Experience runs through Australia U20 side

[pieter blackie]

Matt Toomua and Luke Morahan will bring experience with the Wallabies to Australia's Under 20 squad announced for the IRB Junior World Championship 2010 in Argentina next month.

Fly half Toomua and wing Luke Morahan were both called up as injury replacements for the Wallabies' tour of Europe at the end of last year, making their debuts in the non-cap friendly against the Cardiff Blues.

Toomua is one of four players returning for a second shot at the IRB Junior World Championship title, having helped Australia to fourth place in Japan last year along with Robbie Coleman, Nic White and Jake Schatz.

Nearly a third of the 26-man squad have played in the Super 14 this year in Toomua, Colby Faingaa, Michael Hooper, Coleman, Schatz, Luke Jones and Justin Turner.

The selection of Faingaa, who has appeared in the Brumbies' back row this year, marks the return of a familiar name to Australian age grade rugby, his older twin brothers Anthony and Saia having been key figures in the IRB Under 19 World Championship winning side of 2006, the latter lifting the trophy as captain.

Australia coach David Nucifora is also able to call on several players to have played on the IRB Sevens World Series this season in the Queensland quartet Ed Quirk, Liam Gill, Kimami Sitauti and Dominic Shipperley.

Australia will open their Pool C campaign against Scotland at the Estadio CA Colon in Santa Fe on 5 June before taking on Tonga in Parana four days later and then South Africa back in Sante Fe on 13 June.

The Under 20s will assemble at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra on 21 May before relocating to Sydney before their departure for Argentina on 31 May.

Australia Under 20 squad:

Forwards: Cruze Ah-Nau (Western Australia), Paul Alo-Emile (Queensland), Phoenix Battye (New South Wales), Colby Faingaa (ACT), Liam Gill (Queensland), Michael Hooper (ACT), Luke Jones (Western Australia), Salesi Manu (New South Wales), Gregory Peterson (New South Wales), Edward Quirk (Queensland), Sam Roberson (New South Wales), Siliva Siliva (Western Australia), Scott Sio (New South Wales), Jake Schatz (Queensland).

Backs: Tim Bennets (New South Wales), Robbie Coleman (ACT), Greg Jeloudev (New South Wales), Jonathon Lance (Queensland), Cameron Mitchell (New South Wales), Dominic Shipperley (Queensland), Kimami Sitauti (Queensland), Aidan Toua (Queensland), Matt Toomua (ACT), Luke Morahan (Queensland), Justin Turner (Western Australia), Nic White (ACT).

http://www.irb.com/jwc/news/newsid=2037190.html

[zimeric]

2/27 aint too bad i suppose given the spread of the player pool.
Well done guys do WA proud!