kicked.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments