Final U20 team named for Australia contest

The New Zealand team to face Australia on Sunday for fifth place in the World Rugby Under 20 Championship 2016 in Salford, England, is as follows:
  1. Ayden Johnstone
  2. Leni Apisai (C)
  3. Sosefo Kautai
  4. Quinten Strange
  5. Hamish Dalzell
  6. Luke Jacobson
  7. Mitchell Jacobson    
  8. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u
  9. Sam Nock
10. Stephen Perofeta
11. Jonah Lowe
12. Jordie Barrett
13. Patelesio Tomkinson
14. Caleb Makene
15. Shaun Stevenson

Reserves:
16. Asafo Aumua
17. Sean Paranihi
18. Alex Fidow
19. Hapakuki Moala Liava’a
20. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u
21. Jonathan Taumateine
22. TJ Va’a
23. Peter Umaga Jensen


Head Coach Scott Robertson, along with Assistant Coaches Craig Philpott and Willie Rickards, have made three changes to the match day 23 which recorded an impressive 71-12 victory over Wales on Thursday. Prop Ayden Johnstone replaces Sean Paranihi who drops to the bench, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u reclaims the number 8 jersey from Hapakuki Moala Liava’a, while Peter Umaga Jensen will start from the bench, having flown over to join the squad as injury cover.

Robertson was understandably delighted with the performance against Wales. “It was a great day. The shackles were off and we just wanted to express ourselves and take a little of our frustration and disappointment at not getting through to the top four. We played some good footy which is what we’re here for. These young guys are very talented and they showed that. I was most impressed with our ruthless execution and our ability to play from anywhere. Our kicking into space turned them around. They only left one player in the back field and we exposed that.”

The fifth place decider against Australia gives Robertson’s young charges another opportunity to face a team they drew 1-1 with earlier in the year in a thrilling series.

“The game plan this week is around playing to our strengths and creating opportunities and being fully respectful of Australia. In our preparation we’ve realised that they’ve played some really good footy and they got some really good players across the board. In our review and preview for this game we’ve discussed what was the difference between our preparation between the first and second tests against Australia, as it wasn’t as good second time around. That lesson’s long learnt and we’re really focused. It’s very exciting: if we’re going to play any team in your final game it might as well be Australia.

“We haven’t changed too much for this game and we’re keen to keep on expressing ourselves. We want to finish well, although it’s never going to make up for our disappointment, the least we can do is to make everyone proud at home and ourselves as well. It’s a really tight group, as tight as last year, and they’ve worked as hard as last year.”


Live Broadcast
New Zealand v Australia will be broadcast live on SKY Sports 1 from 3.35am NZT.
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New Zealand U20 playing schedule (local times):
Saturday, 25 June 4.45pm (Sunday 26 June, 3.45am NZT) v Australia, AJ Bell Stadium, Salford
Tuesday, 7 June (Wednesday 8 June, NZT)
New Zealand 55-0 Georgia
Saturday, 11 June (Sunday 12 June, NZT)
New Zealand 24-33 Ireland
Wednesday, 15 June (Thursday 16 June, NZT)
New Zealand 18-17 Wales
Wednesday, 20 June 3.15pm (Thursday 21 June, NZT)
New Zealand 71-12 Wales