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Match-winner Godfrey a key asset for New Zealand U20s ahead of World Championships
Harry Godfrey is remarkably self-effacing given how much he has achieved in his age group rugby career.
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The 20-year-old has already made eight appearances for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby having won the Sir John Graham Memorial Medal as most valuable player of the Super Rugby U20 competition in March.
Godfrey has been a member of the New Zealand U20s for two years and in their most recent test in Wellington helped the Baby Blacks save face against Australia.
Following a shock 34-26 defeat in the first test, New Zealand edged the tenacious Aussies 19-18 in the second rubber at Sky Stadium. Fullback Godfrey had a hand in all three New Zealand tries.
“I just delivered one extra pass. Everything was done for me. All I had to do was walk in our skillful wings,” Godfrey told RugbyPass.
“With us putting a score on Aussie last year they wanted to prove something back. It was nice to play at my home stadium.”
The ability to break the game open from either first five, wing, or fullback makes Godfrey an invaluable asset.
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He was imperious for New Zealand when they won the Oceania Championship in 2022 defeating Australia by a record score of 69-12. He was unsurprised by Australia’s improvement.
“We only had two weeks together when they had about five. We’re still building,” Godfrey said.
Hunterville is a small community on State Highway 1, in the Rangitikei district of the North Island of New Zealand. It is located halfway between Taupo and Wellington and has a population (2018 census) of 408. Welsh international Hadleigh Parkes is their most famous rugby export.
There is a monument in Hunterville paying tribute to Huntaway dogs, a large, strongly built breed of dog used for general sheep-herding tasks. They have a deep bark and are renowned for their durability and work ethic.
Godfrey grew up on a farm and has inherited some of the traits of the town symbol. A boarder at Whanganui Collegiate he played in the First XV for three years and earned New Zealand Secondary Schools selection in 2020.
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He was signed by Hawke’s Bay and in 2022 helped Petone win the Swindale Shield, the first round of the Wellington club rugby competition. He played in six victories and scored 51 points.
“It’s always been my dream to be a rugby player, so I must be disciplined. If there’s a party the night before training, I don’t go or I don’t drink and leave early.
“I’m not too phased where I play at the moment as long as I am on the paddock. I’m enjoying all the learning.”
New Zealand opens their World Rugby U20 Championship campaign against Wales. New Zealand has beaten Wales seven times in nine matches, but Godfrey expects a compelling challenge.
“They enjoy their set piece, scrum, and lineout. It’s a different style of rugby, more kicking, so we’ll have to be ready in that department and balance the way we play,” he said.
“We like to attack from anywhere, even our own 22, but we might have to adapt on the run.”
Ireland won the Under 20 Six Nations Grand Slam while defending World Champions France was second. Hosts South Africa have won 10 matches in a row since 2019. Is the opposition better prepared?
“Our coaches get the film that we have access to, so we have some knowledge of how the opposition plays,” Godfrey said.
“It’s cool how they play together for a while, and we just rock up. It’s different but we back ourselves.”
Godfrey picked the Chiefs to win the Super Rugby final and identified Daniel Carter and Beauden Barrett as his favourite players.
New Zealand’s World Rugby U20 Championship pool fixtures (date/time in NZST):
Wales U20 v New Zealand U20, Monday 26 June at 2.00AM
France U20 v New Zealand U20, Thursday 29 June at 11.30PM
New Zealand U20 v Japan U20, Thursday 6 July at 2.00AM
Comments on RugbyPass
1 week for two cynical and dirty plays? Absolutely pathetic punishment. He should’ve at least received 2 weeks - 1 week per trip. The guy is a cheating moron and liability. He should go back to league.
2 Go to commentsTest rugby is different level Some players are just big time players when the stakes are high they play better. The boks often lost to AUS on tour as they wanted to beat AB. Even at school level this is the case where some guys play better in tough games.
41 Go to commentsLet’s hope he misses more than just the Force game or the Reds won’t get very far in the finals.
2 Go to commentsThanks Nick. I’m looking at the other 7 options in Australia and they don’t seem to be close behind Fraser at the moment? Even before reading this I thought he was well ahead. A random one - Slipper and Allalatoa seem to be getting well beaten in the scrum. I can’t remember this happening often before. Is it a technique/teamwork issue or are their bodies finally past it?
12 Go to commentsNZ is now entrenched in Div 2 of womens rugby. Canada would be thrashed by the likes of France or England. Europe are Div 1, with massive competitions, massive money…
2 Go to commentsBlackadder dies not deserve selection. He has not played enough games. Finau is just better. Kaino's replacement at Blindside On form TJ should be the starting 9 .
127 Go to commentsThe difference is Cotter..
6 Go to commentsThey can’t handle the level of comp in the NH. Pollard was a complete waste at Montpellier - and was the backup 12 when he left. Kitschoff was stealing his paycheque every week at Ulster,- getting absolutely rinsed by backup THs in the URC. There is a reason all the Boks go to Japan - they don’t have it in them to be able to compete. And yes, they won the RWC. Where Barnes and O'Keeffe were the direct reason for that tragedy occurring.
41 Go to commentsTrouble with Jones is he has so many impractical innovations. Kemeney wasn't good enough in any position for top level test rugby. I like how Vern has Papalii playing. He's always had the workrate when in form, although I'm not sure that he quite has Cane's mongrel.
12 Go to commentsPut those results on the old CV and send it in to the crusaders bro.
1 Go to commentsJust go with a top 6 system where the top 2 teams go straight to the semi-finals and the other 4 teams fight it out for the other 2 semi-final spots.
8 Go to commentsIt’s a shame that Baxter wasn’t nominated for DoR of the season. what he did is more impressive than McCall imo
1 Go to commentsSeveral boks said during World Cup they play so hard to give people back home hope. As an Englishman the Springboks Captain’s life story is an inspiration which should give us all hope and inspiration. Rather like that other great South African, Nelson Mandela
41 Go to commentsFox News, Tucker Carlson, Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan? Yikes.
1 Go to commentsThat is harsh though. Messi has/had a reputation for trying to keep his feet and keep dribbling for goal. Many of his brethren were the histrionic divers but not him.
2 Go to commentsMcReight is certainly one of the first picked. He’s going to be the glue, a Wallaby with some rugby IQ and the everywhere man for the Wallabies.
12 Go to commentsSophie De Goede is one of the best players we’ve ever produced. Kicked all the points, 2 try assists, line out takes, carries, tackles, charge downs… what a player
1 Go to commentsThe guy had just beasted himself in a scrum and the blood hadn't yet returned to his head when he was pushed into a team mate. He took his weight off his left foot precisely at the moment he was shoved and dropped to the floor when seemingly trying to avoid stepping on Hyron Andrews’ foot. I don't think he was trying to milk a penalty, I think he was knackered but still switched on enough to avoid planting 120kgs on the dorsum of his second row’s foot. To effectively “police” such incidents with a (noble) view to eradicating play acting in rugby, yet more video would need to be reviewed in real time, which is not in the interest of the game as a sporting spectacle. I would far rather see Farrell penalised for interfering with the refereeing of the game. Perhaps he was right to be frustrated, he was much closer to the action than the only camera angle I've seen, however his vocal objection to Rodd’s falling over doesn't legitimately fall into the captain's role as the mouthpiece of his team - he should have kept his frustration to himself, that's one of the pillars of rugby union. I appreciate that he was within his rights to communicate with the referee as captain but he didn't do this, he moaned and attempted to sway the decision by directing his complaint to the player rather than the ref. Rugby needs to look closely at the message it wants to send to young players and amateur grassroots rugby. The best way to do this would be to apply the laws as they are written and edit them where the written laws no longer apply. If this means deleting laws such as ‘the put in to the scrum must be straight”, so be it. Likewise, if it is no longer necessary to respect the referee’s decision without questioning it or pre-emptively attempting to sway it (including by diving or by shouting and gesticulating) then this behaviour should be embraced (and commercialised). Otherwise any reference to respecting the referee should be deleted from the laws. You have to start somewhere to maintain the values of rugby and the best place to start would be giving a penalty and a warning against the offending player, followed by a yellow card the next time. People like Farrell would rapidly learn to keep quiet and let their skills do the talking.
1 Go to commentsThe name “Kwagga” came to mind while I was reading this. And there’s another Sevens convert roaming the wide open kant at the Lions now - JC Pretorius. Keep an eye on him.
12 Go to comments2024 Rugby Championship: Sat, 10 Aug 2024 – Sat, 28 Sept 2024. Looking forward to watching the All Blacks coached by Scott Robertson, with or without the ‘dynamic’ qualities of Shannon Michael Frizell - see his display against South Africa at Go Media Mount Smart Stadium on July 15.
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