Junior Rugby World Championship semi-final preview: New Zealand Vs Australia
The historical rugby rivals, New Zealand and Australia, will lock horns again in the International Rugby Board 2011 Junior World Cup Championships semi-finals at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso on Wednesday, June 22.
New Zealand under 20s side has topped the Pool A by winning all their of three matches while Australia under 20s side finished second in the Pool B with 11 points.
The Baby Blacks have yet to be beaten in the curren t JWC competition and this is their consecutive fourth semi-final appearance.
Commenting on his team’s match preparations, New Zealand under 20s head coach Mark Anscombe said, “It's a different challenge and a different team and clashes between New Zealand and Australia are always tough games, we know we are in for a battle. With
living close together it's gloating rights and no-one likes to say they got beaten by Australia, like the Australians don't like to say they got beaten by New Zealand.”
In the last JWC finals, New Zealand defeated Australia and Mark Anscombe expects that the baby Wallabies will try their best to return the favour to the Kiwi team this year.
Mark Anscombe expressed hopes that the relatively new team can sustain the All Blacks record. He said, “We have only got two guys back and only one guy who played in that game so it is a totally different team and I think both teams have different strengths
and weaknesses so last year's result means nothing.”
Australian under 20s captain, Colby Faingaa, has expressed hope that his team can beat the Baby Blacks formidable unit with hard work. He said, “They are the best side at this level and have demonstrated it. It is going to be a hard game, but if you want
to be the best in the world, you have to play the best and over the last four years at Under 20 level, that has been them. If we want to call ourselves the best then we have to beat them.”
The New Zealand under 20s announced squad for the semi-final includes:
Starting xv: 15. Beauden Barrett, 14. Francis Saili, 13. Glen Robertson, 12. Limo Sopoaga, 11. Charles Piutau, 10. Gareth Anscombe, 9. TJ Perenara,8. Luke Whitelock, 7. Sam Cane, 6. Brad Shields, 5. Brodie Rettalick, 4. Steven Luatua, 3. Ben Tameifuna,
2. Codie Taylor, 1. Solomona Sakalia,
Replacements: 16. Sefo Setefano, 17. Michael Kainga, 18. Dominic Bird, 19. Carl Axtens, 20. Brad Weber, 21. Mitchell Scott , 22. Waisake Naholo.
Australia’s under 20s announced squad for the Semifinal includes
Starting xv: 15. Simon Morahan, 14. Christopher Nasiganiyavi, 13. Tom Kingston, 12. Bill Meakes, 11. Kimami Sitauti, 10. Ben Volavola, 9. Eddie Bredenhann, 8. Ed Quirk, 7. Michael Hooper, 6. Colby Faingaa, 5. Luke Jones, 4. Blake Enever, 3. Paul Alo-Emile,
2. Siliva Siliva, 1. Scott Sio,
Replacements: 16. Hugh Roach, 17. Tim Metcher, 18. Ted Postal, 19. Jarrad Butler, 20. Matt Lucas, 21. Rohan Saifoloi, 22. Jacob Woodhouse.
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