NZU20 team named to play England in semifinal

NZU20 team named to play England in semifinal

New Zealand Under 20 Head Coach Chris Boyd has named his team to play England in the semifinals of the 2013 IRB Junior World Championship in France on Tuesday night (Wednesday 19 June NZ time).

Boyd has made three changes from the starting XV that beat Ireland 31-26 in their final pool match played last Friday morning. All three changes are in the forward pack: Sione Mafileo comes back into the run-on XV after starting against both Fiji and Australia in pool play, while Scott Barrett and Adam Burn will join Mafileo in a rearranged forward pack. Barrett will start at lock and Burn will wear the number 8 jersey with Joseph Edwards moving back to the blindside flank.

The backline remains unchanged from the team that played Ireland with Tayler Adams starting at halfback, linking with Simon Hickey at first five-eighth. Michael Collins and Jason Emery start in the mid-field and the dynamic back three of Fa’asiu Fuatai, Lolagi Visinia and Joseph Webber will all start in this must-win game for the New Zealand team.

Prior to the New Zealand and England game, South Africa plays Wales in the first semifinal which will also take place at Stade de la Rabine in Vannes. Kick-off for this game is 4.15am (NZT).

Openside flanker Ardie Savea will again lead the New Zealand team.

The New Zealand Under 20 team selected to play England is:
1. Donald Brighouse (Wellington)
2. Epalahame Faiva (Waikato)
3. Sione Mafileo (North Harbour)
4. Scott Barrett (Canterbury)
5. Patrick Tuipulotu (Auckland)
6. Joseph Edwards (Auckland)
7. Ardie Savea – captain (Wellington)
8. Adam Burn (Waikato)
9. Tayler Adams (Southland)
10. Simon Hickey (Auckland)
11. Fa’asiu Fuatai (Otago)
12. Michael Collins (Otago)
13. Jason Emery (Manawatu)
14. Lolagi Visinia (Auckland)
15. Joseph Webber (Waikato)

Reserves
16. Nick Grogan (Manawatu)
17. Daniel Lienert-Brown (Canterbury)
18. Christopher Vui (Auckland)
19. Jordan Manihera (North Harbour)
20. Teihorangi Walden (Otago)
21. Sheridan Rangihuna (Hawke's Bay)
22. Jade Te Rure (Manawatu)
23. Boyd Wiggins (North Harbour)

New Zealand plays England at Stade de la Rabine, Vannes, France early Wednesday morning. Kick-off is at 6.45am (NZ Time). All of New Zealand’s matches will be broadcast live on Maori Television with coverage of Wednesday’s game starting from 6.45am. Click here for match broadcast details

Head Coach: Chris Boyd
Assistant Coaches: Chris Gibbes and Liam Barry
Manager: Paul McLaughlan

i think i may have seriopusly underestimated some of the teams in the JWC, especially the 6nat teams ireland, wales, england frnace and also the aussies.

SA couldnt really assert themseleves over the french and english and NZ struggled to do the same against ireland and australia, so hats of the other teams, cos at the beginning of the comp i pegged NZ and SA to run away with it.

i still think SA and NZ will replay lasy years finals this year, but the semi final matches wont be a pushover. but SA enter their semis with a case of the unknowns against wales who havent really been tested. the welsh did beat los pumitas though and one cant forget the test sereis victory that had over the jrBoks back in april, so many variables to consider.

NZ have england and england proved a worthy opponent against the Boks, but are in a little better of a position, considering the Boks match can be a rough guesstimation of what to expect.

interesting semis these ones and good luck to both teams, i hope the NZ u20s meet the jrBoks in the finals, but i have to admit i wouldnt be upset one bit if the Boks were to lose to the wlesh, lolz, :o)

@mikey,

an all NH final??? o_O

havent seen the odds, but i would be shocked if both the jrBoks and NZ u20s team werent favourites.

i am worried about both england and wales, but i still expect both our teams to win.