World Rugby U20 Championship

[Croket66]

Stadiums :

Avchala Stadium

City : Tbilisi
Capacity : 2,500

Aia Arena

City : Kutaisi
Capacity : 4,860

Mikheil Meskhi Stadium

City : Tbilisi
Capacity : 27,223


Pools :
Pool A
Australia
England
Samoa
Wales

Pool B
Ireland
Italy
New Zealand
Scotland

Pool C
Argentina
France
Georgia
South Africa

Schedule :
Pool A (Avchala Stadium)
31 May : England-Samoa ; Australia-Wales
4 June : Australia-Samoa ; England-Wales
8 June : Wales-Samoa ; England-Australia

Pool B (Aia Arena)
31 May : New Zealand-Scotland ; Ireland-Italy
4 June : Ireland-Scotland ; New Zealand-Italy
8 June : Scotland-Italy ; New Zealand-Ireland

Pool C (Avchala Stadium)
31 May : South Africa-France ; Georgia-Argentina
4 June : Argentina-France ; South Africa - Georgia
8 June : Argentina-South Africa ; France-Georgia

13 June :
9th place play off : 10th v 11th (Avchala) ; 9th v 12th (Avchala)
5th place play off : 5th v 8th (Mikheil Meskhi) ; 6th v 7th (Avchala)
Semi finals : 1st v 4th (Mikheil Meskhi) ; 2d v 3d (Mikheil Meskhi)

18 June
11th place final (Avchala)
9th place final (Avchala)
7th place final (Avchala)
5th place final (Mikheil Meskhi)
3d place final (Mikheil Meskhi)
Final (Mikheil Meskhi)

 

[Croket66]

Squads :

Pool A
Australia
Prop : Harry Johnson-Holmes (NSW Gen Blue U20s), Gavin Luka (Quensland U20s), Shambeckler Vui (Western Force), Cody Walker (NSW Gen Blue U20s)
Hooker : Efi Maafu (Quensland U20s), Sama Malolo (Western Force U20s) Jordan Uelese (Melbourne Rebels)
Lock : Angus Blyth (Queensland U20s), Harry Hockings (Queensland U20s), Ryan McCauley (NSW Gen Blue U20s), Angus Scott-Young (Queensland U20s)
Loose Forward : Reece Hewat (Queensland U20s), Lachlan Swinton (NSW Gen Blue U20s), Rob Valetini (Brumbies), Liam Wright (Queensland U20s)
Scumhalf : Harrison Goddard (Merlbourne Rebels U20s), Harry Nucifora (Queensland U20s)
Flyhalf : Nick Jooste (Brumbies U20s), Hamish Stewart (Queensland Reds)
Centre : Henry Hutchinson (Australian Sevens), Izaia Perese (Queensland Reds), Dylan Riley (Queensland U20s), Sione Tuipulotu (Melbourne Rebels U20s)
Winger : Simon Kennewell (Australian Sevens), Liam McNamara (Australian Sevens), Semisi Tupou (Melbourne Rebels U20s)
Fullback : Lachlan Anderson (Australian Sevens), Jack Maddocks (Melbourne Rebels)

England
Prop : Ralph Adams-Hale (Saracens), Ollie Dawe (Bristol Rugby), Ciaran Knight (Gloucester Rugby), Alex Seville (Gloucester RUgby), Marcus Street (Exeter Chiefs)
Hooker : Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons), Joe Mullis (Gloucester Rugby), Henry Walker (Gloucester Rugby)
Lock : Josh Caulfield (Exeter Chiefs), Justin Clegg (Worcester Warriors), Max Davies (Newcastle Falcons)
Loose Forward : Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby), Ben Earl (Saracens), Will Evans (Leicester Tigers), Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby), Jack Nay (Saracens)
Scrumhalf : Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Harry Randall (Gloucester Rugby)
Flyhalf : Theo Brophy Clews (London Irish), Jacob Umaga (Wasps)
Centre : Will Butler (Worcester Warriors), Dominic Morris (Saracens), Max Wright (Yorkshire Carnegie)
Winger : Sam Aspland-Robinson (Harlequins), Ali Crossdale (Saracens), Gabriel Ibitoye (Harlequins)
Fullback : Max Malins (Saracens), Tom Parton (London Irish)

Samoa
t.b.a.

Wales
t.b.a.

Pool B
Ireland
t.b.a.

Italy
Prop : Danilo Fischetti (Unione Capitolina), Dante Gavrilita (Calvisano), Marco Riccioni (Calvisano), Daniele Rimpelli (Calvisano)
Hooker : Massimo Ceciliani (Delebio Rugby), Matteo Luccardi (Colorno), Alberto Rollero (Sitav Rugby Lyons)
Lock : Niccolo Cannone (Florentia), Edoardo Iachizzi (Perpignan, France), Daniel Orso (Mogliano)
Loose Forward : Jacopo Bianchi (Vasari Arezzo), Michele Lamaro (Lazio Rugby 1927), Giovanni Licata (Miraglia), Lodovico Manni (Mogliano), Lorenzo Masselli (Sitav Rugby Lyons)
Scrumhalf : Matteo Maria Panunzi (Unione Capitolina), Charly Trussardi (Clermont Auvergne, France)
Flyhalf : Filippo Di Marco (L'Aquila), Antonio Rizzi (Mogliano)
Centre : Roberto Dal Zilio (Calvisano), Andrea De Masi (Benetton Treviso), Marco Zanon (Mogliano), Alessandro Forcocci (Fiame Oro Rugby)
Winger : Andrea Bronzini (Viadana), Giovani D'Onofrio (Rugby Benevento/Zebre), Dario Schiabel (Lafert San Dona)
Fullback : Massimo Cioffi (Lazio Rugby 1927), Simone Cornelli (Sitav Rugby Lyons)

New Zealand
Prop : Ryan Coxon (Waikato), Tim Farrell (Hawke's Bay), Alex Fidow (Wellington), Pouri Rakete-Stones (Hawke's Bay)
Hooker : Asafo Aumua (Wellington), Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Auckland), JP Sauni (Auckland)
Lock : Sam Caird (Waikato), Jacob Pierce (Auckland), Samuel Slade (Auckland), Isaia Walker-Leawere (Wellington)
Loose Forward : Adrian Choat (Auckland), Tom Christie (Canterbury), Luke Jacobson (Waikato), Marino Mikaele-Tu'u (Hawke's Bay), Dalton Papalii (Auckland)
Scrumhalf : Ere Enari (Canterbury/Crusaders), Kemara Hauiti-Parapara (Wellington)
Flyhalf : Braydon Ennor (Canterbury), Orbyn Leger (Counties Manukau), Joshua McKay (Canterbury)
Centre : Tiaan Falcon (Hawke's Bay), Tamati Tua (Northland), Thomas Umaga-Jansen (Wellington)
Winger : Caleb Clarke (Auckland), Tima Fainga'anuku (Tasman), Will Jordan (Tasman)
Fullback : Jona Nareki (Otago)

Scotland
Prop : Fergus Bradbury (Stirling Country), Ross Dunbar (Boroughmuir), Adam Nicol (Stirling County), George Thornton (Bishop Burton College, England), Daniel Winning (Boroughmuir)
Hooker : Fraser Renwick (Hawick), Robbie Smith (Ayr)
Lock : Hamish Bain (Currie), Alex Craig (Gloucester, England), Callum Hunter-Hill (Stirling County/London Scottish, England)
Loose Forward : Luke Crosbie (Currie), Tom Dodd (Worcester, England), Archie Erskine (Newcastle Falcons, England), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Hawks/Glasgow Warriors), Bruce Flockhart (Glasgow Hawks), Thomas Gordon (Currie)
Scrumhalf : Ruaridh Dawson (Newcastle Falcons, England), Charlie Shiel (Currie), Andrew Simmers (Heriot's)
Flyhalf : Josh Henderson (Glasgow Hawks)
Centre : Connor Eastgate (Wasps, England), Stafford McDowall (Ayr), Ross McCann (Melrose)
Winger : Patrick Anderson (Melrose), Robert Kay (Heriot's), Robbie Nairn (Harlequins, England)
Fullback : Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby), Darcy Graham (Hawick)

Pool C
Argentina
Prop : Alejandro Luna (CURNE), Rodrigo Martinez (Los Tordos), Santiago Pulella (Jockey Cordoba), Jeremias Tarter (Cordoba Athletic), Mayco Vivas (Atlético del Rosario)
Hooker : José Luis Gonzalez (Tucuman), Leonel Oviedo (Cordoba Athletic)
Lock : Nahuel Milan (San Fernando), Franco Molina (Jockey Cordoba), Lucas Paulos (Olivos), Nicolas Walker (Curupayti)
Loose Forward : Vicente Boronat (CASI), Facundo Dominguez (Olivos), Agustin Medrano (Regatas Bella Vista), Santiago Ruiz (Regatas Bella Vista), Bautista Stavile (Mendoza)
Scrumhalf : Gonzalo Garcia (Natacion y Gimnasia), Matias Sauze (Tucuman)
Flyhalf : Tomas Albornoz (Tucuman), Juan Bautista Daireaux (Newman)
Centre : Santiago Carreras (Cordoba Athletic), Teo Castiglioni (GER de Rosario), Facundo Ferrario (Jockey Club Rosario), Felix Luna (Jockey Cordoba)
Winger : Juan Pablo Castro (San Juan), Luciano Gonzalez (La Tablada), Tomas Malanos (Atlético del Rosario)
Fullback : Bautista Delguy (Pucara)

France
t.b.a.

Georgia
Prop : Ushang Cheishvili (Montpellier, France), Revaz Dugladze (Lelo Saracens Tbilisi), Guram Gogichashvili (Locomotive Tbilisi), Guram Papidze (Lyon, France), Lasha Tabidze (Bordeaux, Fance)
Hooker : Levan Papidze (Lelo Saracens Tbilisi), Tengiz Zamtaradze (Lelo Saracens Tbilisi)
Lock : Giga Grigalashvili (Lelo Saracens Tbilisi), Lasha Jaiani (Exeter University, England), Koba Jimsheleishvili (Jiki Gori), Beka Saghinadze (Lelo Saracens Tbilisi)
Loose Forward : Shota Areshidze (Aia Kutaisi), Tornike Jalagonia (Khuligana Tbilisi), Arsen Machaladze (Aia Kutaisi), Aleko Mamamtavrishvili (TBS Universiteti Tbilisi), Ilia Spanderashvili (Armia Tbilisi)
Scrumhalf: Gela Aprasidze (Lelo Saracens Tbilisi)
Flyhalf : Tedo Abzhandadze (Aia Kutaisi), Davit Modzgvrishvili (Academia Tbilisi)
Centre : Bezhan Gavashelishvili (Lelo Saracens Tbilisi), Giorgi Gogoladze (Montpellier, France), Giorgi Tsiklauri (Jiki Gori)
Winger : Davit Meskhi (Armia Tbilisi), Lado Miminoshvili (Batumi), Saba Svimonishvili (Sharks Academy, South Africa), Akaki Tabutsadze (Lelo Saracens Tbilisi)
Fullback : Mirian Modebadze (Aia Kutaisi), Luka Yurin (Lyon, France)

South Africa
Prop : Kwenzo Blose (Toyota Free State Cheetahs), Wikus Groenewald (DHL Western Province), Lee-Marvin Mazibuko (DHL Western Province), Carlű Sadie (DHL Western Province), Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
Hooker : Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Daniel Jooste (DHL Western Province)
Lock : Salmaan Moerat (DHL Western Province), Reinhard Nothnagel (Xerox Golden Lions), Hendre Stassen (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Ruben Van Heerden (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
Loose Forward : Juarno Augustus (DHL Western Province), Zain Davids (DHL Western Province), Len Massyn (Xerox Golden Lions), Nama Xaba (DHL Western Province), Ernst van Rhyn (DHL Western Province)
Scrumhalf : Francois de Villiers (Cell C Sharks), Rewan Kruger (Toyota Free State Cheetahs), Embrose Papier (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
Flyhalf : Curwin Bosch (Cell C Sharks/The Sharks), Damian Willemse (DHL Western Province/Stormers)
Centre : David Brits (DHL Western Province), Stedman Gans (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Wandisile Simelane (Xerox Golden Lions)
Winger : Manie Libbok (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Yaw Penxe (EP Kings/Southern Kings)
Fullback : Jean-Luc Cilliers (Xerox Golden Lions), Gianni Lombard (Xerox Golden Lions)

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Ireland's best three backs, Jordan Larmour, Tommy O'Brien and Bill Johnston are all out of the tournament. Makes it very difficult as even though there are some talented individuals, it's not the most talented team Ireland have sent out in a few years.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

NZ just killed Aus by 50 odd in a pre tourny match, and also put 80 on Samoa..... looking strong. Can just imagine how good Jordie Barrett and Reiko Ioane would be if they didn't have higher commitments...

 

[Penne Rara]

Jordie at 12 and Rieko at 13... Dayum!

But considering their current form, they'd be selected at 15 and 11 respectively, anyway

 

[profitius]

NZ just killed Aus by 50 odd in a pre tourny match, and also put 80 on Samoa..... looking strong. Can just imagine how good Jordie Barrett and Reiko Ioane would be if they didn't have higher commitments...

NZ looked good but I have to say, Aus were the pits. Their number 10 alone made about a dozen errors.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I feel better about this Junior Bok team than I did about the one that went last year. Still expecting NZ and England to land the final.

 

[TRF_heineken]

I feel better about this Junior Bok team than I did about the one that went last year. Still expecting NZ and England to land the final.

I think our team this year is a lot stronger than last year's team, and this team also has a bit more experience than last year. At least we'll have a better pack than last year.

 

[unrated]

SA also has Curwin Bosch who will be competing at his second junior World Cup. With a extra years experience as a first team starter in Super rugby. His current form has led people to call for his inclusion in the June internationals for the Springboks instead of using him at the junior World Cup.

 

[TRF_heineken]

SA also has Curwin Bosch who will be competing at his second junior World Cup. With a extra years experience as a first team starter in Super rugby. His current form has led people to call for his inclusion in the June internationals for the Springboks instead of using him at the junior World Cup.

Well it's not just him that will play his second JWC. Manie Libbok, Zain Davids (Blitzbokke) and Embrose Papier will also be there for a second time. I think there are more guys but I don't recognise them from just their names now...

 

[big ginger 8]

Real pity that our so many key players are injured. Was really excited to see what Larmour could do on this stage. Still a few talented backs, but there's rumours of Kelly being out and the pack isn't the best we've had especially with no Gallagher. Still I've had tempered expectations for this tournament before and being pleasantly surprised. Just see last year.

Most interested in seeing how Doris gets on.

 

[Groundhog]

I thought last year would be a disaster and we ended up getting to the final. Definitely will be missing some quality players this time out though. 5 of those injured are definitely among our best players and we'll really struggle to get past the pools. Think we should have Lyttle and Nash back at least.

 

[profitius]

Most interested in seeing how Doris gets on.

He's struggling with injury too I hear. I still have hope because we've a strong squad but it's been stretched now and the injured players will be missed.

 

[Croket66]

Australian squad added! It includes 6 Super Rugby capped players, and 4 current australian sevens internationals

NZ added too! Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Peter Umaga-Jansen and Stephen Perofeta are all missing

 

[Goodey]

Kind of annoyed that players like the Curry brothers, Isekiewi and Cokanasiga are with the senior squad. I'd rather they play for a trophy here than get a 'look in' sitting in reserve for tests.

 

[Caitlyn Jenner]

NZ added too! Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Peter Umaga-Jansen and Stephen Perofeta are all missing

A bit of a shame but it's understandable.
That backline would be absolute dynamite if all those guys were there. When you add in Enari who already is there, that's basically an all Super Rugby level backline, and 1 guy who's already an AB (as well as 1 who's probs about to be).
Oh well, I'm sure the boys will go well.

 

[Croket66]

Italian squad added, with 2 french based players

 

[ratsapprentice]

Kind of annoyed that players like the Curry brothers, Isekiewi and Cokanasiga are with the senior squad. I'd rather they play for a trophy here than get a 'look in' sitting in reserve for tests.

Not saying I disagree, but I suspect they'll be getting a bit more than a look in.

 

[Reiser99]

Not saying I disagree, but I suspect they'll be getting a bit more than a look in.

I think this will be the big question. If the youngers players don't play a big part then is training with the squad good enough to replace a tournament (albeit an U20's one). I'm not sure honestly.

The other question is still, what is EJ's actual purpose is in selecting such a young squad? There are plenty of players in their mid to late 20's playing the premiership who could say they have performed well. So does EJ think they have had their chance or just won't cut it at international level and so is looking younger. The other option is that he feels he has his squad/team for the next few years apart from a few places and so is looking at the future. Who could be an up and coming star to make the next impact.

I have to say I hope he hasn't called up some too early and they suffer a loss of confidence in Argentina, if thing go wrong. Especially if (stressing if) England U20's win, because those lads will definitely benefit from it.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I think this will be the big question. If the youngers players don't play a big part then is training with the squad good enough to replace a tournament (albeit an U20's one). I'm not sure honestly.

The other question is still, what is EJ's actual purpose is in selecting such a young squad? There are plenty of players in their mid to late 20's playing the premiership who could say they have performed well. So does EJ think they have had their chance or just won't cut it at international level and so is looking younger. The other option is that he feels he has his squad/team for the next few years apart from a few places and so is looking at the future. Who could be an up and coming star to make the next impact.

I have to say I hope he hasn't called up some too early and they suffer a loss of confidence in Argentina, if thing go wrong. Especially if (stressing if) England U20's win, because those lads will definitely benefit from it.

My guess from what Jones has said is that we wait too long before we get real talent into the squad, we have operated on a "wait your turn" basis. Jones obviously want to to look for players who aren't simply good now but who he thinks will be genuinely world class in the future and I guess he looks at many older players and either doesn't see them still being ahead in 2 years time or he already knows what they offer so wants to see if he can find those who might challenge them. Either way I think this is exactly what these tours are supposed to be for, finding the young talent and throwing them in at the deep end. Think how Itoje was introduced and now he is an integral part of the England squad. What's to say in a years time me might not have a Curry x2 + Billy back row for example? The number of flankers makes sense as it is a definite weakness for us but not looking at 9 or 15 seems odd. Youngs and Brown are definitely not world class.