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Super Rugby and 7s talent on show as NZ U20s name team for opener

(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

The New Zealand U20s have named a star-studded side for their World Rugby U20 Championship opener against Wales which includes some talented players with Super Rugby experience.

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Crusaders halfback Noah Hotham will captain the side against Wales U20, and will partner another member of the champion franchise in the halves – that being Baby Blacks vice-captain Taha Kemara.

Fullback Harry Godfrey is another member of the backline who starred in Super Rugby Pacific this season, having impressed for the Hurricanes against Moana Pasifika in round 12.

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Godfrey actually played eight matches for the Canes this season, and started two of those games in the No. 15 jersey.

Fellow Hurricanes star Peter Lakai will pack down at No. 8 for the Baby Blacks, and joins All Blacks Sevens representative Che Clarke in the back row.

Going through the team, coach Clark Laidlaw has named the menacing front row trio of loosehead Ben Ake, Highlanders hooker Jack Taylor, and tighthead Siale Lauaki.

Taylor Cahill, who won the AFL New Zealand Rising star award for round one in the 2021 season, joins Otago talent Will Stodart in the second row.

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Along with Che Clark and vice-captain Peter Lakai, Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo will pack down in the backrow – starting at openside flanker.

Outside the extremely exciting halves duo of Hotham and Kemara is Ajay Faleafaga and Aki Tuivailala in the midfield.

Crusaders winger Macca Springer will start on the left, while Auckland’s Caleb Tangitau has been named on the right.

Another All Blacks Sevens player in Codemeru Vai will look to provide some impact off the bench.

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The match between the Baby Blacks and Wales U20 will kick-off at 2.00 am (NZST) on Sunday (4pm SAT on Saturday) at Paarl Gymnasium.

New Zealanders can watch the match live and exclusive on Sky Sport.

New Zealand U20s to take on Wales U20s

  1. Ben Ake
  2. Jack Taylor
  3. Siale Lauaki
  4. Tahlor Cahill
  5. Will Stodart
  6. Che Clark
  7. Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo
  8. Peter Lakai (vc)
  9. Noah Hotham (c)
  10. Taha Kemara (vc)
  11. Macca Springer
  12. Ajay Faleafaga
  13. Aki Tuivailala
  14. Caleb Tangitau
  15. Harry Godfrey

Replacements:

  1. Raymond Tuputupu
  2. Malakai Hala
  3. Gabe Robinson
  4. Tom Allen
  5. Malachi Wrampling-Alec
  6. Jordi Viljoen
  7. Leo Gordon
  8. Codemeru Vai
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Andrew 498 days ago

"the menacing front row trio of loosehead Ben Ake, Highlanders hooker Jack Taylor, and tighthead Siale Lauaki."

Menacing? Is this the front row that tge AusU20s absolutely owned in that recent 2 match series? Or are they a completely different lot?

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AM 41 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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