Hickey back to lead Baby Blacks
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New Zealand Under-20 head coach Chris Boyd has made three changes to the starting line-up to face South Africa on Friday.
Boyd said that the match against Samoa proved a good confidence booster for the start of their JWC campaign but there had been areas of their game with which they were not happy.
“We’ve had a good review of that game, and we know what worked well, and what didn’t work as well as it was supposed to," said Boyd.
“I’m really pleased with the way some players really stepped up to the occasion last Friday.
“We know South Africa will again be a tough opposition but if we do the basics well, and focus on our own game plan then it should be a great contest.”
"It is pretty exciting to be part of this tournament, and the boys certainly apprciate how special it is to play at home in front of family and friends.
"We have had some great support for the team, and we hope that continues through the tournament," Boyd said.
Pool A:
Argentina v Italy
TBC
England v Australia
England U20s have made six changes to the side that beat Italy for their second JWC clash against Australia.
Howard Packman, Henry Purdy, Billy Burns, Henry Taylor, Charlie Ewels and Joel Conlon all come into the side as they prepare to take on Australia for the first time since 2012 – a game England won 17-13.
“We were pleased with how we played against Italy but the overriding feeling was that we still had more to come. We have trained well this week with the ultimate aim of performing well in this game," saod captain Maro Itoje
“Australia will be a huge threat, they have players who have some Super Rugby experience, but we have players who have played at the top level too."
England U20s: 15 Howard Packman, 14 Henry Purdy, 13 Nick Tompkins, 12 Harry Sloan, 11 Nathan Earle, 10 Billy Burns, 9 Henry Taylor, 8 Joel Conlon, 7 Gus Jones, 6 Ross Moriarty, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 3 Paul Hill, 2 Tom Woolstencroft, 1 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi.
Replacements: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Alex Lundberg, 18 Harry Rudkin, 19 Hayden Thompson-Stringer, 20 James Chisholm, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Sam Olver, 23 Aaron Morris.
The Australian U20s have also named their side which will take on England, who are the defending Junior World Champions.
Australian Head Coach Adrian Thompson has made just one change to his side with Brumbies player, Tom Staniforth returning from an ankle injury.
The tall second rower had been sidelined by the injury during the Under 20s training camp and will bolster the already dominant Australian forward pack.
“Bringing Tom straight back into the starting line-up is going to do great things for our already solid pack,” Thompson said.
“Our guys really showed the hard work we have done on scrums against Argentina as we dominated their pack, but the challenge against England is going to be difficult.
Australian U20s: 15 Jonah Placid, 14 Brad Lacey, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Jimmy Stewart, 11 Andrew Kellaway, 10 Jake McIntyre, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Ross Haylett-Petty, 7 Rowan Perry, 6 Sean McMahon (captain), 5 Tom Staniforth, 4 Matt Philip, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Harry Scoble, 1 Rory O’Connor.
Replacements: 16 Feliti Kaitu’u, 17 Cameron Orr, 18 Tom Robertson, 19 Jack Payne, 20 Jack Dempsey, 21 Angus Pulver, 22 David Horwitz, 23 Luke Burton.
Pool B:
France v Fiji
TBC
Wales v Ireland
Wales U20s head coach Byron Hayward has made three changes to his side for their second match of the Junior World Championship, against Ireland.
Hooker Elliot Dee, flank Will Boyde and wing Joshua Adams come in for Ethan Lewis, Scott Matthews and Dafydd Howells respectively, all changes Hayward believes will 'add to the team.'
Hayward said: "We are using the squad, but in a way we feel will add impact to our performance.
"The hooker and openside flanker positions are very competitive within the group.
"Elliot [Dee] came on and played well in the second half against Fiji and deserves a chance to start, while the third hooker, Scott Otten is on the bench and will no doubt make an impact when he comes on.
"Will Boyde and Scott Matthews put healthy pressure on each other for the No 7 shirt and Will will be fresher, having not played as many minutes in the first game, while Scott will be looking to create an impression when he comes on, off the bench.
"Joshua Adams' energy levels were outstanding when he came on against Fiji, he put in a huge amount of work off the ball and that work rate will be vital against Ireland.
Wales U20s: 15 Ashley Evans, 14 Tyler Morgan 13 Steffan Hughes (captain), 12 Jack Dixon, 11 Joshua Adams, 10 Angus O'Brien, 9 Luc Jones, 8 James Benjamin, 7 Will Boyde, 6 Olly Cracknell, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 Joe Davies, 3 Nicky Thomas, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Nicky Smith.
Replacements: 16 Scott Otten, 17 Luke Garrett, 18 Callum Lewis, 19 Scott Andrews, 20 Scott Matthews, 21 Tom Williams, 22 Ethan Davies, 23 Afon Bagshaw.
The Ireland Under-20 head coach Mike Ruddock has made three changes to the side that started the 19-13 defeat to France.
Alex Wootton, who makes his first appearance of the tournament, has been named on the left wing with Ian Fitzpatrick making way.
Up front, Darragh Moloney is named in the second row where he partners Ross Molony.
Josh Murphy and Harrison Brewer are two new additions on the replacements bench, with both players having lined out in the Ireland Under-19s' home win over France in April.
Ireland U20s:15 Cian Kelleher, 14 Ciaran Gaffney, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Dan Goggin, 11 Alex Wootton, 10 Ross Byrne, 9 Nick McCarthy, 8 Jack O'Donoghue(captain), 7 Frankie Taggart, 6 Peadar Timmins, 5 Ross Molony, 4 Darragh Moloney, 3 Rory Burke, 2 Max Abbott, 1 Peter Dooley.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Donnellan, 17 Denis Coulson, 18 Oisin Heffernan, 19 Josh Murphy, 20 Diarmaid Dee, 21 Ryan Foley, 22 Conor McKeon, 23 Harrison Brewer.
Pool C:
New Zealand v South Africa
Loose forward Tom Sanders, Flyhalf Simon Hickey and wing Tevita Li are the changes to the starting line-up with Kylie Harris and Richie Mo’unga shifting to the bench.
Captain Simon Hickey assumes the leadership role in the No.10 jersey while his Blues team mate Tevita Li starts on the wing ahead of TJ Faiane.
Trusty boot Richie Mo’unga will come off the bench this week and Tauasosi Tuimavave will hope to get his first taste of game-time as he rounds out the reserve outside backs.
New Zealand U20s: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Vincent Tavae Aso, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Jackson Gardon-Bachop, 12 Jackson Gardon-Bachop, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Simon Hickey, (captain), 9 Mitchell Drummond, 8 Mathew Peni, 7 Lachlan Boshier, 6 Tom Sanders, 5 Geoffrey Cridge, 4 James Tucker, 3 Tau Koloamatangi, 2 Epalahame Faiva, 1 Atunaisa Moli.
Replacements: 16 James O’Reilly, 17 Scott Mellow, 18 Timothy Cadwallader, 19 Kyle Harris, 20 Joshua Dickson, 21 Joshua Renton, 22 Richie Mo’unga, 23 Tauasosi Tuimavave.
South Africa U20s: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Lloyd Greeff, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Handré Pollard (captain), 9 JP Smith, 8 Aidon Davis, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Jean-Luc du Preez, 5 Nico Janse van Rensburg, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Corniel Els, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Abongile Nonkontwana, 20 Victor Sekekete, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Duhan van der Merwe.
Scotland Samoa
TBC
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