New Zealand Under-20s v Wales Under-20s (Teams/Match thread)

[Morgannwg]

First topic message reminder :

Baby Blacks - Marty McKenzie, Matt Proctor, Marnus Hanley, Opetera Peleseuma, Junior Va'a Tofa, Scott Eade, Bryn Hall, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Nathan Harris, Eric Sione, Joe Latta, Christian Lloyd, Taniela Manu, Hugh Blake, Jordan Taufua. Replacements - Rhys Marshall, Tuki Raimona, Fraser Armstrong, Nick Ross, Jimmy Tupou, Jono Kitto, Ihaia West, Pita Ahki.

Wales - Ross Jones, Tom Prydie, Cory Allen, Jack Dixon, Eli Walker, Matthew Morgan, Tom Habberfield, Rob Evans, Kirby Myhill, Samson Lee, Cory Hill, Matthew Screech, Luke Hamilton, Ellis Jenkins, Dan Baker. Replacements - Darran Harris, Gareth Thomas, Will John, Rhodri Hughes, Daniel Thomas, Jonothan Evans, Sam Davies, Thomas Pascoe.

* Well probably the best Wales U20s team of the year. A lot of pace in the backline behind a big, strong pack. Shouldn't be a massacre this time then...
Each player is tied to a premiership team and should have been getting regular game time. Others have played in the LV cup for their Regions, Pro12 and in some cases the Heineken Cup. Capped international Prydie and Tom Habberfield have played for Wales in the IRB Sevens Series and showed up very well. I think Ponty 2nd row Cory Hill is the captain, he has looked pretty handy in the games I've seen him play. Each need to show up well and overcome any psychological barrier if they are to stay within reach of New Zealands school-boys. Good luck boyo's.

** Baby Blacks undefeated for 5 years fall to U20 Six Nations fourth placed Wales. Well done boyo's. Complete turnaround from previous years. Still don't agree with the 14 players not being released for that Six Nations though.

[CurlyOsp]

Anyone fancy dropping me a pm? Just realised it's not on s4c..

[RubyGuby]

The commentators are p*ssing me right off. Too NZ biased.

Just think Jiffy and that should counter balance it a bit

[wales606]

Poor kick from Morgan

[LondonTiger]

2nd poor attempt at goal by Morgan.

[wales606]

2 missed kick from morgan

[LondonTiger]

Wales tactics - putting the ball up in the air and chasing spot on. NZ trying to run too much.

[LondonTiger]

3rd time lucky?

[wales606]

He HAS to get this one.

Samson Lee is a real prospect, forget Joe Rees, this guy can scrummage!

[Shifty]

Cmon Sampson Lee, you big nasty red head!

Remember don't tell the Irish...

[Morgannwg]

Come on Wales just get at least one try!

Be nice to have some Kiwi commentators in here . I wonder if the Baby Blacks front row on the bench are better that what they have starting?

[wales606]

FINALLY!

3 - 3

21minutes.

Certainly not to same as last year.

[Morgannwg]

Wales tactics - putting the ball up in the air and chasing spot on. NZ trying to run too much.

Yeah, suprised NZ aren't playing as intelligently as they have done in recent seasons.

[wales606]

Cmon Sampson Lee, you big nasty red head!

Remember don't tell the Irish...

Shhhhhh

....they might hear.

[Morgannwg]

Nowhere near straight. Come on ref!

[wales606]

Wales are certainly making the most of having a regional back 3 and 10 - doing well at coping with NZ kicking game.

[Shifty]

Big difference between a team of 20 year olds and a team of 18/19 year olds at the moment. Their doing us proud lets just hope we can keep it up.

[Shifty]

Well to be honest this half back combination has been together since Junior school! Habberfield and Morgan have gone right through from mini rugby to Wales u20's.

[wales606]

Harsh offside calls from the ref...very harsh!

[wales606]

New Zealand just trying to smash it in the tight, but its easy to defend and eventually turnover, penalty Wales.

[Morgannwg]

So this is why they started with this back-row. Dan Thomas suits the more open games in the nice weather.

[wales606]

Im fairly sure I just saw Morgan drive a forward back and dump him.

Penalty Wales again from NZ's repetitive pick and go.

[wales606]

So this is why they started with this back-row. Dan Thomas suits the more open games in the nice weather.

Yeah, but his carrying was good against Fiji - I expect he will be on in the second half.

Habberfield need to keep the ball away from the rucks.

Penalty NZ for Wales sealing off this time.

[Morgannwg]

Marshal and the Saffa really need to shut up, or attend a commentating course at least. (Jiffy's School of unbiased rugby commentary).

[Shifty]

The ears on that Kiwi Fly Half are not very aero dynamic.

[wales606]

Luckily the NZ 10 is as incompetent as Morgan at kicking in these conditions.

Still 3 - 3

[Morgannwg]

Got a feeling NZ may come out a different team in the 2nd half. They've dominated posession so far.

[wales606]

Wales doing well to force NZ into a kicking battle. Pity Walker hasn't got a great boot.

Now the commentator are insulting Ross Jones who has dealt with everything NZ have kicked at him

[LondonTiger]

Marshal and the Saffa really need to shut up, or attend a commentating course at least. (Jiffy's School of unbiased rugby commentary).

I think they have been pretty impartial. they are talking too much though, and too quickly - we can see what is going on.

[wales606]

Referee is being fairly consistent at least.

The commentators are complaining about the offside decision when Wales had one just as harsh 5 minutes ago.

[chewed_mintie]

loving the updates fellas...keep it coming please!

[wales606]

Sealing again by NZ - good follow up from Wales on that kick.

[Morgannwg]

There was an extra 10 kg in the NZ pack. I think that their number 1 and number 8 make up a quarter of the entire weight on their own. Very big polynesians.

[Shifty]

Marshal and the Saffa really need to shut up, or attend a commentating course at least. (Jiffy's School of unbiased rugby commentary).

Whats wrong with their commentating?
It seems fairly fair to me, often they have pointed out that penalties could of gone either way.

[wales606]

Now the commentators are applauding a backrower powering over a FB...and fail to realise he then got turned over.

Another awful kick by Morgan, still 3 - 3

[Morgannwg]

LT, these guys aren't impartial i'm sorry to say.

[Shifty]

There was an extra 10 kg in the NZ pack. I think that their number 1 and number 8 make up a quarter of the entire weight on their own. Very big polynesians.

that number 1 is in the wrong position he's a blindside flanker not a prop, you can see the way that Sampson is popping him up at the scrums. He may look mean but he's no match for a nasty red head from a gypsy camp, whos cold and in an irritable mood!

[LondonTiger]

This is NZs second choice front row.

[wales606]

Early engage, the first scrum Wales have lost -

Samson Lee angry!

[LondonTiger]

Commentators mention how Jones has had a good half.

[wales606]

Another offside?

NZ with a chance to take the lead on halftime.

[wales606]

Wow, his game is on all over the place...

and they all have to put up with these commentators

6 - 3

Pretty even on chances so far.

[Morgannwg]

This is NZs second choice front row.

Really? I'd be suprised they would play their first choice front row against a weaker scrummaging unit in the previous fixture. I'm suprised you even know this aswell, seeing as every other Kiwi I have spoken to about this U20 team knows so little about them.

[Barney McGrew did it]

Geez some of the most painful rugby I've watched - like 2 pub sides having a bun fight in the mud. Looking forward to seeing some rugby played outside the monsoon season.

[TycroesOsprey]

Well thats not too bad, Welsh playing the conditions well and the Baby blacks dont seem to have their usual aura of invincibility. could be 12-9 if everyone had nailed their kicks. Sam Davies to come on perhaps?

[Morgannwg]

The conditions haven't helped at all have they Barney. I suspect the following fixture on the same pitch may be worse after being cut up the way it is. This isn't the warm-up for the weekend I had in mind.

[CurlyOsp]

anyone got a link for this game please?

[Ospreydragon]

Weather is awful and pitch is a mudpath. Terrible playing conditions. V difficult to score tries.

[Shifty]

This is NZs second choice front row.

Really? I'd be suprised they would play their first choice front row against a weaker scrummaging unit in the previous fixture. I'm suprised you even know this aswell, seeing as every other Kiwi I have spoken to about this U20 team knows so little about them.

I was wondering how you can tell which front row is first and second choice also. It's not as if we get to watch New Zealand U20 in any other place at least Wales have the 6 nations to judge our young players too.

I still say Ofa Tu'ungafasi is not a loose head though, 6'4 is way to big, he can't engage 5'10" Sampson properly who is simply sneaking underneath him and using his 18 stone to drive him back.

[TycroesOsprey]

I think the commentaators had a script and are still using it even though the game isnt turning out the way the thought. NZ scrum in all sorts of trouble but they keep saying what a good scrum it is? I think they did say that the NZ front row was second choice but they have been getting the names of both sides wrong all game. Dont think they did much prep for this game.

[wales606]

Well thats not too bad, Welsh playing the conditions well and the Baby blacks dont seem to have their usual aura of invincibility. could be 12-9 if everyone had nailed their kicks. Sam Davies to come on perhaps?

Not sure if Davies is any better.

Morgan kicked from an angle on halfway for the Ospreys to salvage a draw away to Treviso in the HC - he's normally not a bad kicker, just having an off day in the conditions I guess.

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