Baby Blacks bank on experience
New Zealand Under-20 coach Scott Robertson named eight players with previous experience for the Junior World Championship in Italy next month.
The team was finalised after the Baby Blacks won all their matches at the Oceania Junior Championship in Australia last week.
The squad includes eight players that competed in last year's tournament on home soil, bringing invaluable tournament experience to the 2015 campaign.
A total 10 players in the squad have also had either NPC or Super Rugby experience.
Robertson said the Oceania tournament had been the perfect preparation for the World Championship.
"We really got to test our combinations and to put the boys under some pressure in both the tournament environment with short turn-arounds between games, and the competition for positions," he said.
They were now looking ahead to the World Championship in Italy.
"We're excited to finally settle on our squad which we believe has the ability to perform at this tournament. We've think we've got the balance right between experience and talent to give us the best opportunity to do well.
"The Under-20 tournament is a unique opportunity for these boys to perform well on a world stage. " he said.
Returning prop Atunaisa Moli continues his captaincy duties from the Oceania tournament.
"Atu Moli is a big strong 125k prop and it's his second year. He's a natural leader who is hugely respected and has a lot of mana in our group. We know he'll lead the boys through his actions."
Robertson said conditioning had helped to improve the scrum from last year, and the locking stocks and loose forwards provided a great mix of leadership and quality athletes.
"Our locks are big, tall and strong with the likes of Geoff Cridge coming out of the Hurricanes – that makes a massive difference for us along with guys who have been really focused on their core roles and aerial skills.
"Otere Black will lead our backline, he's a strong leader, he's played NPC, and he's in the Hurricanes wider training group. He'll lead us around the field well alongside a group of other players with great NPC and Super Rugby experience.
"We've got a good mix across the backline helped by the power that Nathanial Apa brings. We've got a bit of pace, guys who can play in different positions and we've got depth in our squad, which is really exciting for us."
New Zealand Under-20:
Forwards: Isileli Tu'ungafasi, Tau Koloamatangi, Aidan Ross, Atunaisa Moli (captain), Liam Polwart, Steven Misa, Ricky Riccitelli, Mitchell Dunshea, Geoffrey Cridge, Joshua Goodhue, James Blackwell, Mitchell Jacobson, Blake Gibson, Mitchell Karpik, Akira Ioane, Henry Stowers.
Backs: Harrison Levien, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Otere Black, Mitchell Hunt, Tinoai Faiane, Jack Goodhue, Anton Lienert-Brown, Nathaniel Apa, Tevita Li, Vincent Tavae-Aso, George Bridge, Luteru Laulala.
