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Junior Wallabies name side for ‘exciting’ opener at U20 Championships

Australia line up for the national anthem during the match between New Zealand U20 and the Junior Wallabies at NZCIS on May 29, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Following a series of impressive performances in warmup games against New Zealand U20 and the Australian Barbarians, the Junior Wallabies have confirmed their side to open their World Rugby U20 Championship campaign against Fiji.

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The Junior Wallabies shocked the rugby world last month when they travelled across the ditch to face their old foes the Baby Blacks – winning the first match by eight points in Wellington.

While they weren’t able to go back-to-back in the other clash at Sky Stadium later that week, Australia showed plenty of fight, potential and passion in the thrilling one-point loss.

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Playmaker Harry McLaughlin-Phillips starred in the green and gold strip against the Australian Barbarians in Sydney last week, as the Junior Wallabies ran away with a 92-17 win.

This team will genuinely believe that they can do what no Junior Wallabies side before them has ever done – and that’s winning the U20 Championship.

McLaughlin-Phillips has been rewarded for his sensational outing, with coach Nathan Grey selecting the young Queensland Reds talent in the No. 10 jersey to take on Fiji U20.

McLaughlin-Phillips will partner ACT Brumbies halfback Klayton Thorn in the halves.

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With team captain Teddy Wilson set to come off the bench at Danie Craven Stadium on Saturday, Reds flanker Nick Baker will lead the team out in their tournament opener.

“After a long build-up and three good hit-outs prior to arriving in South Africa, it’s exciting for the 23 players named to have their first opportunity to pull on the gold jersey at the tournament,” coach Nathan Grey said in a statement.

“With five games in the next four weeks, and each game having a five-day turnaround, it’s critical that all our players get an opportunity to get accustomed to the conditions and combinations.

“The training week has been excellent with the squad enjoying an opposed session against Georgia, which helped to sharpen the focus for Saturday’s challenge.

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“While the wet and heavy conditions in Cape Town will have an impact, we are still intent on delivering our style of rugby against Fiji.”

Western Force prop Marley Pearce joins Brumbies hooker Liam Bowron and Reds tighthead Nick Bloomfield in a formidable front row.

Brumbies lock Toby MacPherson partners Rebels talent Daniel Maiava in the second row to complete the Junior Wallabies’ tight five.

Captain Nick Baker starts at openside, while the Brumbies’ Lachlan Hooper and Rebels backrower Leafi Talataina complete the loose forward trio.

Outside the halves pairing of Thorn and McLaughlin-Phillips, David Vaihu joins Reds centre Taj Annan in the midfield. Annan has been sensational in Super Rugby Pacific for the Queenslanders.

Australian sevens ace and Melbourne Rebels recruit Darby Lancaster has been named on the left wing, while try-scoring machine Ronan Leahy is set to start on the right.

Rising star Mason Gordon will run out in the No. 15 jersey.

The Junior Wallabies take on Fiji U20 at 12.30 am AEST on Sunday morning (4.30 pm SAST on Saturday) at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

Junior Wallabies to take on Fiji U20

  1. Marley Pearce
  2. Liam Bowron
  3. Nick Bloomfield
  4. Toby Macpherson
  5. Daniel Maiava
  6. Lachlan Hooper
  7. Nick Baker (c)
  8. Leafi Talataina
  9. Klayton Thorn
  10. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips
  11. Darby Lancaster
  12. David Vaihu
  13. Taj Annan
  14. Ronan Leahy
  15. Mason Gordon

Replacements:

  1. Harrison Usher
  2. Max Craig
  3. Trevor King
  4. Ollie McCrea
  5. Ned Slack-Smith
  6. Teddy Wilson
  7. Jack Bowen
  8. Henry O’Donnell
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f
fl 23 minutes ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


“The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

176 Go to comments
J
JW 4 hours ago
French bid to poach 109kg 17-year-old dual-code Aussie prospect Heinz Lemoto

Yes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.


They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).


That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).

9 Go to comments
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