Powerful Baby Blacks for Final
New Zealand Under-20 coach Scott Robertson named a powerful team to face Australia in their final match of the Oceania Junior Championship on Saturday.
Just seven of the players selected were in the team that beat Samoa 36-14 on Tuesday.
Prop Ricky Riccitelli, hooker Steven Misa, wing Nathanial Apa and midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown, are the only players who retain their starting positions.
"We are pretty pleased with how the boys have performed over the past week," Robertson said.
"It's great to be able to really see the combinations come together, to put the boys under a bit of pressure in a tournament environment, and we've been pleased with how they've responded.
"We're still looking at this as the ideal way to prepare for a World Under-20 Championship in Italy and the competition for places is intense – it's exactly the preparation we need," Robertson added.
Lienert-Brown will captain the side, after Atunaisa Moli was rested with a shoulder injury.
Otere Black returned to New Zealand earlier this week after he was recalled by the Hurricanes following an injury to flyhalf Beauden Barrett.
The New Zealand squad to compete in the World Rugby Under 20 Championship (formerly known as Junior World Championship) in Italy in June, will be named early next week.
New Zealand Under-20: 15 Luteru Laulala, 14 Vincent Tavae-Aso, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown (captain), 12 Tinoai TJ Faiane, 11 Nathaniel Apa, 10 Mitchell Hunt, 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 8 Blake Gibson, 7 Mitchell Karpik, 6 Mitchell Jacobson, 5 Hamish Dalzell, 4 Geoffrey Cridge, 3 Isileli Tu'ungafasi, 2 Steven Misa, 1 Ricky Riccitelli.
Replacements: 16 Liam Polwart, 17 Tom Hill, 18 Tau Koloamatangi, 19 Josh Goodhue, 20 Mitchell Dunshea, 21 Luke Campbell, 22 Fletcher Smith, 23 Jack Goodhue.
Date: Saturday, May 9
Venue: Bond University, Gold Coast
Kick-off: 15.00 (17.00 NZ time; 05.00 GMT)
Referee: Damien Mitchelmore (Australia)
Assistant referees: Luke Moloney (Australia), Jordan Way (Australia)
