2016 World Rugby U20 Championship - Tournament Thread

[George Carlin]

First topic message reminder :

Can't see a tournament thread, so here we go.

The 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship will be the ninth annual international rugby union competition for Under 20 national teams.

The event is being organised in England by rugby's governing body, World Rugby. A total of 12 nations will play in the tournament, which will be held at two venues in Greater Manchester—AJ Bell Stadium in Salford and Manchester City Academy Stadium in Manchester.

New Zealand will go into the tournament as defending champions.

Pool A: New Zealand, Wales, Ireland, Georgia

Match 5: 7 June 2016 Wales 25 - 26 Ireland
Match 3: 7 June 2016 New Zealand 55 - 0 Georgia
Match 10: 11 June 2016 New Zealand 24 - 33 Ireland
Match 11: 11 June 2016 Wales 10 - 9 Georgia
Match 17: 15 June 2016 Ireland v Georgia
Match 14: 15 June 2016 New Zealand v Wales

Pool B: England, Australia, Scotland, Italy

Match 2: 7 June 2016 Australia 10 - 15 Scotland
Match 6: 7 June 2016 England 48 - 10 Italy
Match 7: 11 June 2016 Australia 38 - 10 Italy
Match 12: 11 June 2016 England 44 - 0 Scotland
Match 16: 15 June 2016 Scotland v Italy
Match 15: 15 June 2016 England v Australia

Pool C: South Africa, France, Argentina, Japan

Match 1: 7 June 2016 France 15 - 24 Argentina
Match 4: 7 June 2016 South Africa 59 - 19 Japan
Match 8: 11 June 2016 France 46 - 14 Japan
Match 9: 11 June 2016 South Africa 13 - 19 Argentina
Match 13: 15 June 2016 Argentina v Japan
Match 18: 15 June 2016 South Africa v France

Good luck, everyone.

[toml]

Ireland wales was a super game. Gritty performance from Ireland after a blistering start from Wales

[RDW]

Ooft - aus try ruled out by the TMO

Scotland winning 15-10 with 4 to go!

[RDW]

We won!!

[Pot Hale]

Good results by Scotland and Ireland. Congrats to both teams.

[toml]

Congrats Scotland... Any standouts?

[whocares]

Great result for Scotland. They seem to be the flavour of the spring after the 7s win. Shame the senior team is not touring NZ, you would never know what could happen

[RDW]

It was a strange game - we didn't actually play very well with a poor scrum and lineout, plus some poor decision making. We were particularly bad at closing out the game.

Australia made a lot of mistakes too and had their 13 red carded for a 2nd yellow - classy looking player but he looked like he's got real discipline/agfeesion issues!

Scotland wing Darcy Graham scored an incredible solo try!

[RDW]

Wait, Ireland won?? Wales were a class apart the last message I saw on here!

[nickj]

Boom. There we bloody go!

[yappysnap]

England just finding their feet at the moment.

English line out is terrible, truly truly terrible, that's not helping.

[SecretFly]

I actually couldn't watch the Ireland v Wales game.  I saw maybe 10 or 15 minutes of it.  It was so painful.  I wanted to hang the blasted coach that prepared that team to go into a serious World Championship , a Championship taken so seriously by others.

I don't mind a game where there is effort and it's being knocked back with class (admittedly that's what was happening as Wales looked so good) but I felt Ireland looked too bad.  I was totally embarrassed.

So embarrassment turns to shame and shock.  Sorry guys for the lack of belief.
No excuse for that beginning though.

[Cumbrian]

Mallinder putting an eye catching performance for England, he seems to have everything we need at the moment. Big, strong, great hands can kick and has time on the ball. ( The opposition excepted). Wonder if he will be fast tracked?

[Cumbrian]

Think the Italian number 8, flyhalf and fullback have potential. Not seeing what the commentators are saying about the Italian tighthead, getting pinged alot.

[LeinsterFan4life]

I actually couldn't watch the Ireland v Wales game.  I saw maybe 10 or 15 minutes of it.  It was so painful.  I wanted to hang the blasted coach that prepared that team to go into a serious World Championship , a Championship taken so seriously by others.

I don't mind a game where there is effort and it's being knocked back with class (admittedly that's what was happening as Wales looked so good) but I felt Ireland looked too bad.  I was totally embarrassed.

So embarrassment turns to shame and shock.  Sorry guys for the lack of belief.
No excuse for that beginning though.

I hope PhilBB didn't see it. I don't think his heart could take a defeat to Ireland like that.

[toml]

I actually couldn't watch the Ireland v Wales game.  I saw maybe 10 or 15 minutes of it.  It was so painful.  I wanted to hang the blasted coach that prepared that team to go into a serious World Championship , a Championship taken so seriously by others.

I don't mind a game where there is effort and it's being knocked back with class (admittedly that's what was happening as Wales looked so good) but I felt Ireland looked too bad.  I was totally embarrassed.

So embarrassment turns to shame and shock.  Sorry guys for the lack of belief.
No excuse for that beginning though.

I was exactly the same and ready to slam them swell, but I kept watching and they showed a lot of grit and resilience. Wales did get out of the blocks quick but Ireland looked seriously dopey in the opening 25. After that they were smart enough to change the game plan and there were a few useful players out there. The young Connacht 9 was very quick to every ruck and didn't waste time getting the ball out. Porter was some ball carrier too.

[Pot Hale]

I actually couldn't watch the Ireland v Wales game.  I saw maybe 10 or 15 minutes of it.  It was so painful.  I wanted to hang the blasted coach that prepared that team to go into a serious World Championship , a Championship taken so seriously by others.

I don't mind a game where there is effort and it's being knocked back with class (admittedly that's what was happening as Wales looked so good) but I felt Ireland looked too bad.  I was totally embarrassed.

So embarrassment turns to shame and shock.  Sorry guys for the lack of belief.
No excuse for that beginning though.

It's the classic Irish rope a dope. Let them put 20 points on us, lads, then we can start playing as they'll already be on the bus back home.

[The Great Aukster]

Let's face it Ireland are a pretty ordinary team this year with really only Ryan and McBurney as standouts... but 1 to 15 they have a lot of heart and exceptional discipline - Porter, O'Brien, Gallagher and Deegan all gave it 100%.

I hope the Welsh lock gets a lengthy ban for the gouging, there is no place for that at any level. Can't say I felt sorry that Dan Jones cost his team the game either given his theatrical simulation in the last 6N meeting.

[aucklandlaurie]

Baby Blacks were more than matched at scrum time by the Georgian pack,
Good ball movement and pace to score nine tries, but this is early days.

[mikey_dragon]

Just caught up, first of all well done Ireland but for most of the game I thought you were pretty average and benefited from a strange breakdown interpretation and Wales errors. Secondly well done Dan Jones for continuing your erratic play and hopeless goal-kicking, that cost us the match. Wales must have played about 30 minutes of rugby and then relaxed a bit, where-as Ireland upped the tempo as the game went on. We won't get far playing that way.

[mikey_dragon]

And well done Scotland, pretty good team in the 6N and they've carried it forward.

[profitius]

Well done Scotland. I thought it could be a close game as the Scots are strong this year.

Let's face it Ireland are a pretty ordinary team this year with really only Ryan and McBurney as standouts... but 1 to 15 they have a lot of heart and exceptional discipline - Porter, O'Brien, Gallagher and Deegan all gave it 100%.

Most of that team is highly rated. The problem is they're not expected to do well because of a lack of experience and most not been members of provincial academies. Of todays squad, only Stockdale has played Pro12 rugby. Arnold and Conan O'Donnell also have but they're injured. Ireland usually have few players who played in the competition the year before and theres a lot of chopping and changing eg 4 debutants in todays squad.

[profitius]

Just caught up, first of all well done Ireland but for most of the game I thought you were pretty average and benefited from a strange breakdown interpretation and Wales errors. Secondly well done Dan Jones for continuing your erratic play and hopeless goal-kicking, that cost us the match. Wales must have played about 30 minutes of rugby and then relaxed a bit, where-as Ireland upped the tempo as the game went on. We won't get far playing that way.

I wouldn't blame Dan Jones for costing Wales the match. He looked their best back and created 2 lovely tries as well. Wales' problem was they tried the bosh approach and it didn't work.

[mikey_dragon]

Well to be fair Profitius the bosh approach works quite well. It's just Ireland decided to stop trying to outmuscle Wales and kept the ball moving, always looking to get it wide. That's where we were vulnerable in the 6N. It's disappointing that we didn't counter that. Dan Jones the good player that he is doesn't quite have what it takes by the look of it. His goal-kicking is awful and when there's space he usually kicks the ball away. Had he nailed his kicks it would probably be a different story but I'd still be disappointed at the fact we couldn't raise the tempo.

[George Carlin]

OP updated to reflect yesterday's results.

The Scotland, Argentina and Ireland wins are the standouts.

WhoCares - what happened!??

[RDW]

http://www.worldrugby.org/video/167335

Scotland highlights here.

The Aussie 13 really let his team down and really needs to have a look at himself - that's not the way to play aggressively!

First yellow was an utterly needless late tip tackle and the 2nd was a dangerous grab round the neck then throw to the ground. Could argue that the 2nd was a straight red on its own!

[RDW]

Why all the doom and gloom from the Irish??

Sounds like you have an inexperienced team that played badly, yet you managed to beat a talented Welsh team who set their sights high this tournament.

I know you Irish are more comfortable being a bunch of miserable feckers but surely winning is a good thing??

[LondonTiger]

For England, thought Mallinder took time to settle - almost trying too hard to make things happen, but was good when he calmed down. Marchant I thought looked excellent but the lineout was appalling with Sintleton really struggling with his throwing.

[Tattie Scones RRN]

Watched the highlights of the NZ game.

I reckon that team would beat many senior tier 2 nations.

Unbelievable ball handling.

[whocares]

WhoCares - what happened!??

France dominated (at least physically) more or less till the 60th minute but their lack of efficiency , awareness and poor ball handling cost them as they failed to convert a lot of opportunities. they were penalized a lot during the 2H and Argentina converted a couple of penalties and scored two back to back tries at the end (70th and 74th minute). typical French side in a way who can only win if they can bully the opponent , some players were frankly poor and do not have the right level. it shows there is always the same problem in France age grade rugby where kids do not polish their individual skills and spend more time in rucks and scrums. Argentina has like a 10th of the player base that France has but those guys know how to throw a pass at least.

[marty2086]

Just caught up, first of all well done Ireland but for most of the game I thought you were pretty average and benefited from a strange breakdown interpretation and Wales errors. Secondly well done Dan Jones for continuing your erratic play and hopeless goal-kicking, that cost us the match. Wales must have played about 30 minutes of rugby and then relaxed a bit, where-as Ireland upped the tempo as the game went on. We won't get far playing that way.

What strange interpretation? I thought Wales got lucky for I think it was their 1st try, about 2/3 phases before the score a Welsh player clearly went of his feet at the breakdown, not the only time it happened, not to mention a possible knock on that followed

Johnston at 10 for Ireland was poor for me, don't think he attacked the gain line once with ball in hand and simply looked like a place holder in open play

[eirebilly]

Still cant believe that Ireland beat Wales. Wales must now beat the baby black to progress I would feel. Great job by the young lads

[George Carlin]

WhoCares - what happened!??

France dominated (at least physically) more or less till the 60th minute but their lack of efficiency , awareness and poor ball handling cost them as they failed to convert a lot of opportunities. they were penalized a lot during the 2H and Argentina converted a couple of penalties and scored two back to back tries at the end (70th and 74th minute). typical French side in a way who can only win if they can bully the opponent , some players were frankly poor and do not have the right level. it shows there is always the same problem in France age grade rugby where kids do not polish their individual skills and spend more time in rucks and scrums. Argentina has like a 10th of the player base that France has but those guys know how to throw a pass at least.

I feel your pain amigo. What is the problem in France? I always thought that the academy level setup was good with the larger clubs like Toulouse.

[whocares]

am talking about kids here GC (i.e. 14 yo and below), that's when you have to "hone" those skills.
at academy level (older) you are meant to learn other things (tactics etc).

[international198]

I don't know why people are blaming Dan Jones for Wales' loss. If it wasn't for Dan Jones Wales would have lost the game by more than 1 point, IMO. He's only 20 he has time to work on his goal kicking and I'm sure he'll improve as he matures.

[SecretFly]

It seems that in France there are two philosophical tribes
- one tribe that believes in weight, scrum, enforcer-type linebreakers and hard-at-it forward menace
- the other tribe believe in perpetual motion, complex geometric bamboozle passing, punishing pace and evasion.

The two philosophies haven't found a happy medium and there doesn't seem to be anyone there to weld the two into a whole, players instead deciding for themselves what they're trying to do.

It's always like a jigsaw missing always and only one piece to bind it.

[profitius]

Why all the doom and gloom from the Irish??

Sounds like you have an inexperienced team that played badly, yet you managed to beat a talented Welsh team who set their sights high this tournament.

I know you Irish are more comfortable being a bunch of miserable feckers but surely winning is a good thing??

They only played badly for the first quarter. After that they played well with some great offloading and length of the field attacks. But looking at the posts, I wouldn't blame you for getting that impression!

[RDW]

So the only conclusion is then that the Irish do in fact prefer to be a bunch of miserable feckers!

[mikey_dragon]

Just caught up, first of all well done Ireland but for most of the game I thought you were pretty average and benefited from a strange breakdown interpretation and Wales errors. Secondly well done Dan Jones for continuing your erratic play and hopeless goal-kicking, that cost us the match. Wales must have played about 30 minutes of rugby and then relaxed a bit, where-as Ireland upped the tempo as the game went on. We won't get far playing that way.

What strange interpretation? I thought Wales got lucky for I think it was their 1st try, about 2/3 phases before the score a Welsh player clearly went of his feet at the breakdown, not the only time it happened, not to mention a possible knock on that followed

Johnston at 10 for Ireland was poor for me, don't think he attacked the gain line once with ball in hand and simply looked like a place holder in open play

It wasn't no slight on Ireland. It's that thing where the tackler gets trapped in the ruck and can't move, but is clearly not interfering with play yet he gets penalised - SH refs do this a lot and Wales got pinged that way at least three times. I and others have commented before that refs should show empathy here. I didn't see a possible knock-on, but if you're looking for stuff like that you'll be here all week.

Congratulations on the win. If you can grow into the tournament like you grew into the game yesterday you can top this group, and yes beating the Baby Blacks along the way - I feel I should wish you good luck with that one!

[Golden]

Only saw the second half but i thought the Welsh 12 looked good. Is there no one else in that side that can kick? Evans does seem to miss a lot of shots at goal.

[marty2086]

Just caught up, first of all well done Ireland but for most of the game I thought you were pretty average and benefited from a strange breakdown interpretation and Wales errors. Secondly well done Dan Jones for continuing your erratic play and hopeless goal-kicking, that cost us the match. Wales must have played about 30 minutes of rugby and then relaxed a bit, where-as Ireland upped the tempo as the game went on. We won't get far playing that way.

What strange interpretation? I thought Wales got lucky for I think it was their 1st try, about 2/3 phases before the score a Welsh player clearly went of his feet at the breakdown, not the only time it happened, not to mention a possible knock on that followed

Johnston at 10 for Ireland was poor for me, don't think he attacked the gain line once with ball in hand and simply looked like a place holder in open play

It wasn't no slight on Ireland. It's that thing where the tackler gets trapped in the ruck and can't move, but is clearly not interfering with play yet he gets penalised - SH refs do this a lot and Wales got pinged that way at least three times. I and others have commented before that refs should show empathy here. I didn't see a possible knock-on, but if you're looking for stuff like that you'll be here all week.

Congratulations on the win. If you can grow into the tournament like you grew into the game yesterday you can top this group, and yes beating the Baby Blacks along the way - I feel I should wish you good luck with that one!

I agree on the getting trapped, though there was a case of a Welsh player rolling into the Irish 9 that wasn't penalised

Watching schools rugby its strange how much less players get trapped in rucks, makes me think there is less cynical play at that level

[Jimpy]

Just caught up, first of all well done Ireland but for most of the game I thought you were pretty average and benefited from a strange breakdown interpretation and Wales errors. Secondly well done Dan Jones for continuing your erratic play and hopeless goal-kicking, that cost us the match. Wales must have played about 30 minutes of rugby and then relaxed a bit, where-as Ireland upped the tempo as the game went on. We won't get far playing that way.

I wouldn't blame Dan Jones for costing Wales the match. He looked their best back and created 2 lovely tries as well. Wales' problem was they tried the bosh approach and it didn't work.

The whole Welsh game is permeated by Gatland ball.

[mikey_dragon]

Oh don't worry Jimpy I'm sure England won't get far enough in this tournament to get humiliated by Wales again on their home turf.

[No 7&1/2]

I'm assuming you mean the full world cup? If so don't put yourself down, a narrow defeat to a team as good as Wales isn't humiliating.

[SecretFly]

I'm assuming you mean the full world cup? If so don't put yourself down, a narrow defeat to a team as good as Wales isn't humiliating.

Well said.

[mikey_dragon]

No, but never mind. What was England's result anyway? Nobody has bothered to post it.

[RDW]

England pumped Italy as expected - something the BBC website led with instead of Scotland's big upset or the dramatic game between Ireland and Wales, which got a minor mention at the end of the article!

[Jimpy]

Oh don't worry Jimpy I'm sure England won't get far enough in this tournament to get humiliated by Wales again on their home turf.

Of course - NZ will put Wales out in the next game regardless, so England don't have to fear the 'mighty' Welsh.... pmsl.

[lostinwales]

No, but never mind. What was England's result anyway? Nobody has bothered to post it.

48-10

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36475784

[Jimpy]

No, but never mind. What was England's result anyway? Nobody has bothered to post it.

48-10

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/36475784

It could have been 20 points more if England had managed to win a line-out....their set piece throw-in was a shambles.

[Jimpy]

England pumped Italy as expected - something the BBC website led with instead of Scotland's big upset or the dramatic game between Ireland and Wales, which got a minor mention at the end of the article!

Actually, it didn't. The headline was all about Eddie Jones showing his players videos about 'Bodyline'....

The Scotland and England games got equal billing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union

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