Five Kiwis return for tournament opener
New Zealand team named to play Italy
New Zealand have included five players who were involved in last year's tournament in the starting line-up to face Italy in their opening match of the International Rugby Board (IRB) Under-21 World Championship in Riom on Friday.
The players who were involved in last year's tournament in Argentina are Auckland's Taniela Moa, Canterbury duo Stephen Brett and Mikaele Tuu'u and Wellington pair Serge Lilo and Miah Nikora.
Reserves Aaron Bancroft and Kieran Read of Canterbury, North Harbour's Michael Reid and Wellington's Jeremy Thrush were also members of the 2005 team.
Canterbury lock Michael Paterson will captain the team.
New Zealand Under 21 coach Greg Cooper said the team had a satisfactory build up to the World Championship.
"We had a good hit out against the New Zealand Barbarians before we left and we have had an extended period together during which time we were able to work on our game plan and combinations," Cooper said.
New Zealand Under-21: 15 Lance MacDonald (Bay of Plenty), 14 Jared Payne (Waikato), 13 Robbie Flynn (Tasman), 12 Stephen Brett (Canterbury), 11 Lelia Masaga (Counties Manukau), 10 Miah Nikora (Wellington), 9 Taniela Moa (Auckland), 8 Mikaele Tuu'u (Canterbury), 7 Serge Lilo (Wellington), 6 Solomon King (Bay of Plenty), 5 Ryan Wilson (North Harbour), 4 Michael Paterson (Canterbury, captain), 3 Matthew Wallis (Bay of Plenty), 2 Matt Holloway (Canterbury), 1 Arden David-Perrot (Wellington).
Replacements: 16 Hikawera Elliot (Hawke's Bay), 17 Michael Reid (North Harbour), 18 Jeremy Thrush (Wellington), 19 Kieran Read (Canterbury), 20 Alby Mathewson (Wellington), 21 Aaron Bancroft (Canterbury), 22 George Pisi (North Harbour)
