1
The promising Australia U20 vintage we may never get to see
The Australia U20 side were one of the surprise outfits at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Argentina last year, making it all the way to the final.
ADVERTISEMENT
They ultimately fell to defeat to a strong French side, although it was a highly promising campaign from the Junior Wallabies, whose fortunes at this level had previously been dwindling for a number of years.
They saw off Italy, Ireland and Argentina on their way to a one-point loss to France in the final and contrary to recent seasons when the side have looked outmuscled and outskilled by a number of Tier 1 sides at the competition, it was an Australian team packed with potential contributors at the next level.
Head coach Jason Gilmore put together a training camp squad earlier this year, before the COVID-19 outbreak curtailed the age-grade season, and last year’s runners looked to be in solid shape to compete again for the title in 2020, when the tournament was set to be hosted in Italy.
The quintet of Angus Bell, Will Harris, Carlo Tizzano, Joey Walton and Mark Nawaqanitawase (all Waratahs) return from last season’s squad, although they were retained by the Waratahs ahead of the 2020 Super Rugby season, with all five potentially in the mix for senior selection. Nawaqanitawase was the most involved before the suspension of the season, with the young wing proving to be a handful for Super Rugby defences. Another player that was retained by their club was fly-half Reesjan Pasitoa, with the Brumbies having seen off significant NRL interest to keep him in union and lure him to Canberra out of school.
Pocock's replacement may have just stepped onto the world stage.
– writes @alexshawsport 👨🏻💼 #WorldRugbyU20 #U20s https://t.co/U4558qRcJn
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 4, 2019
The squad was heavily built around the Australian Schoolboys side from 2019 that beat New Zealand, securing Australia a rare double over New Zealand at U18 and U20 level. Pasitoa was one of the leading men in that impressive effort and has since made his senior Brumbies debut at the age of 18.
With strong representation from the Brumbies, Reds and Waratahs, it bodes well for those three franchises moving forward, whilst it also reflects well on rugby in Western Australia, with the RugbyWA academy contributing six players, a stark contrast to just the one offered up by the Melbourne Rebels.
ADVERTISEMENT
Another notable name in the squad was former Fijian U20 prop Emosi Tuqiri, a cousin of Lote, with the former Marist College Ashgrove captain having been set to bolster the Australian front row alongside Bell, who was arguably the standout loosehead in age-grade rugby last season.
Billy Pollard, a skilful hooker out of the Brumbies academy, would have looked to replace the significant game-breaking ability of the now graduated Lachlan Lonergan, whilst Nick Chan of the Waratahs would have been tasked with replacing Noah Lolesio at inside centre.
Assuming some sort of age-grade rugby goes ahead this year, if the Australian pack can provide Pasitoa with the sort of front-foot ball that they delivered last season, the fly-half does not lack for the ability to spark the Junior Wallaby back line. Do that, and they will be in contention with the traditional big boys of international age-grade should global travel be sanctioned, although failing that, there could be potential for a series with the New Zealand U20 side, as well as their counterparts from the Pacific Islands.
Squad in full:
Lachlan Albert, Brumbies Academy
Reece Anapu, RugbyWA Academy
Angus Bell, Australian Sevens
Hudson Berry, Waratahs Academy
ADVERTISEMENT
Hugh Bockenham, Waratahs Academy
Charlie Cale, Waratahs Academy
Oliver Callan, RugbyWA Academy
Nick Chan, Waratahs Academy
John Connolly, Waratahs Academy
Ethan Dobbins, Reds Academy
Max Douglas, Waratahs Academy
John Downes, Queensland
Tane Edmed, Waratahs Academy
Fred Fewtrell, Reds Academy
Josh Flook, Reds Academy
Theo Fourie, Queensland
Harrison Fox, Reds Academy
Reno Gerrard, Reds Academy
Tom Haddad, Brumbies Academy
Tom Hooper, Brumbies Academy
Spencer Jeans, Reds Academy
Kristian Jensen, Waratahs Academy
Tom Kibble, Queensland Reds
Tyrell Kopua, Queensland
Jack Lafofafo, Waratahs Academy
Viliami Lea, Queensland
Grayson Makara, RugbyWA Academy
Zane Marolt, Brumbies Academy
Alex Masibaka, RugbyWA Academy
Callum McDonald, Brumbies Academy
Zane Nonggor, Reds Academy
Billy Pollard, Brumbies Academy
Jackson Pugh, RugbyWA Academy
Byron Ralston, RugbyWA Academy
Luke Reimer, Brumbies Academy
Alex Saaga, Rebels Academy
Dion Samuela, Reds Academy
Rory Scott, Brumbies Academy
Lachlan Shelly, Waratahs Academy
Rhian Stowers, Queensland
Phrancis Sula-Siaosi, Queensland
Tiaan Tauakipulu, Waratahs Academy
Sione Taufui, Wartahs Academy
Kalani Thomas, Reds Academy
Zeph Tuinona, Brumbies Academy
Emosi Tuquiri, Reds Academy
Tom Van Der Schyff, Reds Academy
Harry Vella, Reds Academy
Dennis Waight, Brumbies Academy
Jack Walsh, Waratahs Academy
Cooper Whiteside, Queensland
Jeremy Williams, Waratahs Academy
Harry Wilson, Waratahs Academy
Jack Winchester, Reds Academy
Angus Bell, Will Harris, Carlo Tizzano, Joey Walton, Mark Nawaqanitawase and Reesjan Pasitoa selected but retained by clubs.
Watch: Waratahs’ Jed Holloway interview
Comments on RugbyPass
Bold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
1 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
8 Go to comments