2016 World Rugby U20 Championship - Tournament Thread

[George Carlin]

Can't see a tournament thread, so here we go.

The 2016 World Rugby Under 20 Championship will be the ninth annual international rugby union competition for Under 20 national teams.

The event is being organised in England by rugby's governing body, World Rugby. A total of 12 nations will play in the tournament, which will be held at two venues in Greater Manchester—AJ Bell Stadium in Salford and Manchester City Academy Stadium in Manchester.

New Zealand will go into the tournament as defending champions.

Pool A: New Zealand, Wales, Ireland, Georgia

Match 5: 7 June 2016 Wales 25 - 26 Ireland
Match 3: 7 June 2016 New Zealand 55 - 0 Georgia
Match 10: 11 June 2016 New Zealand 24 - 33 Ireland
Match 11: 11 June 2016 Wales 10 - 9 Georgia
Match 17: 15 June 2016 Ireland v Georgia
Match 14: 15 June 2016 New Zealand v Wales

Pool B: England, Australia, Scotland, Italy

Match 2: 7 June 2016 Australia 10 - 15 Scotland
Match 6: 7 June 2016 England 48 - 10 Italy
Match 7: 11 June 2016 Australia 38 - 10 Italy
Match 12: 11 June 2016 England 44 - 0 Scotland
Match 16: 15 June 2016 Scotland v Italy
Match 15: 15 June 2016 England v Australia

Pool C: South Africa, France, Argentina, Japan

Match 1: 7 June 2016 France 15 - 24 Argentina
Match 4: 7 June 2016 South Africa 59 - 19 Japan
Match 8: 11 June 2016 France 46 - 14 Japan
Match 9: 11 June 2016 South Africa 13 - 19 Argentina
Match 13: 15 June 2016 Argentina v Japan
Match 18: 15 June 2016 South Africa v France

Good luck, everyone.

[lostinwales]

Tickets are very good value btw

[eirebilly]

I have some high hopes for the Irish boys in this.

[BamBam]

Anyone know who players to look out for are?

From an England point of view, these lads look the biggest talents, and most of them have played a bit at AP level this year

Will Evans, Callum Chick, Jack Walker in the forwards
Brophy-Clews, Harry Mallinder, Johnny Williams and Joe Marchant in the backs

[eirebilly]

For Ireland : Jacob Stockdale, Conor O'Brien and Cillian Gallagher are the ones to watch.

[EWT Spoons]

From a Scotland point of view

Forwards: Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Jamie Ritchie
Backs: Adam Hastings, Tom Galbraith, Blair Kinghorn, Robbie Nairn

Not exhaustive, but these lads have played a fair bit of pro rugby or showed up well in the u20 6 nations.

[George Carlin]

By their own modest standards, Scotland has the best crop of U20s it has had in years. Hope that they vindicate themselves.

[Majestic83]

From a Scotland point of view

Forwards: Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Jamie Ritchie
Backs: Adam Hastings, Tom Galbraith, Blair Kinghorn, Robbie Nairn

Not exhaustive, but these lads have played a fair bit of pro rugby or showed up well in the u20 6 nations.

Add to the Scotland list Matt Smith who plays openside. Probably Scotland's stand out player during the 6 nations. Real workhorse who won a lot of turnovers and made a lot of tackles. Full of pace as well and links well with the backs. Think he will be involved with Glasgow Warriors 1st XV next season.

[whocares]

Thanks GC for the thread - this competition is actually the only bit of rugby am looking forward this summer from a French POV.

French players to watch :
- Clement Castets , LH, a real leader and solid in the scrum
- Florian Verhaeghe, 2nd row, tall (2.02m) runs a lot with still a lot of margin of progression
-Judicael Cancoriet : ASM wanted to keep him for the T14 play offs - very mobile flanker, scored 2 tries in the 6N
- Antoine Dupont : quick and clever SH, already some good game time with Castres as well.
- Damian Penaud: centre, very quick and strong, scored 5 tries in the 6N, son of former Brives legend (Alain Penaud)
- Gabriel N’Gandebe – Winger, very dangerous quick finisher with a good step.

[RDW]

I think 2 wins in the group stage would be a remarkable achievement for this Scotland team.

I can't see England rolling over quite so meekly as they did in the 6N and will prove a tough contest. Australia are, well, Australia so will provide top opposition.

I suspect though we'll end up in the 8-10th place playoffs as usual though!

It is a hell of a talendted under 20s team we've got though so we've never had a better chance.

[eirebilly]

The big game will be Wales v Ireland tomorrow. The winner of that will progress as I cant see either team beating New Zealand. Really hope Wales have an off day

[PenfroPete]

http://www.worldrugby.org/u20

15:15 - FRANCE U20 v ARGENTINA U20 – U20 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – TG4

15:15 - South Africa U20 v Japan U20 – U20 World Championship – Sky Sports 1

17:30 – WALES U20 v IRELAND U20 – U20 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP – S4C plus Sky Sports 1

19:45 – England U20 v Italy U20 – U20 World Championship – Sky Sports 1

[mikey_dragon]

I have some high hopes for the Irish boys in this.

Results wise? In reality Wales need a bonus point win against Ireland in their first game. They showed they were capable in the 6N even with a bonkers referee playing to the home crowd demands, and if we're better now like Strange has been telling everyone then my expectations are pretty high.

[eirebilly]

I have some high hopes for the Irish boys in this.

Results wise? In reality Wales need a bonus point win against Ireland in their first game. They showed they were capable in the 6N even with a bonkers referee playing to the home crowd demands, and if we're better now like Strange has been telling everyone then my expectations are pretty high.

Just you boys have an off day please

[mikey_dragon]

The big game will be Wales v Ireland tomorrow. The winner of that will progress as I cant see either team beating New Zealand. Really hope Wales have an off day

It looks like NZ have a very good team this year, but I think Wales are capable. It's the strongest Welsh pack I've ever seen. My only worry is that we can't contain dangerous running teams like the Baby Blacks without Owen Watkin - we can thank the amateur, out of his depth Steve Tandy for that one.

[eirebilly]

Ireland will have there one big game in a tournament, they always do. Think it may be against Wales, well I hope it is but would much prefer it to be against the baby blacks

[mikey_dragon]

billy I would prefer that too . If two are to progress from this pool and that team is second to the Baby Blacks then I think they'd need at least 10 points from their two other games, and for Wales that'll be Ireland and Georgia.

[eirebilly]

Be even better if the baby blacks had two off days

[profitius]

I have some high hopes for the Irish boys in this.

I don't expect too much but at the same time I don't think they clicked at all during the 6 nations. Only in the second half against England and one or two periods in the other games.


The team has 8 changes to the team that started against Wales in the 6N.

[mikey_dragon]

Those are some better players coming in then? Ireland looked a bit off the pace in the 6N.

[profitius]

This team is probably stronger because players have played their way onto the team. I say probably because there have also been a few injuries too which again clouds things when trying to judge the team.

[nickj]

Any idea of the Scots / Australia game is on anywhere? It doesn't seem to be on Sky or do they have a red button equivalent?

[Cumbrian]

England team for Italy game, might actually get a win...

1. Tom West (Wasps)
2. Jack Singleton (Worcester Warriors)
3. Billy Walker (Saracens)
4. Andrew Kitchener (Worcester Warriors)
5. Huw Taylor (Worcester Warriors)
6. George Nott (Sale Sharks)
7. Jack Willis (Wasps)
8. Callum Chick (Newcastle Falcons)

15. Darren Atkins (Bath Rugby)
14. Sam Aspland-Robinson (Harlequins)
13. Joe Marchant (Harlequins)
12. Harry Mallinder (Capt.) (Northampton Saints)
11. Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby)
10. Theo Brophy-Clews (London Irish)
9. Max Green (Yorkshire Carnegie)

16. Jack Walker (Yorkshire Carnegie)
17. Lewis Boyce (Yorkshire Carnegie)
18. Will Stuart (Wasps)
19. Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby)
20. Josh Bainbridge (Yorkshire Carnegie)
21. Harry Randall (Gloucester Rugby)
22. Johnny Williams (London Irish)
23. Max Malins (Saracens)

[BamBam]

Doesn't look like its going to be televised

[BamBam]

Left out a few of the big names there .. Evans not in the squad, Williams and Walker on the bench

Looks good though, that midfield has some serious talent

[RDW]

Any idea of the Scots / Australia game is on anywhere? It doesn't seem to be on Sky or do they have a red button equivalent?

Streamed on the World Rugby website

[nickj]

Really? That's wicked. Here? http://www.worldrugby.org/worldrugbytv/video

[RDW]

I'd assume so - apparently they have removed the Geo block for the UK so we can actually watch it!

[nickj]

Genius, where did you find that out from? I have a call with Vancouver at 5.30pm which I'm suddenly thinking I might take a back seat for...

[RDW]

SRU tweeted it

[boomeranga]

From the little I know I don't think there is a whole lot expected of Aust this year. The main star is likely to be 13. Campbell Magnay who debuted for the Reds last year at 17. Maddock at 15 will be good as well. The best bit for us is Victoria have started to produce players good enough to make the team.

[demosthenes]

Really? That's wicked. Here? http://www.worldrugby.org/worldrugbytv/video

That link is giving me a 'not available in your territory' flag. Logging in from UK. I assumed that is they had unblocked the link for Scotland games it would be for all?

[nickj]

Yes, you would hope so. Bugger

[BamBam]

Yeah I think Sky have exclusivity in the UK, that's most likely why

[RDW]

It is maybe because the Scotland game isn't being broadcast anywhere else.

Sky are currently showing the SA game so you can't watch it online in the UK.

[nickj]

Ah,. I think they've got it muddled up. The SA / Japan game is actually playing via the France / Argentina link at http://www.worldrugby.org/worldrugbytv/video

Assume the geo block is lifted for any games not available via a broadcaster, but they've got mixed up this time

[True Raven]

I think Sky has exclusivity for England games only like at the six nations as the Welsh games are on S4C

[RDW]

I think Sky has exclusivity for England games only like at the six nations as the Welsh games are on S4C

And no one gives a crap about the Scotland games!

[nickj]

they've twigged and the French game is now streaming

[profitius]

Japan in for a second try.

[profitius]

Third try for Japan! The Baby Boks are rattled.

[profitius]

Boks strike back. Their maul is the main weapon.

19-14 to Japan.


France 8-6 Argentina. France should be further ahead.

[profitius]

The floodgates have opened in the SA Japan match. 35-19 to the Boks now!

[Biltong]

Not a very good start by SA

[profitius]

France 15-24 Argentina. France dominated but still managed to lose it.

[whocares]

very disappointing end of game by France ,totally lost control... world cup already over

[True Raven]

If Dan Jones had his kicking boots on today, this game would be over as there's a definite gulf in class between Wales and Ireland

[RDW]

Scrappy game Scotland v Australia with a huge number of handling errors on both sides.

Not that much between the teams but Scotland don't look very fit, which is a worry!

[toml]

If Dan Jones had his kicking boots on today, this game would be over as there's a definite gulf in class between Wales and Ireland

Wales look slicker, but Ireland looked asleep till 10mins before HT

[RDW]

Ooh Australia had a guy red carded!

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