U20 World Championship

[Lizard]

Results of round 1:

Pool A
The Small Blacks pumped the poor old Baby Blossoms, 67 - nil.
The Joeys were pipped by the Tadpoles, 26 - 21.

Pool B
The Rose Buds* beat the Puma Cubs esily, 38-18
The Thistle Seeds somehow fucked it up against the Azzurini, who nicked it with a try in the 82nd minute, 27-26!

Pool C
The Bavshvi** Lelos acquitted themselves well but twice gave up a lead against the Baby*** Boks, losing 33-27
Les Bleusette came back well against Itty-Bitty Ireland, 26-24

Semis are Pool winners plus the runner-up with the most match points (ties broken by PD).

*Do NOT Google image search this term at work
**I believe this is the accepted transliteration of ბავშვი
**Disappointingly this is the same in Afrikaans as in English

[Puja]

Surely the Tadpoles should be the name for the baby French? The Welsh could be the Shallots.

Your game against the Japanese was embarrassing - they looked terrified every time you ran the ball at them and I wouldn't be surprised if their team metres made was over 100 in the minus column.

Puja

[Lizard]

Surely the Tadpoles should be the name for the baby French? The Welsh could be the Shallots.

Your game against the Japanese was embarrassing - they looked terrified every time you ran the ball at them and I wouldn't be surprised if their team metres made was over 100 in the minus column.

Puja

I haven't seen full highlights but if this video is any indication, I guess the Japanese are saving themselves for later matches:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/a ... d=12061820

[scuzzaman]

New Zealand v Australia this Thursday. Always a fun time.

[zer0]

Looking at the results so far, they've have been quite close (wins ranging from 2-13 points) except for the England and NZ matches (and Australia against Japan, but that seems to be more about Japan not being that good). So, I guess we're looking at England/NZ being the most likely final, again?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Looking at the results so far, they've have been quite close (wins ranging from 2-13 points) except for the England and NZ matches (and Australia against Japan, but that seems to be more about Japan not being that good). So, I guess we're looking at England/NZ being the most likely final, again?

Not after that French performance. Jeez their pack was brutal tonight!!!

Your pool for next year is already decided after today’s results:
NZ
SA
Georgia
Scotland

Nice.

[zer0]

Oh well. Would've been nice to win, but a close semifinal is good enough to suggest that the development is still chugging along, which is most important at this level.

Though I read that England has won every final they've played against not-NZ opposition (3-0), but lost every final against NZ (0-5). Here's hoping le Frenchies can blemish that record...

EDIT:

"Of the France U20 23 today 18 played senior pro rugby for their clubs this season, between them 175 matches, 81 starts, 7223 minutes. Easily the most of any side in the comp. By comparison NZ U20 had 11 who played ITM Cup rugby, between them 48 matches, 23 starts, 2219 minutes."

https://twitter.com/T2Rugby/status/1006650037387096064

Quite a stark difference.

[rowan]

French pack is awesome. I think they'll win it on home soil. All Northern final makes a slight mockery of running a thread on this forum, however. I've been updating the tournament in the Global Results thread - and have just put a vid of the Baby Poms' win in the Awesome Videos thread.

[morepork]

I'm sorry, did you just plug your own thread on another board on the basis of this one not being relevant?

You sad little man.