Australia U20s forced into squad changes as team for Italy confirmed

[Burgs]

Tue, Jul 2, 2024, 6:57 PM
Nathan Williamson

Australia U20s coach Nathan Grey has been forced into several changes to his squad as he named his side to face Italy on Friday (AEST).

It comes off the back of a physical 35-11 win against Georgia, losing Jack Barrett, Tevita Alatini and Ben Di Staso for the rest of the tournament to injuries.

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On top of this, scrum-half Hwi Sharples missed the opening game with a hamstring injury and will not feature in the tournament.

Waratahs quartet Nathaniel Tiitii, Billy Dickens, Will Goddard and Austin Durbridge have joined the squad as injury replacements.

As a result, Grey has named a new-look front-row, with Lington Ieli, Ottavio Tuipulotu and Trevor King named to start.

Ollie McCrea starts in the second row with captain Toby Macpherson, replacing Harvey Cordukes, who received a two-match suspension for his high tackle.

There is one change to the backline, with Angus Staniforth coming onto the wing.

Staniforth scored a double in the bonus point win over Georgia, joining standout Ronan Leahy and Shane Wilcox in the back-three.

Prop Tiitii and scrum half Dickens come straight onto the bench amid the injury crisis.

Tiitii featured in the Rugby Championship off the bench against Argentina whilst Dickens helped the Waratahs to the Super Rugby U19s Final.

Reds backrower Dominic Thygesen and centre Frankie Goldsbrough have been added to the bench as they look to continue their unbeaten start.

Goldsbrough was thrust straight into the Reds squad out of school and started in the centres in the win over South Africa in May.

Australia U20 vs. Italy U20

Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town

7pm Thursday 4 July (local) / 3am Friday 5 July (AEST)

1. Lington Ieli - ACT Brumbies, Tuggeranong Vikings
2. Ottavio Tuipulotu - Melbourne Rebels, Eastern Suburbs
3. Trevor King - Queensland Reds, Souths Brisbane
4. Toby Macpherson (c) - ACT Brumbies, Uni-Norths Owls
5. Ollie McCrea - NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs
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. Angus Staniforth - ACT Brumbies, Canberra Royals
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. Bryn Edwards - NSW Waratahs, Sydney University
17. Nathaniel Tiitii - NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs
18. Nick Bloomfield - Queensland Reds, Easts Brisbane
19. Eamon Doyle - NSW Waratahs, Sydney University
20. Dominic Thygesen - Queensland Reds, Souths Brisbane
21. Billy Dickens - NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs
22. Joe Dillon - NSW Waratahs, Manly Marlins
23. Frankie Goldsbrough - Queensland Reds, Easts Brisbane

[Burgs]

Match starting now (0100) on RugbyPass TV

[James]

Weather conditions insane. We played well to only be down by 7 after that. Wind at our backs in the second half. Given the France v NZ result, we will likely only go to the Top 4 with a win over Ireland, so this game doesn't really matter anyway.

[Burgs]

Leahy being his electric best! (Typing as he misses a tackle )

[Burgs]

Leahy being his electric best! (Typing as he misses a tackle )

I should know better than to comment on a player during a match

[Burgs]

Italy win 17-12 with a PG after the 80.
Full credit to Italy who played the conditions far better than Australia.
Having run into a howling cyclone in the first half, the wind dropped somewhat during most of the second, then absolutely bucketed when it got to the sharp end when some critical skills were required.
I believe in fair weather Australia would have worn them down similarly to Georgia, but you've got to have a style for the night.
It would appear Leahy had received an injury when he made a couple of critical mistakes, however, over all he was firing for most of the night.
Sawers did cost a YC, but otherwise was very impressive.
Still sitting in second in the Pool.
Georgia missed a massive upset over Ireland by seconds, so Italy isn't guaranteed points next round.
A win for Australia and we are through, but if not, then a close lose and should still be ok to proceed.
Fingers crossed for fair weather, as I believe Ireland would also be strong in the wet comparatively to Australia.

[James]

Yeah- the conditions couldn't really have been worse. If it had stayed the same way throughout, it might have worked.

From here, a win against Ireland would likely see us in the top tier (unless they got 2 bonus points and we got none). A draw or a loss would see us in the middle tier (I think). The bottom tier will likely be Spain, Fiji, South Africa, Georgia.

[todd4]

The bottom tier will likely be Spain, Fiji, South Africa, Georgia.

I've only seen the Aust v Georgia game so far, you say South Africa will finish in the bottom tier? What's going on with them? especially considering the comp is being held in South Africa?

[Burgs]

I've only seen the Aust v Georgia game so far, you say South Africa will finish in the bottom tier? What's going on with them? especially considering the comp is being held in South Africa?

Only thing I'm aware of at this point was Argentina spanked them in last nights fixture.
They seemed pretty good in Australia last month.

[James]

I've only seen the Aust v Georgia game so far, you say South Africa will finish in the bottom tier? What's going on with them? especially considering the comp is being held in South Africa?

They lost without a BP to the Argies. Likely suffered from the same weather as us. You'd tip England to beat them- they beat the Argies. If they don't get a losing BP, they finish on 5 points.