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World Rugby U20 Championship

Baby Blacks change five for massive U20s clash with champions France

By Liam Heagney
New Zealand players during their match day one anthem last Saturday in Athlone (Photo by Thinus Maritz/World Rugby)

New Zealand boss Jono Gibbes has named a Baby Blacks side to face France showing five changes from match day one at the World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa. The Kiwis got the show on the road with a 41-34 Pool A win over Wales at Athlone last Saturday and they have now changed three forwards and two backs for their eagerly anticipated clash with the French.

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It was in match day two at last year’s tournament when France stole a march, comprehensively defeating New Zealand 35-14 in Paarl. They went on to win the title, their third in succession at U20s, while the Baby Blacks, with Clark Laidlaw at the helm of the class of 2023, finished down the rankings in seventh.

Sifting through the match day two changes to the forwards for the French rematch in Stellenbosch, 2024 boss Gibbes has promoted Logan Watson-Wallace as the starting tighthead with Joshua Smith dropping to the bench.

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HITS, BUMPS AND HANDOFFS! | The biggest collisions from the U20s World Championships

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HITS, BUMPS AND HANDOFFS! | The biggest collisions from the U20s World Championships

In the back row, Andrew Smith and Mosese Bason have been chosen to respectively start at blindside and No8 with Tai Cribb missing out and Matt Lowe switching to the bench.

Out the back, the two starting line-up alterations are in the back three with Isaac Hutchinson at full-back in place of the benched Sam Coles while Xavier Tito-Harris, a replacement the last day versus the Welsh, takes over on the right wing from Frank Vaenuku.

Fixture
World Rugby U20 Championship
France U20
26 - 27
Full-time
New Zealand U20
All Stats and Data

New Zealand (vs France, Thursday): 1. Will Martin, 2. Vernon Bason (capt), 3. Logan Watson-Wallace, 4. Tom Allen, 5. Liam Jack, 6. Andrew Smith, 7. Jonathan Lee, 8. Mosese Bason; 9. Dylan Pledger, 10. Rico Simpson; 11. Stanley Solomon, 12. Xavi Taele, 13. Aki Tuivailala, 14. Xavier Tito-Harris; 15. Isaac Hutchinson. Reps: 16. Manumaua Letiu, 17. Sika Uamaki, 18. Joshua Smith, 19. Cameron Christie, 20. Matt Lowe, 21. Ben O’Donovan, 22. Sam Coles, 23. King Maxwell.

  • Click here to sign up to RugbyPass TV for free live coverage of matches from the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship in countries that don’t have an exclusive local host broadcaster deal

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For a country with a glittering heritage in the tournament, especially in the early years when they won four in a row, seventh place in 2023 wasn’t the desired outcome for Clark Laidlaw’s squad.

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Andrew 1 day ago

Whats happened to Malachi Wrampling? He looked unstoppable in the Aussie tournament

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Comments on RugbyPass

A
Alfred 30 minutes ago
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Lessgoo Baby Blacks💪🇳🇿

2 Go to comments
S
SadersMan 51 minutes ago
Mick Cleary: 'Respect from the All Blacks? You have to chisel it from them'

Well, it’s hard for the Home Unions to chisel anything from the ABs when you’ve only won 16 tests against them from a combined total tests played of 150. So why bother? Just get stuck in & smash us. You’ve got a lot of catching up to do.

11 Go to comments
S
SadersMan 1 hours ago
Scott Barrett was the safe, obvious choice as All Blacks captain

The “sameness” was caused by appointing Hansen’s mini-me, Foster, above his competency level. Foster’s 50% win rate as Head Coach of the Chiefs for 8 years, should’ve been instructive. He & his personally selected & targeted coaches then proceeded to coach the ABs into mediocrity for the best part of 3 seasons before the NZRFU took drastic action. Foster left the ABs role with a 69.57% win rate; the worse of those who had coached the ABs for a minimum of 30 tests, & 40 tests. Out of the 25 ABs Head Coaches, he ranks 20=. It’s going to take a huge effort for Razor & Scooter to squeeze the Foster stink out of the ABs environment, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, & professionally. With Ardie, Reiko, & others using descriptors such as “energising” & “refreshing”, it seems they’re off to a good start. For now, just win. ABs by 1pt will do me.

18 Go to comments
C
Chesterfield 2 hours ago
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His record as an All Black is not good enough to warrant the change to the eligibility rules. G Fox winning percentage 90% average over 10 points per game DW Carter winning percentage 88% average over 10 points per game AR Hewson winning percentage 84% average over 10 per game AW Cruden winning percentage 88% CJ Spencer winning percentage 77 % average 8.3 points per game DB Clarke winning percentage 77 % average 8.3 points per game R Mounga winning percentage 70% average 8.3 points per game. Time to move on.

4 Go to comments
S
SadersMan 2 hours ago
France U20 vs New Zealand U20 | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

Great win boys 🖤🇳🇿

2 Go to comments
D
Daniel 2 hours ago
South Africans are the masters of taking offence

Please, both sets of fans, ignore this writer. He’s trying to stir up shit.

39 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 3 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus: 'Outspoken' Irish became full of themselves

Is a bit of trash talking, 💩 stirring, good for the game? Or should we all mind our Ps and Qs? Sure drives a bit of attention (eyes and money) towards the matches. Who actually cares who gets offended by who said what? I’m sure the boys will share a beer and have a braai - and the world will keep turning.

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Barry 4 hours ago
Jamie Osborne handed Ireland debut for 'best in world' clash with Boks

Exciting squad and a great chance for Casey. The 9/10 axis could be very interesting with both teams. Boks’ have the test experience and Ireland’s have the better age profile and experience of regular playing at club level. Baptism of fire for Osborne. Thought Henshaw might get the nod at 15 if only to allow Ringrose to start in the centre.

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carlos 4 hours ago
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Unless Gonzalez is injured, it is simply malpractice to exclude him. Probably the best back rower in the English league last season, selected by the players as best player of the team. Oh, again, Santiago Carreras only “plays” fly half for the Pumas. A huge mystery. Sadly, the team doesn’t look too promising.

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Turlough 4 hours ago
Jamie Osborne handed Ireland debut for 'best in world' clash with Boks

Didn’t bother reading after “Best in World” click bait title. Its a copy from an Irish Times article more or less anyway.

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tim 5 hours ago
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1 Go to comments
F
Flankly 5 hours ago
Jamie Osborne handed Ireland debut for 'best in world' clash with Boks

“Craig Casey has got the not to start in the No.9 jersey” Looks like Murray “got the not”, whereas Casey got the nod. Interesting call on fullback. That will certainly get some attention from the SA coaching team over the next 24 hours.

5 Go to comments
J
JoeyFresh62 5 hours ago
Jamie Osborne handed Ireland debut for 'best in world' clash with Boks

Feels like a tough assignment without JGP doesn’t it… Boks usually play close matches of late though.

5 Go to comments
m
martin 5 hours ago
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close today Men , but the Job is done , very well done Fair play delighted

2 Go to comments
D
David 5 hours ago
Stuart Hogg spends night in cells and given prison warning

What an utter a…hole. Someone who has spent his career trying to convince people that he’s world class when, in fact, he is/was never more than average. Vastly overrated (mainly by himself). Put that alongside the fact that he has now been given a ‘new lease of life’ by Montpellier, who themselves are run by someone with far more money than rugby acumen and only squeaked through a play off to stay in Top14. The two are well suited to each other.

2 Go to comments
D
DP 6 hours ago
South Africans are the masters of taking offence

As a proud South African I feel Rassie has gone too far (again). There is NO need for this silliness. I’ve never had a problem with Ireland and their coaching staff. Gatland and his BIL were massively disrespectful to South Africa but I don’t see even a modicum of that disrespect from the Irish camp. I have respected for the Irish fans (best in the world along with the Scots IMO) and for this Irish team. Putting this out there - Rassie doesn’t speak for me and any of my Bok supporting mates. Personally feel like this will be a shared series. Play hard but fair. May the best team win.

39 Go to comments
J
Johann 6 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus: 'Outspoken' Irish became full of themselves

Boys, Ireland play brutal, thuggish rugby at times ask Bismarck about BOD’s tackle and O’Mahony knows how to tickle where there's an itch. But I have been to Ireland and they are not an arrogant people. Usually diminutive in their language for a reason. As a South African I can tell you our camp has been verbose and I think for the most part the cultural nuance of “See you in the final” is lost on South Africans that don't believe it to be “Best of luck”. I think the boys from the Emerald Isle have plenty to cry about in their own history of division and loss. They find another grear against the English from that place. We Pride ourselves on the same. Motive to win. Problem is Messer's O’Connel and Farrel have been silent and we have fed that beast. No shots coming from Ireland. Zero. And for all the talk about their URC loss in the Semi, they took a leaf from Glasgow that spoke no evil, went hush and pitched on game day. We are going to get a shock and I expect a vastly explosive Ireland. Our boys are too playful and bantery since Brown is Rassie's bro’. We are at risk of losing our steel. Finally, let's not forget Leicester are breathing fire and smarting from their loss and have another look at the same patch of green. Also Jacques Nienaber's intellectual capital will help Ireland. I am rooting for SA, but I think we are feeding the Irish beast with gamesmanship that is not working for us but rather against us.

21 Go to comments
D
Dan 6 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus: 'Outspoken' Irish became full of themselves

Amusing how much utter 💩 Rassie spews now to soothe his thickos in SA. He knew he’d never get away with at Munster - they know too much about the sport to put up with that display.

21 Go to comments
T
Turlough 7 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus: 'Outspoken' Irish became full of themselves

“But you guys were a bit full of yourselves. You were a bit windgat, you know, and now you see…” Munster and Ireland provide Erasmus and de Allende with warm welcomes for many years. We get repaid by lies and insults. Honestly, can’t stand playing SA. Thoroughly unpleasant, hateful experience. Seems to be targetting Bundi Aki with a cheap shot in this video. Let’s do our best to take these arrogant gits down a peg and get out of there. Hopefully, won’t have to deal with their arrogance for another year.

21 Go to comments
S
Shaylen 7 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus: 'Outspoken' Irish became full of themselves

Gotta love Rassie🤣

21 Go to comments
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