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World Rugby U20 Championship

Australia name strong side for tough U20 Championship opener

By Finn Morton

176 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 176 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

AC 48 minutes ago

URC chief executive addresses potential Premiership merger

No I know. Like I mentioned, many would be opposed, most of all France. France's domestic rugby rivals their domestic football, that's how healthy it is.

4 Go to comments

AC 49 minutes ago

Harlequins 'riddled with errors' and physically 'weren’t at the races'

It was, perhaps the worst performance I've ever seen from Quins. Also a very un-Quins performance because usually, when they lose, it's because they gave up too many tries even though they scored enough. Haven't been blanked in 10 years. Didn't even let Gloucester get that many, they just simple could not get the ball across the line, couldn't hold on to it really at all.

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HU 1 hour ago

'Tom has the potential to be better than a British and Irish Lion'

a long long time ago, when I was writing articles myself (as a way to earn some money during my university studies) there was some editing involved .... if I had put up crap like "better than a British Lion" I would have got called into the editor-in-chief's office and been reminded about taking the profession seriously ....

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HU 1 hour ago

URC chief executive addresses potential Premiership merger

no way France would join .... why would they, the Top14 is perhaps the healthiest competition in (professional) club rugby and even the D2 seems to be up and running ..... I can't see any selling point to be convincing ....

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ED 2 hours ago

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This teamsheet is different to bears site and planet rugby.

1 Go to comments

Barry 3 hours ago

'Springbok Galacticos can't go it alone for trophy-hunting Sharks'

Always has elevated the profile of African rugby?

They didn't do much for the games profile from 1981 - 1992. Not in a positive sense at least.

5 Go to comments

Bull Shark 3 hours ago

'Tom has the potential to be better than a British and Irish Lion'

What does “better than a British Lion” mean?

As good as a springbok?

7 Go to comments

Hellhound 4 hours ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

On this I agree with you. There were many great teams and many different eras of rugby with very different rule sets. It's actually impossible to declare one team or player as the best ever. However, this is definitely the best SA team SA has ever had. All the accolades speaks for itself.

129 Go to comments

Hellhound 4 hours ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

All you can do is hate on SA. Jealousy makes you nasty and it's never a good look. Those who actually knows rugby is all talking about the depth and standards of the SA players. They don't wear blinders like you. The NH had many years to build the depth and players for multiple competition the SA teams didn't. There will be growing pains. Not least travel issues. The NH teams barely have to travel to play an opponent opposed to the SA teams. That is just one issue. There is many more issues, hence the "growing pains". The CC isn't yet a priority and this is what most people have a problem with. Saying SA is disrespecting that competition which isn't true. SA don't have the funds yet to go big and get the players needed for 3 competitions. It all costs a lot of money. It's over using players and get them injured or prioritising what they can deliver with what are available. To qualify for CC, they need to perform well in the URC, so that is where the main priorities is currently. In time that will change with sponsors coming in fast. They are at a distinct disadvantage currently compared to the rest. Be happy about that, because they already are the best international team. You would have hated it if they kept winning the club competitions like the URC and CC every year too. Don't be such a sourmouth loser. See the complete picture and judge accordingly. There is many factors you aren't even aware of at play that you completely ignore just to sound relevant. Instead of being an positive influence and spread the game and help it grow, we have to read nonsense like this from haters. Just grow up and stop hating on the game. Go watch soccer or something that loves people like you.

129 Go to comments

Barry 4 hours ago

URC chief executive addresses potential Premiership merger

The RFU won't go for it especially now they've enhanced hybrid contracts and some control over their international players.

4 Go to comments

Barry 7 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

Exactly. They haven't learnt. Their regions and U20s are also whipping boys which is the bigger concern. Nothing coming through.

They maxed out the credit cards to keep their golden generation of players at home. It's now destroyed the game at every level in Wales.

10 Go to comments

Barry 7 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

Nor can the same coach turn it around. That's been proven across the last year. It will be years before they are even competitive again. It's a 5 year + job. No way Gatland will be around for that.

Italy's nadir was around ten years ago and even they were better equipped with their regions, U20s and senior squad and management. Wales have further to fall.

10 Go to comments

Barry 7 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

If they're happy at losing 12 on the bounce, get a regional coach who would be as bad but cost about a sixth in salary.

10 Go to comments

dw 8 hours ago

Does South Africa have a future in European competition?

I'm no expert but I've never seen nz or even aus as doing much for those nations? Both have benefited from their countries players playing for us! I see most of the top nations looking after themselves and maybe it's a world rugby issue?

129 Go to comments

richard davies 8 hours ago

Warren Gatland finds out his fate as Wales undergo huge changes

At 600k a year I would think there will be quite a Que. win lose or draw you can blame the small stature of the players and the WRU