Australia U20s side confirmed for opening World U20s Championship game against Georgi

[Burgs]

Thu, Jun 27, 2024, 7:02 PM
Nathan Williamson

Australia U20s coach Nathan Grey has confirmed his side for the opening game of the World U20s Championships against Georgia in Cape Town.

Grey has made several changes to the team that went down to New Zealand in the final Rugby Championship on Sunshine Coast, with Brumby Toby Macpherson retaining the captaincy.

Catch all the U20 World Championships games free on Rugby Pass TV

Waratah Bryn Edwards comes into the starting pack at hooker, joined by teammate Jack Barrett and Reds prop Nick Bloomfield.

It's the lone change to the starting pack, with Macpherson and Harvey Cordukes forming an all-Brumby second row as Sevens squad member Aden Ekanayake, Dane Sawers and Jack Harley make up the back row.

Vice-captain Dan Nelson starts at scrum half, joined by Reds star Harry McLaughlin-Phillips.

Jarrah McLeod returns to the team at inside centre, with Brumbies teammate Kadin Pritchard coming into the side after impressing for Gungahlin Eagles.

It pushes Ronan Leahy to the wing after the flyer made a strong debut for the Force at the end of the Super Rugby season.

Waratah Archie Saunders and Brumby Shane Wilcox complete the back three, with Wilcox scoring a double in their win over South Africa earlier in the Rugby Championship.

Ottavio Tuipulotu slots back onto the bench, the brother of Sione and Mosese, with Brumbies Lington Ieli and Tevita Alatini as the front-row reserves.

Hwi Sharples and Ben Di Staso are amongst a quartet of NSW Waratahs in the reserves, with Angus Staniforth rounding out the bench.

Every game of the U20 Championship is available live, free and on-demand on RugbyPass TV.

Australia U20 vs. Georgia U20

Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town at 4.30pm Saturday 29 June (local) / 12.30am Sunday 30 June (AEST)

1. Jack Barrett - NSW Waratahs, Randwick Rugby Club
2. Bryn Edwards - NSW Waratahs, Sydney University
3. Nick Bloomfield - Queensland Reds, Easts Brisbane
4. Toby Macpherson (c) - ACT Brumbies, Uni-Norths Owls
5. Harvey Cordukes - ACT Brumbies, Uni-Norths Owls
6. Aden Ekanayake - Australia Sevens, Gordon Rugby Club
7. Dane Sawers - Western Force, Kalamunda Districts
8. Jack Harley - ACT Brumbies, Gungahlin Eagles
9. Dan Nelson - ACT Brumbies, Canberra Royals
10. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips - Queensland Reds, Souths Brisbane
11. Archie Saunders - NSW Waratahs, Warringah Rugby Club
12. Jarrah McLeod - ACT Brumbies, Canberra Royals
13. Kadin Pritchard - ACT Brumbies, Gungahlin Eagles
14. Ronan Leahy - Western Force, Sydney University
15. Shane Wilcox - ACT Brumbies, Tuggeranong Vikings

16. Ottavio Tuipulotu - Melbourne Rebels, Eastern Suburbs
17. Lington Ieli - ACT Brumbies, Tuggeranong Vikings
18. Tevita Alatini - ACT Brumbies, Gungahlin Eagles
19. Eamon Doyle - NSW Waratahs, Sydney University
20. Ben Di Staso - NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs
21. Hwi Sharples - NSW Waratahs, Sydney University
22. Joe Dillon - NSW Waratahs, Manly Marlins
23. Angus Staniforth - ACT Brumbies, Canberra Royals

[andrewg]

This game is worth watching (RugbyPass TV)

Impressive efforts by Dane Sawers and Ronan Leahy and a glimpse of Boston Fakafanua's potential.

The second half was worth the effort.

[Burgs]

Yes, was eventually a strong performance and certainly Leahy and Sawyers both showed their potential.
Good hard on ball work and defence from Sawyers and every time Leahy touches it the excitement levels went up!
He has moderated it a little since the Cheetahs all out attack ,ode, which he will need to for higher honours and Force, but a really exciting prospect for me.
Even the first half was largely good with very simple things creating breakdowns, often due to the "red wall" of defence.
The big Georgians were always going to wear out and probably only made it competitively to the 60 due to 20 minute Red either side of the break.
Once the Aussies knocked off the rust and got back to 15 they were clearly a better team on the day.
An improvement and some replacement (injury) Props required for the Italy match (5th July) and quick turn around and a big step up for top of the Pool clash with Ireland (9th July)