Do or die for Baby Blacks
New Zealand Under-20 will be looking for inspirational performance against Scotland on Tuesday as they look to sneak into the Junior World Championships semifinals.
Following their defeat on home soil to South Africa last week, the Baby Blacks will have to finish as the best runners up in order to qualify for the knock-out phase of the competition.
With only loose forward Tom Sanders, captain Simon Hickey and last week's hat-trick try scorer Tevita Li retaining their starting spots, the run-on XV features 12 changes.
Coach Chris Boyd said the group had worked to pick themselves up after last Friday's disappointing loss to South Africa.
Walking away from that fixture without a bonus point has left New Zealand relying on other tournament results to go their way, to give them a sniff at a playoff position. And a sniff is all they need.
"We trained really well and the boys are raring to go – we've got a group that is quite focused on the task – and we have a point to prove.
"We were really disappointed with ourselves against South Africa, but as I've said to the boys it's like boxing and getting knocked down to the canvas – you have to pick yourself up and keep fighting," Boyd said.
New Zealand plays the last of the matches at ECOLight Stadium tomorrow night – and by then, they will know where their playoff chances lie.
"Our focus is now on tomorrow, and we will go into that game knowing other results and we can only control what we control. But the lads are fired up and they are up for it.
"With this team, we're looking for a lot of energy, accuracy, for them to play as a team and not as individuals and to stick to our processes," he said.
New Zealand U20: 15 Richard Moúnga, 14 Tauasosi Tuimavave, 13 TJ Faiane, 12 Kavinga Finau, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Simon Hickey (captain), 9 Josh Renton, 8 Tom Sanders, 7 Mitchell Jacobson, 6 Kyle Harris, 5 Josh Dickson, 4 Troy Callander, 3 Tim Cadwallader, 2 James O'Reilly, 1 Scott Mellow.
Replacements: 16 Epalahame Faiva, 17 Tau Koloamatangi, 18 Atunaisa Moli, 19 James Tucker, 20 Mathew Peni, 21 Leon Fukofuka, 22 Vince Tavae Aso, 23 Damian McKenzie.
Scotland U20: TBC
England U20 v Argentina U20
Defending champions England Under 20 have made 12 changes for their final IRB Junior World Championship pool game against Argentina.
Just Nick Tompkins, Henry Purdy and Charlie Ewels retain their places from the 38-24 victory against Australia.
There are first U20 starts for Biyi Alo, Jordan Onojaife, Hayden Thompson-Stringer and Cameron Neild, while Tom Stephenson comes back into the side after helping Northampton Saints to Premiership victory.
Coach Nick Walshe said: "The great thing about our squad is that we have real strength in depth. There are a few lads desperate to make an impression and this is a great opportunity for them to perform.
"Argentina will be physical and they'll provide a real test, but we've had a good few days since the Australia game, have recovered well and we'll be ready for a tough match," he added.
England U20: 15 Aaron Morris, 14 George Catchpole, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Tom Stephenson, 11 Henry Purdy, 10 Sam Olver, 9 Callum Braley (captain), 8 James Chisholm, 7 Cameron Neild, 6 Hayden Thompson-Stringer, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Jordan Onojaife, 3 Biyi Alo, 2 Jack Walker, 1 Alex Lundberg.
Replacements: 16 Tom Woolstencroft, 17 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, 18 Harry Rudkin, 19 Maro Itoje, 20 Gus Jones, 21 Henry Taylor, 22 Billy Burns, 23 Nathan Earle.
Argentina U20: TBC
Australia U20 v Italy U20
Australia need to defeat Italy to secure a good seeding for the finals of the tournament. After being defeated by England 38-24, the match against Italy has become a must win for the side.
Australian Under 20s coach Adrian Thompson is confident his team will overcome the Italians.
"There are no easy matches in this tournament and we will have to be wary of Italy after they beat Argentina 29-26."
"We had a good hard look at what we did wrong after our match against England and I know the guys have been really keen to rectify where they went astray in that match," he said.
Australia U20: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Brad Lacey, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Luke Burton, 11 Andrew Robinson, 10 David Horwitz, 9 Angus Pulver, 8 Ross Haylett-Petty, 7 Jack Dempsey, 6 Sean McMahon (captain), 5 Jack Payne, 4 Tom Staniforth, 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Feleti Kaitu'u, 1 Cameron Orr.
Replacements: 16 Tevita Vea, 17 Rory O'Connor, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Lolo Fakaosilea, 20 Sam Croke, 21 Joe Powell, 22 Jimmy Stewart, 23 Conrad Quick.
Italy U20: 15 Matteo Gasparini, 14 Filippo Lombardo, 13 Mattia Bellini, 12 Gabriele Manganiello, 11 Lorenzo Bruno, 10 Giacomo De Santis, 9 Maicol Azzolini (captain), 8 Matteo Cornelli, 7 Marco Lazzaroni, 6 Matteo Archetti, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Filippo Scalvi, 3 Paolo Buonfiglio, 2 Marco Silva, 1 Derrick Appiah
Replacements: 16 Francesco Vento, 17 Simone Ferrari, 18 Adriano Daniele, 19 Riccardo Michieletto, 20 Renato Giammarioli, 21 Simone Parisotto, 22 Filippo Buscema, 23 Gabriele Di Giulio.
Wales U20 v France U20
Wales U20 coach Byron Hayward has called on every one of his side to 'perform to their optimum level' in order to beat France on Tuesday.
Wales beat Fiji 48-19 in their opening Junior World Championship match last Monday, but went down 21-35 to Ireland on Friday.
Tuesday's match against Grand Slam champions France will determine who Wales will play in the remaining two matches as the youngsters aim to finish as high as possible in the Championship table.
Hayward has made two changes to the starting line-up for the France game. Senior Wales capped Dafydd Howells starts at fullback, replacing Ashley Evans, and Tom Williams starts at scrumhalf in place of Luc Jones.
Hayward said, "We felt the forwards played well against Ireland and as a result, they are unchanged for this match. We feel the two changes behind the scrum will bring something extra to this particular game, with Tom Williams, who played very well during the Six Nations, expected to up the tempo at nine, and we feel Dafydd's running ability could course France problems from fullback.
"France have an excellent line-out and maul, so we will need to try to break up the game a little. They are unbeaten this season, but Ireland pushed them close and they are beatable – if we cut out the errors and every player performs to his optimum level."
On the bench, Ben Roach returns after receiving numerous stitches after the Fiji game, and there is a place for RGC's Harri Evans who can cover centre and wing.
Wales U20: 15 Dafydd Howells, 14 Tyler Morgan, 13 Steffan Hughes (captain), 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Joshua Adams, 10 Angus O'Brien, 9 Tom Williams, 8 Nicky Smith, 7 Elliot Dee, 6 Nicky Thomas, 5 Joe Davies, 4 Rory Thornton, 3 Olly Cracknell, 2 Will Boyde, 1 James Benjamin.
Replacements: 16 Scott Otten, 17 Luke Garrett, 18 Callum Lewis, 19 Ben Roach, 20 Scott Matthews, 21 Luc Jones, 22 Ethan Davies, 23 Harri Evans.
France U20: TBC
South Africa U20 v Samoa U20
South Africa U20: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Dan Kriel, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Handré Pollard (captain), 9 JP Smith, 8 Aidon Davis, 7 Jacques Vermeulen, 6 Thabo Mabuza, 5 Nico Janse van Rensburg, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Corniel Els, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Mox Mxoli, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Victor Sekekete, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Warrick Gelant.
Samoa U20: TBC
Ireland U20 v Fiji U20
TBC
