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Australia name strong side for tough U20 Championship opener

320 days ago

Australia sing the national anthem during The Rugby Championship U20 Round 3 match between Australia and New Zealand at Sunshine Coast Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Sunshine Coast, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Australia U20s coach Nathan Grey has named a strong side for the team’s opener at the World Rugby U20 Championship on Sunday morning (AEST). Toby Macpherson will lead the Aussies into battle when they take on a physical Georgia U20s outfit.

Macpherson will pack down in the middle row along with fellow ACT Brumbies lock Harvey Cordukes, with the pair both retaining their spots in the starting side following the loss to New Zealand at the Rugby Championship U20 earlier this year.

Coach Grey has made seven changes to the run-on side that went down swinging against the Baby Blacks that night on the Sunshine Coast, including an all-new midfield partnership and the return of Tuggeranong Vikings’ Shane Wilcox at fullback.

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The NSW Waratahs’ Bryn Edwards comes into the starting side at hooker, with Jack Barrett and the Reds’ Nick Bloomfield also set to man the fort in the front row. As well as the second-row duo of MacPherson and Cordukes, the forward pack is otherwise unchanged.

Australian sevens member Aden Ekanayake joins Western Force flanker Dane Sawers and Act Brumbies enforcer Jack Harley in a formidable loose forwards trio.

Vice-captain Dan Nelson has got the nod at scrum-half and will link up with Reds playmaker Harry McLaughlin-Phillips. McLaughlin-Phillips debuted in Super Rugby Pacific this season and even started a few matches in the prized No. 10 jumper.

Jarrah McLeod and Kadin Pritchard make up a new-look midfield pairing, with that selection pushing Western Force flyer Ronan Leahy to the wing. Leahy, who debuted for the Force in the back end of the season, started at No. 12 against New Zealand U20s.

On the other wing, Archie Sauders will line up on the left while Shane Wilcox rounds out the team at fullback. Wilcox scored a decisive double in the 24-19 win over the Junior Springboks but wasn’t selected to take on the Kiwis less than one week later.

On the bench, Melbourne Rebels hooker Ottavio Tuipulotu and the Brumbies’ Angus Staniforth are players to watch out for.

The match between Australia U20s and Georgia U20s at Cape Town’s Athlone Sports Stadium is scheduled to get underway at 4:30 pm (local time) on Saturday or at 12:30 am (AEST) on Sunday morning.

Fans can catch the latest World Rugby U20 Championship action on RugbyPass TV. It’s free to sign up HERE.

Australia U20 to take on Georgia U20

Jack Barrett
Bryn Edwards
Nick Bloomfield
Toby Macpherson (c)
Harvey Cordukes
Aden Ekanayake
Dane Sawers
Jack Harley
Dan Nelson
Harry McLaughlin-Phillips
Archie Saunders
Jarrah McLeod
Kadin Pritchard
Ronan Leahy
Shane Wilcox

Replacements

Ottavio Tuipulotu
Lington Leli
Tevita Alatini
Eamon Doyle
Ben Di Staso
Hwi Sharples
Joe Dillon
Angus Staniforth

Comments

1 Comment

Mzilikazi 320 days ago

Be good if the players States were given…can that be done next time, please….respectfully 😀

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 1 day ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 1 day ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 1 day ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 1 day ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 1 day ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 1 day ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 1 day ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 1 day ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 1 day ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 1 day ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 1 day ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 1 day ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 1 day ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 1 day ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 1 day ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 1 day ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 1 day ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 1 day ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍