New Zealand U20 make five changes to starting team for bronze final

New Zealand U20 head coach Kane Jury has named his matchday 23 to face England in the Junior World Championship bronze match.

There are five changes to the starting team, with prop Alex Hewitt promoted to start at tighthead and Finn McLeod joining in the second row; the rest of the forward pack remains unchanged. In the backline, Jackson Hughan has come in at halfback, with Lautasi Etuale added on the wing and Logan Williams at fullback.

New Zealand emerges from a dramatic semi-final loss to France with an injury to first-five Mika Muliaina, pushing Cohen Norie into No.10 from fullback, and an illness to left winger David Lewai.

Coach Jury said: “A big part of our campaign has been learning to focus on the moment and the task in front of us, and that’s what we’ve done this week. It’s an important match, and we’re motivated to finish off the campaign with performance that reflects the effort and care the players have put into the tournament.”

New Zealand U20 team to play England

1. Henry Stuart (Highlanders/Otago)
2. Josh Findlay (Crusaders/Canterbury)
3. Alex Hewitt (Hurricanes/Wellington)
4. Finn McLeod (Crusaders/Canterbury)
5. Jake Frost (Crusaders/Canterbury)
6. Bradley Tocker (Chiefs/Taranaki)
7. Caleb Woodley (vc) (Blues/Auckland)
8. Patrick Mauga (Hurricanes/Hawke’s Bay)
9. Jackson Hughan (Highlanders/Southland)
10. Cohen Norrie (Blues/Auckland)
11. Lautasi Etuale (Crusaders/Canterbury)
12. Haki Wiseman (c) (Chiefs/Taranaki)
13. Siale Pahulu (Blues/Auckland)
14. Ollie Guerin (Chiefs/Waikato)
15. Logan Williams (Crusaders/Canterbury)

Reserves
16. Xavier Leota (Blues/Auckland)
17. Ethan Webber (Highlanders/Otago)
18. Dane Johnston (Chiefs/Taranaki)
19. Max Fale (Crusaders/Canterbury)
20. Micah Fale (Chiefs/Waikato)
21. Charlie Sinton (vc) (Chiefs/Bay of Plenty) – Vice Captain
22. Jimmy Taylor (Highlanders / Southland)
23. Jake Hutchings (Blues/Auckland)

Unavailable for selection: Mika Muliaina (quadricep strain), David Lewai (illness)