New Zealand U20 make three changes for Scotland

New Zealand U20 have welcomed back No.8 Patrick Mauga for round 2 of the Junior World Championship, which will see them face Scotland U20.

The team won an opening-round match against Japan that was cut short due to nearby lightning strikes, with the scoreline of 38-21 when the game was abandoned after 66 minutes submitted as the final result.

The Baby Blacks’ opponents also scored 38 points in their opening-round win over Italy, conceding 32 points to give New Zealand the top seed in the pool one third of the way through the pool stages.

In addition to Mauga’s return from a short-term injury, New Zealand has moved Ethan Webber into the starting tighthead prop role and Cohen Norrie into the fullback position he starred in during the U20 Rugby Championship. The pair replace Dane Johnston and Logan Williams, respectively, who will both line up on the bench against Scotland.

Loose forward Kobe Brownlee has been named in the No.23 jersey, giving the team a 6/2 bench split.

“We’ve gone with an extra loose forward on our bench because we expect a tough battle around the field from a very good Scotland team that showed against Italy they have threats across the park,” New Zealand U20 head coach Kane Jury explained.

“The first up match against Japan was valuable to get into the tournament against a competitive opponent and in difficult conditions. It was a great reminder that you can’t take anything for granted in this tournament and we’ll need to be disciplined and clinical against Scotland.”

Fixture

World Rugby U20 Championship

New Zealand U20

36 - 26

Full-time

Scotland U20

All Stats and Data

New Zealand U20 team to play Scotland

1. Henry Stuart (Highlanders/Otago)
2. Josh Findlay (Crusaders/Canterbury)
3. Ethan Webber (Highlanders/Otago)
4. Max Fale (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. Charlie Sinton (vc) (Chiefs/Bay of Plenty)
10. Mika Muliaina (Highlanders/Southland)
11. David Lewai (Chiefs/Waikato
12. Haki Wiseman (c) (Chiefs/Taranaki)
13. Siale Pahulu (Blues/Auckland)
14. Kele Lasaqa (Chiefs/Bay of Plenty)
15. Cohen Norrie (Blues/Auckland)
    

Reserves

16. Alani Fakava (Hurricanes/Manawat?)
17. Dane Johnston (Chiefs/Taranaki)
18. Alex Hewitt (Hurricanes/Wellington)
19. Johnny Falloon (Hurricanes/Wellington)
20. Micah Fale (Chiefs/Waikato)
21. Jackson Hughan (Highlanders/Southland)
22. Logan Williams (Crusaders/Canterbury)
23. Kobe Brownlee (Crusaders/Tasman)