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Junior Wallabies name side for ‘exciting’ opener at U20 Championships
Following a series of impressive performances in warmup games against New Zealand U20 and the Australian Barbarians, the Junior Wallabies have confirmed their side to open their World Rugby U20 Championship campaign against Fiji.
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The Junior Wallabies shocked the rugby world last month when they travelled across the ditch to face their old foes the Baby Blacks – winning the first match by eight points in Wellington.
While they weren’t able to go back-to-back in the other clash at Sky Stadium later that week, Australia showed plenty of fight, potential and passion in the thrilling one-point loss.
Playmaker Harry McLaughlin-Phillips starred in the green and gold strip against the Australian Barbarians in Sydney last week, as the Junior Wallabies ran away with a 92-17 win.
This team will genuinely believe that they can do what no Junior Wallabies side before them has ever done – and that’s winning the U20 Championship.
McLaughlin-Phillips has been rewarded for his sensational outing, with coach Nathan Grey selecting the young Queensland Reds talent in the No. 10 jersey to take on Fiji U20.
McLaughlin-Phillips will partner ACT Brumbies halfback Klayton Thorn in the halves.
#OPINION After more than 20 years of Bledisloe Cup pain, there’s a golden light at the end of the tunnel for the #Wallabies.
✍️ @FinnMorton5 #BledisloeCup #RugbyWorldCup2023 #rugby #SuperRugbyPacific #JuniorWallabies https://t.co/db8v7OFTsM— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 30, 2023
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With team captain Teddy Wilson set to come off the bench at Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday, Reds flanker Nick Baker will lead the team out in their tournament opener.
“After a long build-up and three good hit-outs prior to arriving in South Africa, it’s exciting for the 23 players named to have their first opportunity to pull on the gold jersey at the tournament,” coach Nathan Grey said in a statement.
“With five games in the next four weeks, and each game having a five-day turnaround, it’s critical that all our players get an opportunity to get accustomed to the conditions and combinations.
“The training week has been excellent with the squad enjoying an opposed session against Georgia, which helped to sharpen the focus for Saturday’s challenge.
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“While the wet and heavy conditions in Cape Town will have an impact, we are still intent on delivering our style of rugby against Fiji.”
Western Force prop Marley Pearce joins Brumbies hooker Liam Bowron and Reds tighthead Nick Bloomfield in a formidable front row.
Brumbies lock Toby MacPherson partners Rebels talent Daniel Maiava in the second row to complete the Junior Wallabies’ tight five.
Captain Nick Baker starts at openside, while the Brumbies’ Lachlan Hooper and Rebels backrower Leafi Talataina complete the loose forward trio.
Outside the halves pairing of Thorn and McLaughlin-Phillips, David Vaihu joins Reds centre Taj Annan in the midfield. Annan has been sensational in Super Rugby Pacific for the Queenslanders.
Australian sevens ace and Melbourne Rebels recruit Darby Lancaster has been named on the left wing, while try-scoring machine Ronan Leahy is set to start on the right.
Rising star Mason Gordon will run out in the No. 15 jersey.
The Junior Wallabies take on Fiji U20 at 12.30 am AEST on Sunday morning (4.30 pm SAST on Saturday) at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.
Junior Wallabies to take on Fiji U20
- Marley Pearce
- Liam Bowron
- Nick Bloomfield
- Toby Macpherson
- Daniel Maiava
- Lachlan Hooper
- Nick Baker (c)
- Leafi Talataina
- Klayton Thorn
- Harry McLaughlin-Phillips
- Darby Lancaster
- David Vaihu
- Taj Annan
- Ronan Leahy
- Mason Gordon
Replacements:
- Harrison Usher
- Max Craig
- Trevor King
- Ollie McCrea
- Ned Slack-Smith
- Teddy Wilson
- Jack Bowen
- Henry O’Donnell
Comments on RugbyPass
Skelton may be brought back for the Wallabies so that would be the only reason that may hinder Wilson. Easily the form, most skilful and game IQ of any Oz 8. Valentini’s best and favourite position is 6, but lineouts may be an issue with Skelton, Valentini and Wilson. Will be interesting what Schmidt goes for but for me Wilson should be picked on form. Schmidt rewards work rate, skill and consistency. All that glitters every so often won’t be in contention. Greely is one of those players that has a knack of making the right decision. A coach is going to love him because he knows week in week out he’s going to get the job done. The second try Greely wasn’t the guy who made the initial break it was Flook, Greely was at the bottom of the ruck when Flook was off along the sideline. Greely got up and made the effort to catch up with play but also read the play nicely and hit the pass from Campbell at pace and then held the pass beautifully to Ryan.
6 Go to commentsSpot on Ben. Dead right. Havili looked great at 10. Easily the highest rugby IQ of any NZ player these days. Getting a kick charged down is a result of getting used to adjusting your depth to the line at 10, which he will sort out with time. But other than that it was an outstanding first effort in that position this year. I think the NZ media has misunderstood this directive from Razor. Havili might rank behind B Barrett this year, but Beuden is 33 this month and won't last much longer. DMaC is great but flaky and not really a test match animal (his efforts in Dunedin versus Aus last year for example). If Razor can't have Mounga, DMaC is too unstructured for Razor (and is just too small for test rugby). Havili will end up our first choice first five, and in partnership with Jodie will be excellent. Two triple threat operators in tandem, and big bodies and tough tacklers to boot. Jordoe will be the ABs goal kicker. I am an Aucklander and Blues (and Warriors) fan, but Havili at 10 is going to be sensational in time… he can be the best first five in the world by the end of this year. No question.
6 Go to commentsSharks deserved to be far further back by the last quarter. Their tackling was awful, their set pieces were disappointing, their defensive organization was poor (especially on the Kok side of the D line), they kept making unnecessary errors, and they never looked like cracking the Clermont defense during those first 60m. Masuku kept them in touch, with some help from the Clermont generosity on penalty opportunities. Agree with the writer of this article. It was belligerence, and ability to raise their pressure game just enough, that turned the last quarter into a Bok-style shutout. Clermont have a reputation of not playing the full 80m, and there was a bit of that for sure. But, quite often when the intensity of a team drops off in the last quarter credit is due to the opponent for tiring them out. At 60m, with the Kok try, you thought that just maybe the game was on. At 70m, with the Mapimpi contribution, one felt that Clermont were fading, while facing a team that would maintain the pressure game through the final whistle. Good win in the end, but the Sharks are still playing way below their potential. And with their resources, and a coach that has had enough time to figure things out, they are running out of excuses.
6 Go to commentsGood riddance
1 Go to commentswel the crusaders were beaten by a queensland reds side that hadnt beaten them at home since 1999 and queensland reds partied like it was 1999
6 Go to commentsHard to disagree with the 5 points - with the exception that Wilson should be a squad member but, depending on the other loose forward selections, is not yet a shoo-in. McReight is. Aussie is looking a lot better this year and JS has some selection options. Also, Havili’s tendency to get caught, charged down is also a liability at times but he seemed focused (mostly) and is definitely a consideration for utility back-up. Still feel Reihana is a better prospect at 1st five for Saders.
6 Go to commentsYeah nah, still not sure on Havili tbh. Even though I’m a Crusaders fan through and through I’d be stunned if Razor considers him after seeing some of the stunning talent coming through up North.
6 Go to commentsThink it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
1 Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
6 Go to commentsA great game. The Sharks without Etsebeth are a shadow of the team compared to when he plays. The limitations of Some of the expensive Sharks players are being exposed. Credit to Clermont for some exhilaration play at times.
6 Go to comments100% Mr Owens. But who would want to be a referee.? It must be the most difficult job on earth.
1 Go to commentsStarts to be overdone and oversold this systematic SA narrative…which nevertheless has the merit in this case to recognise blatant refereeing mistakes in their favor
6 Go to commentsNice article. Shades of Steinbeck. They can win the final if they take the game seriously; but only if they take it seriously.
6 Go to commentsWhat a sad way to end a glittering career. Somebody should tell him to delete his social media accounts and face the consequences of what he's done. Then he should slip away quietly into obscurity. This isn't likely to happen, something tells me he'll be back in The Sun / Daily Mail sooner rather than later.
5 Go to commentsguys its fine! he understands why he did what he did and has taken accountability for it; why should he have to be accountable to a court? after all he did was abuse people in person - its not as if he was engaging in _online_ abuse!
5 Go to commentsChiefs flanker Kaylum Boshier yellow-carded for collapsing the scrum as it rolled towards the line. It was a maul….
1 Go to commentsyou know, i’m a leinster fan so I want Northampton to lose and it is gonna be tuff with Cortney lawes, Alex michell and the other guys🏉 lets go leinster🏉
1 Go to commentsWelcome to the Pro ranks. Those hard teams of old do hit the sole better though. its a dog fight at the top.
6 Go to commentsCan someone fill me in please, I've read a number of Ben Smith articles now and it seems he's got something again South Africa? Surely, this game was over and done with 7 months ago. Can't we have something a bit more interesting and relevant, or is this the calibre of journalist on this site?
238 Go to commentsNot sure what the Welsh are moaning about. They’ve had far more players off England, than England have had off Wales. Guys like Josh Hathaway and Kane James will play for Wales in the end. And they’ll be fsr better players for having played in the Gallagher Premiership, than they ever would have been had they stayed mired in the shambles that is Welsh rugby.
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