NZ U20 team named for Oceania tournament opener

The New Zealand team to play Fiji in the first Test of the Under 20 Oceania Tournament on the Gold Coast tomorrow, April 28 at 7pm NZT, has been named. 

The team is:   
1 Harrison Allen   - Canterbury
2 JP Sauni - Auckland
3 Ryan Coxon - Waikato
4 Jacob Pierce - Auckland
5 Sam Slade  - Auckland    
6 Dalton Papalii (VC) - Auckland
7 Tom Christie - Canterbury
8 Luke Jacobson (C)   - Waikato
9 Kemara Hauiti Parapara - Wellington    
10 Tiaan Falcon  - Hawke’s Bay
11 Jona Nareki - Otago
12 Orbyn Leger - Counties Manukau
13 Tamati Tua  - Northland
14 Tima Faingaanuku  - Tasman    
15 Will Jordan  - Tasman   
16 Asafo Aumua Wellington
17 Tim Farrell Hawke’s Bay
18 Pouri Rakete-Stones  - Hawke’s Bay
19 Isaia Walker-Leawere - Wellington
20 Adrian Choat  - Auckland  
21 Carlos Price - Wellington
22 Ciarahn Matoe - Taranaki
23 Caleb Clarke - Auckland

Note: Robb Cobb has travelled with the Under 20 squad to the Gold Coast as a replacement for Alex Fidow who injured himself just prior to the team’s assembly. 

New Zealand Under 20 Head Coach Craig Philpott said the team was coming together well for the tournament, which this year includes Fiji, Samoa and hosts Australia.

“We’ve had some challenges coming over, with a couple of late changes and replacements, but the group is gelling really well and enjoying each other’s company. 

“The Oceania tournament provides the first taste of international Test match rugby for several of the players, and offers a good step up for them. We’ve had All Blacks Assistant Coach Ian Foster in camp with us for the last three days which has inspired the team and he offered plenty of good advice in training for the boys. 

“When selecting the starting teams for this tournament we want to give everyone an equal shot at game time, to test some different combinations and cement our game plan for the World Championship in June. All the guys will either get a start or come off the bench over the three games. 

“This Fijian side is an unknown quantity to us. However, it’s probable they will want to keep the ball alive and not kick too much, play with flair and want to attack. We think we have the combinations to counter the strengths of the opposition.  

“For this tournament we have set ourselves a couple of simple goals around attack and defence. We want to embed the patterns that we have been working on in our earlier camps in New Zealand and in training this week on the Gold Coast. I’m looking to see players to stick with those patterns, regardless of the pressure they come under, so we stay in shape and stay in structure.” 

Schedule for Oceania Under 20 Tournament:
Friday 28 April v Fiji, 7.00pm NZT
Tuesday 2 May v Samoa, 5.00pm NZT
Saturday 6 May v Australia, 9.00pm NZT