-20s World Cup

[Adder]

Australia Scotland live at 17.30 on http://www.worldrugby.org/u20/live-blog/124

[switchskier]

Line out is starting to hurt us but with a man advantage this is the time to beat the Aussies if ever there was one. Impressive kicking from Hastings.

[ARM]

Great win! 15-10.

[switchskier]

Great win! 15-10.

I expect that we haven't beaten them at that level before but have to temper it by noting that Aus played with 14 men for most of the second half.

Usual suspects were very good for us, Hastings and Hutchinson. Fraser looked lively but was panicking and making mistakes towards the end. Faegerson looks great in the loose but the scrum had some issues. Wingers looked lively and most importantly quick.

[hp18]

Great win! 15-10.

I expect that we haven't beaten them at that level before but have to temper it by noting that Aus played with 14 men for most of the second half.

Usual suspects were very good for us, Hastings and Hutchinson. Fraser looked lively but was panicking and making mistakes towards the end. Faegerson looks great in the loose but the scrum had some issues. Wingers looked lively and most importantly quick.

Fagerson is a cracking young player, but the U20 scrum as a unit hasn't fired in a while.

[Cameo]

Totally forgot this was on. That's a great win and hopefully they can now go and attack the tournament rather than fighting not to get relegated to the next tier

[Mellsblue]

Great result. I was reading today about how your age grade results have slowly improved over the years after some real thrashings against the ANZAC nations ten years ago. Let's hope you can build on it. Except against England, again, obviously.

[Adder]

[hugh_woatmeigh]

The task was made a wee bit easier due to the yellows but they were completely deserved. WTF was the ginger aussie thinking for the second card? Bizarre.

We sure do have a lot of talent in this U20 crop. What can be done to ensure they are breaking through sooner rather than later?

[sharvey44]

The task was made a wee bit easier due to the yellows but they were completely deserved. WTF was the ginger aussie thinking for the second card? Bizarre.

We sure do have a lot of talent in this U20 crop. What can be done to ensure they are breaking through sooner rather than later?

We could have had an agreement with another club that bridged the gap between Pro12 and Scots Prem in terms of playing standard......

[hugh_woatmeigh]

The task was made a wee bit easier due to the yellows but they were completely deserved. WTF was the ginger aussie thinking for the second card? Bizarre.

We sure do have a lot of talent in this U20 crop. What can be done to ensure they are breaking through sooner rather than later?

We could have had an agreement with another club that bridged the gap between Pro12 and Scots Prem in terms of playing standard......

I was going to mention that but I don't recall that many U20 lads going down. They're usually a bit older/fringey.

[Mellsblue]

The task was made a wee bit easier due to the yellows but they were completely deserved. WTF was the ginger aussie thinking for the second card? Bizarre.

We sure do have a lot of talent in this U20 crop. What can be done to ensure they are breaking through sooner rather than later?

We could have had an agreement with another club that bridged the gap between Pro12 and Scots Prem in terms of playing standard......

I was going to mention that but I don't recall that many U20 lads going down. They're usually a bit older/fringey.

I think there was going to be a lot higher proportion of u20 players this year. Bedford will have some - backrow and back three, please.

[sharvey44]

The task was made a wee bit easier due to the yellows but they were completely deserved. WTF was the ginger aussie thinking for the second card? Bizarre.

We sure do have a lot of talent in this U20 crop. What can be done to ensure they are breaking through sooner rather than later?

We could have had an agreement with another club that bridged the gap between Pro12 and Scots Prem in terms of playing standard......

I was going to mention that but I don't recall that many U20 lads going down. They're usually a bit older/fringey.

The majority of the "famous fourteen" were going to be u20s.

[hugh_woatmeigh]

We could have had an agreement with another club that bridged the gap between Pro12 and Scots Prem in terms of playing standard......

I was going to mention that but I don't recall that many U20 lads going down. They're usually a bit older/fringey.

The majority of the "famous fourteen" were going to be u20s.

Then the SRU have well and truly buggered up. The only comparable alternative to this is a third pro team... It's essential to keep the development momentum going.

[switchskier]

We could have had an agreement with another club that bridged the gap between Pro12 and Scots Prem in terms of playing standard......

I was going to mention that but I don't recall that many U20 lads going down. They're usually a bit older/fringey.

I think there was going to be a lot higher proportion of u20 players this year. Bedford will have some - backrow and back three, please.

How about Ally Miller (backrow) and Ben Robbins (wing)? Both earmarked to go to LS until a couple of weeks ago and both quite far from getting pro-team starts (though a bit baffling given our lack of talent on the wings). These guys need to be playing every week and championship would be better than scottish prem.

[Cameo]

I actually think both yellows looked a bit harsh but great win none the less.

I am more ambivalent about the LS thing than the rest of you though. A much higher proportion of that team are playing pro rugby than usually and if others are good enough it shouldnt be beyond the realms of possibility to get them a championship club without needing a formal tie up

[Mellsblue]

I actually think both yellows looked a bit harsh but great win none the less.

I am more ambivalent about the LS thing than the rest of you though. A much higher proportion of that team are playing pro rugby than usually and if others are good enough it shouldnt be beyond the realms of possibility to get them a championship club without needing a formal tie up

You wouldn't want to loan your players to any old club as the difference between top and bottom is huge. Taking Bedford as an example, we came fourth last year but still only train two evenings a week. Would your youngsters suffer by not training full time even if the weekends provided higher quality rugby. At least two clubs will have no interest in your players as they have RFU funded academies, this season it's Leeds and L. Irish. On top of this some clubs have links with Prem clubs though, strangely, I think most links are with NLD1 clubs (Quins - Esher/Henley, Saints - Cambridge, Glos - Hartpury, Exeter - Plymouth). For example, Bedford normally have 5/6 of Sarries senior academy players and there are rumours we are having a more formal tie-up with Wasps who provided us with a couple of top quality players last year. Finally, the clubs need to average 17 EQP players on match day to qualify for the RFU bribe. Scottish u20s won't help towards that.

If the rumours about a formal Bedford - Wasps tie-up is true it may lead to Sarries sending their youngsters to LS. That's based on some very loose rumours and a huge stretch of the imagination, though.

[Cameo]

I actually think both yellows looked a bit harsh but great win none the less.

I am more ambivalent about the LS thing than the rest of you though. A much higher proportion of that team are playing pro rugby than usually and if others are good enough it shouldnt be beyond the realms of possibility to get them a championship club without needing a formal tie up

You wouldn't want to loan your players to any old club as the difference between top and bottom is huge. Taking Bedford as an example, we came fourth last year but still only train two evenings a week. Would your youngsters suffer by not training full time even if the weekends provided higher quality rugby. At least two clubs will have no interest in your players as they have RFU funded academies, this season it's Leeds and L. Irish. On top of this some clubs have links with Prem clubs though, strangely, I think most links are with NLD1 clubs (Quins - Esher/Henley, Saints - Cambridge, Glos - Hartpury, Exeter - Plymouth). For example, Bedford normally have 5/6 of Sarries senior academy players and there are rumours we are having a more formal tie-up with Wasps who provided us with a couple of top quality players last year. Finally, the clubs need to average 17 EQP players on match day to qualify for the RFU bribe. Scottish u20s won't help towards that.

If the rumours about a formal Bedford - Wasps tie-up is true it may lead to Sarries sending their youngsters to LS. That's based on some very loose rumours and a huge stretch of the imagination, though.

That's interesting thanks. I see your point but i suppose if one of their issues was how LS was being run some of the criticisms could apply to them too. I may have oversimplified it

[Mellsblue]

I actually think both yellows looked a bit harsh but great win none the less.

I am more ambivalent about the LS thing than the rest of you though. A much higher proportion of that team are playing pro rugby than usually and if others are good enough it shouldnt be beyond the realms of possibility to get them a championship club without needing a formal tie up

You wouldn't want to loan your players to any old club as the difference between top and bottom is huge. Taking Bedford as an example, we came fourth last year but still only train two evenings a week. Would your youngsters suffer by not training full time even if the weekends provided higher quality rugby. At least two clubs will have no interest in your players as they have RFU funded academies, this season it's Leeds and L. Irish. On top of this some clubs have links with Prem clubs though, strangely, I think most links are with NLD1 clubs (Quins - Esher/Henley, Saints - Cambridge, Glos - Hartpury, Exeter - Plymouth). For example, Bedford normally have 5/6 of Sarries senior academy players and there are rumours we are having a more formal tie-up with Wasps who provided us with a couple of top quality players last year. Finally, the clubs need to average 17 EQP players on match day to qualify for the RFU bribe. Scottish u20s won't help towards that.

If the rumours about a formal Bedford - Wasps tie-up is true it may lead to Sarries sending their youngsters to LS. That's based on some very loose rumours and a huge stretch of the imagination, though.

That's interesting thanks. I see your point but i suppose if one of their issues was how LS was being run some of the criticisms could apply to them too. I may have oversimplified it

It's a shame. The Eng age grade players have helped up the standard in the Champ whilst gaining valuable experience. It's been a real positive where it's happened. The Scots youngster would've increased that two way benefit.

[sharvey44]

One thing that people may not realise is that clubs generally don't have to pay a huge amount for dual reg youngsters in England. So in the case of LS where Quins and Sarries have provided some dual reg u20s players only a match fee is paid by LS. In respect to a Scots u20 the club would have to pay accommodation and wages for each player.

Back on topic. Not sure I disagree with the 2nd yellow. It was a dangerous neck roll tackle. It was just unfortunate that the player had already picked up another yellow card.

[Croft_No.5]

Totally agree with the second card, it was extremely dangerous and the ref did say it was specifically the speed of the action that was critical. I am glad this aspect of play is being policed, but noticed even in the highlights a couple of instances where it went unpunished.

[Cameo]

Totally agree with the second card, it was extremely dangerous and the ref did say it was specifically the speed of the action that was critical. I am glad this aspect of play is being policed, but noticed even in the highlights a couple of instances where it went unpunished.

What do you reckon on the first? I can see arguments for both but to me they just both looked a little soft. Neither outrageous but unfortunate when they add up to a red.

They you could equally say having got a yellow you need to be extra careful

[hp18]

Totally agree with the second card, it was extremely dangerous and the ref did say it was specifically the speed of the action that was critical. I am glad this aspect of play is being policed, but noticed even in the highlights a couple of instances where it went unpunished.

What do you reckon on the first? I can see arguments for both but to me they just both looked a little soft. Neither outrageous but unfortunate when they add up to a red.

They you could equally say having got a yellow you need to be extra careful

Tipped and dropped, they're young guys who could easily cripple each other. No sympathy.

[Croft_No.5]

The first perhaps a little harsh but again it was legs above the horizontal and no controlled return to the ground. And yes should have been more careful from then on. Disappointing for the lad but tough, we won

[Tobylerone]

Sadly, both Graham and Hutchinson are out of tournament..