U20 JWC Squad

[Banquo]

Dingwall named as capt.

Excellent, his dad will likely fly out there now! He wasn't sure if he'd even be playing given the injury.

[Mellsblue]

[Puja]

That is a good side. Hopeful about this tournament.

Since when can the U20s have 13 subs?

Puja

[Raggs]

Apparently it's 8 subs from the full squad.

[Tigersman]

Very good team.

1 concern is i'm not sold on Manu Vunipola.

[Scrumhead]

Me too. Looks to be one of the weaker links in an otherwise strong side.

[Puja]

What's the next option at 10? Is it a choice between Redpath or De Glanville?

Puja

[twitchy]

Does smith re join the squad now?

[Puja]

Does smith re join the squad now?

No - he withdrew to play in the Barbarians game. In terms of impressing Eddie, it looks to have been the right choice, and could see him in the frame if there was an injury or two.

Puja

[Timbo]

I take it that young Sale flyhalf is injured then? Manu vunipola seems highly rated at Sarries, which is enough for me to think he must be very handy.

For some reason I can see this years team flopping. No particular reason, and it’s clearly another talented squad, just feels like they’re in a tough group....and we’ve got to have a poor year at some point.

[Scrumhead]

I assume you mean Kieran Wilkinson? I think he might be too old now?

Obviously Smith would have made this squad a lot stronger, but as Puja said, his performance yesterday justifies him prioritising the Barbarians game over the JWC.

I don’t see the team ‘flopping’. The back row is excellent for this level, which will make a big difference, the centres are a top quality pairing too who have a rapid, skilful back three outside them. We should do well.

[fivepointer]

Surprised Hardwick wasnt called up. He must be injured.
Vunipola looks OK to me. He's not in the same class as Smith but at U20 level he should be just fine.
Really good looking pack even without Marcus Street.
Incredibly tough opening game. Italy are no mugs and Australia are good this year. We'll do very well to top the pool.

[Scrumhead]

True. Ireland are missing a few key players though.

Italy have definitely improved at this level in recent years and I’d actually be pleased to seem bit of life in Australian rugby.

[Timbo]

I assume you mean Kieran Wilkinson? I think he might be too old now?

Obviously Smith would have made this squad a lot stronger, but as Puja said, his performance yesterday justifies him prioritising the Barbarians game over the JWC.

I don’t see the team ‘flopping’. The back row is excellent for this level, which will make a big difference, the centres are a top quality pairing too who have a rapid, skilful back three outside them. We should do well.

I’m sure Wilkinson played in the u20 6N’s?

Yeah, I’m not suggesting there’s any logic to it, just a feeling. The squad is easily talented enough to go all the way to the final again, and I really like Sleighthome and Seabrook on the wings, both powerful and elusive.

[twitchy]

Surely smith could have rejoined the squad after this fixture? He would make an enormous difference. We already have 3 top class FH's for the WC. I think we could really miss him.

[Adam_P]

Barbeary has copped a very stupid red card. Totally unnecessary

[Tigersman]

would be surprised if Barbeary plays again in the comp.

[Timbo]

Hmm...fair to say this U20 crop have been a massive disappointment.

[fivepointer]

I'm hopping mad with that.
2 ridiculously soft yellows, Barbeary's idiocy, brainless play close to our line, lost line outs and witless kicking.
The ref didnt help us, but Barbeary's was a straight red all day, while we contrived to put ourselves into trouble at regular intervals.
Whats really frustrating is that when we did manage to put the ball through hands we looked very good, scoring 3 neat tries.
Oh well, we can forget getting to the semi's unless something very unusual happens.

[Scrumhead]

Hmm...fair to say this U20 crop have been a massive disappointment.

After one game? That’s a little unfair.

Even excluding Barbeary’s ridiculous red card (him not the decision) our discipline was poor and cost us the game. We played nearly half the game with 14 men so it was always going to be tough. Otherwise, we looked far better than Ireland with ball in hand IMO scoring some nice tries and looked like we’d taken control of the game before Vunipola’s yellow.

Two of Ireland’s tries could easily have been disallowed too. The first for the grounding and another for a boot in touch.

We lost but we’re not a crap team.

[Timbo]

Hmm...fair to say this U20 crop have been a massive disappointment.

After one game? That’s a little unfair.

Even excluding Barbeary’s ridiculous red card (him not the decision) our discipline was poor and cost us the game. We played nearly half the game with 14 men so it was always going to be tough. Otherwise, we looked far better than Ireland with ball in hand IMO scoring some nice tries and looked like we’d taken control of the game before Vunipola’s yellow.

Two of Ireland’s tries could easily have been disallowed too. The first for the grounding and another for a boot in touch.

We lost but we’re not a crap team.

I was including the 6N’s in my assessment too, tbh. This is the 3rd game they’ve lost from 6 played. Set piece and discipline have been a problem throughout, and despite possessing obvious power they seem unable to bring it to bear in the tight.

There’s huge talent in this squad. Possibly unfair, but the spectre of useless Dean Ryan hangs over this group of players, the first he’s really had a chance to bring through.

Ref was terrible today too, tbf.

[Galfon]

Agreed Eng tries were well taken and Sleightholme,Seabrook & Redpath showed good skill & pace.Leads twice thrown away by poor concentration & ill discipline..but the dive at the ruck & whiffy grounding tries appeared hastily given, and the full-back falling onto Vunipola's shoulder to gain a high-tackle yellow seemed harsh.Barbeary's lunacy capped it all - Eng. still in it at that point.Ire's pack seemed hungrier.

[fivepointer]

Hmm...fair to say this U20 crop have been a massive disappointment.

After one game? That’s a little unfair.

Even excluding Barbeary’s ridiculous red card (him not the decision) our discipline was poor and cost us the game. We played nearly half the game with 14 men so it was always going to be tough. Otherwise, we looked far better than Ireland with ball in hand IMO scoring some nice tries and looked like we’d taken control of the game before Vunipola’s yellow.

Two of Ireland’s tries could easily have been disallowed too. The first for the grounding and another for a boot in touch.

We lost but we’re not a crap team.

I was including the 6N’s in my assessment too, tbh. This is the 3rd game they’ve lost from 6 played. Set piece and discipline have been a problem throughout, and despite possessing obvious power they seem unable to bring it to bear in the tight.

There’s huge talent in this squad. Possibly unfair, but the spectre of useless Dean Ryan hangs over this group of players, the first he’s really had a chance to bring through.

Ref was terrible today too, tbf.

Its right to include the 6N's when we lost 2 games we could have won, and didnt play a convincing 80 minutes in the other games either. The veering between high quality excellence to error ridden naivety has been present throughout. Last night was a good illustration of what this team can produce, both the good and the bad.
There is talent in this group. Loads of it but putting together a totally convincing performance over 80 minutes has so far eluded them. They've got 4 games to do it.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

Hmm...fair to say this U20 crop have been a massive disappointment.

After one game? That’s a little unfair.

Even excluding Barbeary’s ridiculous red card (him not the decision) our discipline was poor and cost us the game. We played nearly half the game with 14 men so it was always going to be tough. Otherwise, we looked far better than Ireland with ball in hand IMO scoring some nice tries and looked like we’d taken control of the game before Vunipola’s yellow.

Two of Ireland’s tries could easily have been disallowed too. The first for the grounding and another for a boot in touch.

We lost but we’re not a crap team.

I was including the 6N’s in my assessment too, tbh. This is the 3rd game they’ve lost from 6 played. Set piece and discipline have been a problem throughout, and despite possessing obvious power they seem unable to bring it to bear in the tight.

There’s huge talent in this squad. Possibly unfair, but the spectre of useless Dean Ryan hangs over this group of players, the first he’s really had a chance to bring through.[glow]

Ref was terrible today too, tbf.

Good job the RFU sacked him(ok he jumped before he was pushed to retain some integrity) ironic it was a year to the day that he made his single biggest mistake sacking Fletch and Walts in a manner up there with the worst of all time.

[twitchy]

Get smith on the plane.