New coach Chris Whitaker has introduced collectively his first squad as Underneath 20s head coach for the week-long camp in Coffs Harbour that culminates in a sport towards Japan U23s on April 11.
The Japanese crew will probably be coached by Australia’s not-so-favourite son, Eddie Jones, which is a enjoyable little narrative to present the sport a little bit of profile.
The actual story behind the sport although is a tune up earlier than our boys head to South Africa to compete within the second version of the U20s Rugby Championship, which itself is a tune-up for the World Rugby U20s Championship in Italy in June/July.
Chris Whitaker. (Picture by Jeremy Ng/Getty Pictures)
Regardless of the house discipline benefit for the Rugby Championship final 12 months, the Aussies coped the worst with the deluges that swamped the event, a irritating reminder that we sometimes go to water as a rugby nation at any time when we’re pressured to play in it.
My bum-average web sleuth abilities recommend we needs to be in for drier tracks in South Africa this time of 12 months, so are we a contender with the squad that may journey over there? Let’s take a look.
Entrance Row
This needs to be a energy given we now have two returning props in Nathaniel Tiitii and Trevor King however neither set the world on fireplace with their scrummaging in final 12 months’s U19s comp. How they go within the Rugby Championship will probably be instructive as as to if we’re a sensible likelihood to go deep in later within the 12 months in Italy.
I can see the coaches choosing Nick Hill and Edwin Langi off the bench as each carry onerous and will probably be out there for choice once more subsequent 12 months, so it’s essential to get the scrum schooling into them now.
Ollie Barrett is the probably beginning hooker and he’s a powerful scrummaging choice which can assist ship the platform we want. His throwing, whereas not an apparent energy, is fairly constant and that, plus his scrummaging, ought to maintain his nostril in entrance of Charlie O’Kane. John Grenfell has loads of potential, however off the again of his Aus 18s performances final 12 months, he wants higher consistency in his throwing.
Second Row
When you watched any of the U20 Six Nations this 12 months, you’ll have seen the dimensions that England can name on within the row – 2m tall and strong. We’ve bought the peak however seem to not have the identical bulk to name on.
Two gamers I believed could be in our combine in Fergus Gillan and Lachlan Doheny aren’t required which leaves us with Ollie Aylmer, Eamon Doyle and Joe Mangelsdorf because the out-and-out second rowers with Charlie Brosnan and Jacob Vieru the in-betweeners.
As a locking cohort, it’s not going to encourage a complete lot of worry within the opposition, however what it does have is excessive work fee and athleticism. This can work in our favour if we are able to get sufficient achieve line ascendancy through the remainder of the forwards… Which is simpler mentioned than completed.
Again Row
The one clear and apparent choice I can see within the backrow is Toby Brial, as nobody else chosen makes metres involved in addition to he does, so the No.8 jersey ought to have his title on it.
It’s solely foreseeable that the coaches will choose a whole backrow that’s eligible to go round once more subsequent 12 months in Eli Langi, Tom Robinson and Brial. Regardless of their age, none will probably be strangers to the bodily necessities of taking part in at this degree as Langi performed minutes for the senior Brumbies crew of their trial towards the Tahs, whereas Brial has turned out for the Tahs A crew and Robinson has been capped in First Grade this 12 months by UQ in Brisbane membership footy.
Alternate options embrace transferring Doyle or Brosnan to the flank or beginning Vieru or Beau Morrison however I wouldn’t be shocked if the coaches search for higher mobility in beginning the youthful trio.
Is it the form of backrow that may make headway towards different worldwide packs? I doubt it, however I even have doubts about whether or not the options will fare a lot better, so why not choose with an eye fixed to subsequent 12 months?
Halves
The backline is the place it begins to get a bit extra thrilling for this age group.
At halfback you’ve bought two very totally different choices in Hwi Sharples and James Martens. Sharples is your no frills No.9 with good pace to the breakdown, sharp service and a dependable kicking sport. Martens doesn’t have anyplace close to the identical polish to his core roles however he has a very good eye for house and a strong operating sport that makes probably the most of it. There’s actually good stability there with Martens being efficient later within the sport because it opens up.
In the meantime, flyhalf and the substitute might be the toughest choice the coaches must make.
Joey Fowler and Joe Dillon have each been concerned at this degree earlier than whereas Finn Prass has the benefit of additionally masking fullback and possibly has the longest kick of the trio, making him a cracking bench choice.
Dillon might need the runs on the board after main the Brumbies to the U19s flag however it is rather onerous to separate them. If Sid Harvey is on the market later within the 12 months, that would assist promote Fowler’s prospects given how nicely they play collectively.
Centres
We’re spoilt for alternative right here even with the damage to Frankie Goldsbrough. Dre Pakeho has regarded comfy for the Reds senior crew whereas Liam Grover and Malakye Enasio have been two of the standouts in final 12 months’s U19s. Boston Fakafanua is likely one of the most proficient gamers on this age group so whereas he in all probability seems to be greatest with a 12 in his again, he could nicely shift over one spot to accommodate Pakeho and pushes Grover to the wing. Fakafanua’s versatility might nicely depend towards him although as there’s no higher participant for the 23 jersey given he covers almost each place within the backline.
Outdoors Backs
The returning Shane Wilcox headlines a again three group that appears to have been chosen with one eye to the long run as Nick Conway and Cooper Watters are each eligible once more subsequent 12 months. Accidents and sevens commitments rule out three gamers in Hadley Tonga, Leo Jacques and Harvey, who together with Wilcox, will hopefully create a pleasant little choice headache later within the 12 months.
Within the meantime, the attraction of Grover’s work via visitors could encourage the teaching employees to make use of him on the sting, because the again three lack’s punch with out him. Conway often is the youngest participant within the group however is likely one of the most promising after an eye catching efficiency for the Reds Growth crew earlier this 12 months towards his membership’s 1st Grade crew, Wests, making him my participant to observe this event.
Remaining ideas
Making an allowance for that eight gamers who would probably be within the first alternative 23 are unavailable for this event because of accidents and sevens commitments, it’s truly not a nasty squad. One other eight of the 30-man squad are eligible once more subsequent 12 months, so there’s good succession planning in place.
The most important query mark is whether or not the pack can generate sufficient front-foot ball to present a really sharp backline the house they should open up. If the piggies can lay the platform, we might be on.
