RugbyRebels

Been a bit of a banana skin team that! But seen it through and another final! Should have been easier but it’s results that matter!

Nasty head on head - gotta be red (after review)
NZ11 on Fr9

Can we please steal the French halfbacks?

France near unplayable.

Gotta love a SH being pinged for taking too long once the ball is won.
Feels harsh when said SH is actually the FB

55-31, NZ U20's biggest ever defeat - up 4 from last year's defeat by France

They're going to rip us a new one

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sun Jul 14, 2024 7:36 pm Can we please steal the French halfbacks?

The production line of French 9s is ridiculous. They've already got the best 9 in the world and then Janeau and le Garrec are coming through. Surely we could tempt one away if they are EQ more chance of playing internationally for us.

Bit of a turnaround from the group match

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sun Jul 14, 2024 7:36 pm Can we please steal the French halfbacks?

They’ve got their own half-back factory now. Today’s 10, Hugo Reus, has been second choice at La Rochelle behind Antoine Hastoy who’s just played for France in Argentina, not forgetting that Ntamack and Jalibert stayed at home. At 9 today was Leo Carbonneau, who plays for Brive in ProD2, so if his club aren’t promoted next season we can expect him to be snapped up by a Top14 side. Elsewhere, there’s Serin of Toulon and the promising Jauneau of Clermont, who’ll be vying to be back-up to Antoine Dupont (Lucu may well be overlooked come the Autumn). A real embarrassment of riches!

Some of France's play was simply brilliant.

Going to take quite an effort to contain them in the final.

Tye Raymont called up in place of Billy Sela

Do we know what the injury is?

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Mon Jul 15, 2024 10:53 am Do we know what the injury is?

Not sure. He’s was helped off in a decent amount of pain. Possibly knee. He got crushed in a ruck on about 53 mins and played on for ten mins or so more. Got some treatment after that and looked like he was hobbling a bit. Seemed to shake it off. Then made a tackle which seemed innocuous, got up gingerly to get back into play and then went down in a lot of pain.

TY

fivepointer wrote: ↑Mon Jul 15, 2024 8:50 am Some of France's play was simply brilliant.

Going to take quite an effort to contain them in the final.

They just have it all. They clearly are enjoying themselves too. No pantomime villains.

TEAM TO PLAY FRANCE

Starting
15. Ioan Jones
14. Ben Redshaw
13. Ben Waghorn
12. Sean Kerr
11. Alex Wills
10. Ben Coen
9. Ollie Allan
1. Asher Opoku-Fordjour
2. Craig Wright
3. Afolabi Fasogbon
4. Joe Bailey
5. Junior Kpoku
6. Finn Carnduff (c)
7. Henry Pollock
8. Kane James
Replacements
16. James Isaacs
17. Cameron Miell
18. James Halliwell
19. Olamide Sodeke
20. Arthur Green
21. Lucas Friday
22. Josh Bellamy
23. Angus Hall

About as good as we could hope with the injuries. Both pre-tournament and during.

How many of this year's squad are around for next year's tournament? Anyone know?

Veyqun wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2024 9:16 pm How many of this year's squad are around for next year's tournament? Anyone know?

A fair chunk, I believe. I think AOF, Sela, Fasogbon can all play next year, and people like Lucas Friday and Coen are around for another two tournaments as they've been promoted from U18s.

Puja

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sun Jul 14, 2024 7:47 pm 55-31, NZ U20's biggest ever defeat - up 4 from last year's defeat by France

They're going to rip us a new one

I only watched highlights of both games but I thought you'd beat them on the SF performances. Some of the defending around the ruck particularly was laughable and you just won't give them those sorts of opportunities.

Puja wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2024 9:19 pm

Veyqun wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2024 9:16 pm How many of this year's squad are around for next year's tournament? Anyone know?

A fair chunk, I believe. I think AOF, Sela, Fasogbon can all play next year, and people like Lucas Friday and Coen are around for another two tournaments as they've been promoted from U18s.

Puja

Got another year of Kpoku and Sodeke as well so the tight five should be pretty good.

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2024 7:24 am

Puja wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2024 9:19 pm

Veyqun wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2024 9:16 pm How many of this year's squad are around for next year's tournament? Anyone know?

A fair chunk, I believe. I think AOF, Sela, Fasogbon can all play next year, and people like Lucas Friday and Coen are around for another two tournaments as they've been promoted from U18s.

Puja

Got another year of Kpoku and Sodeke as well so the tight five should be pretty good.

Looking forward to some more Sodoku

Love that one. Have those two actually partnered together in the row yet? It usually seems to be one or the other starting with Bailey or Cuckson.

Scrumhead wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2024 10:09 am Love that one. Have those two actually partnered together in the row yet? It usually seems to be one or the other starting with Bailey or Cuckson.

Don't think so, so far this tournament. Might be wrong but I think they normally finish the games together though.

Banquo wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2024 9:32 am

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jul 18, 2024 7:24 am

Puja wrote: ↑Wed Jul 17, 2024 9:19 pm

A fair chunk, I believe. I think AOF, Sela, Fasogbon can all play next year, and people like Lucas Friday and Coen are around for another two tournaments as they've been promoted from U18s.

Puja

Got another year of Kpoku and Sodeke as well so the tight five should be pretty good.

Looking forward to some more Sodoku