CAPTION: The New Zealand Under 20 team can secure the inaugural Rugby Championship Under 20 Tournament title if they beat Australia Under 20 in their final match of the tournament on the Sunshine Coast. (Photo by Tertius Pickard / action press)
New Zealand U20 Head Coach Jono Gibbes has made seven changes to his squad to play Australia for what will be a tournament defining final round match at the inaugural Rugby Championship Under 20 Tournament on the Sunshine Coast.
Following a first up 13-13 draw against South Africa and a 43-20 win over Argentina, New Zealand can secure the trophy with a win against the tournament hosts Australia at Sunshine Coast Stadium on Sunday (12 May).
Gibbes and his coaching team continue to back their entire traveling squad with five changes to the team that started against Argentina and a further two on the reserves. Notably loose forwards Tristyn Cook and Jeremiah Avei-Collins gain their first appearances of the week, the former earning a start at blindside, and the former providing loose forward cover from the bench.
Game one standouts, wing Stanley Solomon and fullback Isaac Hutchinson, return to the starting backline, while lock Tom Allen and openside Johnny Lee come into the starting pack. Outside back Aki Tuivailala also returns to the squad to provide some firepower from the bench.
The side is once again captained by consistent hooker Vernon Bason who has led the team through the tournament.
The New Zealand Under 20 squad to play Australia Under 20 is below (changes from the previous match in bold):
1 Will Martin (Chiefs, Waikato)
2 Vernon Bason (Hurricanes, Manawatū) (c)
3 Joshua Smith (Hurricanes, Hawke’s Bay)
4 Tom Allen (Hurricanes, Hawke’s Bay)
5 Liam Jack (Crusaders, Canterbury)
6 Tristyn Cook (Blues, North Harbour)
7 Johnny Lee (Crusaders, Canterbury)
8 Malachi Wrampling (Chiefs, Waikato)
9 Dylan Pledger (Highlanders, Otago)
10 Rico Simpson (Blues, Auckland)
11 Stanley Solomon (Hurricanes, Wellington)
12 Tofuka Paongo (Hurricanes, Wellington)
13 Xavi Taele (Blues, Auckland) (vc)
14 King Maxwell (Blues, Auckland)
15 Isaac Hutchinson (Crusaders, Canterbury)
Reserves:
16 Manumaua Letiu (Crusaders, Canterbury)
17 Sika Pole (Blues, Auckland)
18 Kurene Luamanuvae (Blues, Auckland)
19 Andrew Smith (Chiefs, Waikato)
20 Jeremiah Avei-Collins (Hurricanes, Wellington)
21 Ben O’Donovan (Crusaders, Canterbury)
22 Sam Coles (Hurricanes, Manawatū)
23 Aki Tuivailala (Chiefs, Waikato)
New Zealand’s Rugby Championship Under 20 Schedule:
Game 1
v South Africa, Thursday 2 May, Sunshine Coast, Australia – Draw: 13-13
Game 2
v Argentina, Tuesday 7 May, Sunshine Coast, Australia – Won: 43-20
Game 3
v Australia, Sunday 12 May, 5.30pm NZT/3.30pm AEST, Sunshine Coast, Australia
