The "All-in" Junior world cup thread

[Taylorman]

First topic message reminder :

With 6 games on today didnt feel like jumping around the various u20 posts for each side...

On now is Scotland vs SA- Scots ahead after 16 mins 5-0, now SA 7-5 after 18.

Wales are leading Fiji 14-5 after scoring a try after 7 seconds! An average kick of to the left was left to bounce by the Fijians and Wales came through at full pace catching the ball after the bounce and scored in the corner. Other than the ball bouncing I don't think you can get a quicker try.

Aus thrashed Argie 36-17.

[Exiledinborders]

Rob Andrew basking in a little glory:

England age group improvement

Well why shouldn't he? Over the years I have given him my share of flack but he was largely responsible for the partnership agreement with the PRL and he has put in place good systems for elite rugby development.

I can't say I like his style but he has done a good job.

[No 7&1/2]

in that particular match ireland were also very significantly outskilled and outplayed. england clearly relaxed 2nd half with the final to come. what was it at half time 26-3? that wasnt JUST strength and conditioning, or england would have been more dominant in the 2nd half when conditioning counts for me...

I don't think the English players are fitter than ours. We just don't have the size and physicality across the forward pack.

The power deferential would be more pronounced in the first half where it was more structured - tailoring off in the second as the bigger guys tire and the game breaks up.

Well the results at this level don't really matter. If the Irish guys already match the skills etc of the English and the only thing we have over you at this level is size by the time it comes to seniors it all matches up anyway.

[Exiledinborders]

England smashed Ireland because we had the better players. We offloaded and moved the ball, and we picked angles, and Ireland couldn't handle it.

No England smashed Ireland because your players are on S&C programs earlier than ours so our pack weren't able to compete with the size and physicality. Most of our guys would only be a year into full time programmes at this level.

Sorry to burst your bubble.

That may be true but now English rugby has got its player development systems worked out, with fourteen academies together with the national academy all working well, it may well be that Ireland, Wales and Scotland may find it difficult to compete. In these things numbers matter. Not all players from the academies will develop but the bigger the pool higher the chance of producing top players.

For years England have under-performed due to amateurish set up. That looks like it is changing. Given the size of the system, they only need to be as efficient as other countries to produce the best teams. I am not sure whether this is really a good thing for 6N.

[HammerofThunor]

I wouldn't mind a few years of us actually utilising all our resources. I'm sure a few years time they'll be a change up and it'll all come crashing down.

[rodders]

in that particular match ireland were also very significantly outskilled and outplayed. england clearly relaxed 2nd half with the final to come. what was it at half time 26-3? that wasnt JUST strength and conditioning, or england would have been more dominant in the 2nd half when conditioning counts for me...

I don't think the English players are fitter than ours. We just don't have the size and physicality across the forward pack.

The power deferential would be more pronounced in the first half where it was more structured - tailoring off in the second as the bigger guys tire and the game breaks up.

Well the results at this level don't really matter. If the Irish guys already match the skills etc of the English and the only thing we have over you at this level is size by the time it comes to seniors it all matches up anyway.

Yeah I think results matter, their not the be all and end all but they do reinforce habits that they take through to senior level.

I should emphasise that I wasn't suggesting England and SA don't have skill, or inferior skills, just that they have in general more physicality and power which is a big advantage.

[No 7&1/2]

Fair enough. i think it's all about the development of skills here. Part of those skills will be physical obviously by the nature of the game. Someone shining in a beaten team can quite often more to a senior side.

[profitius]

Shocking first half from Ireland. Fair play to England, they've got their act together and have a load of good prospects coming through. They were my favourites at the start of the tournament and I think they'll beat the Boks because they've better players.

Ireland didn't play well but credit to the English defence for that. They got no time on the ball and the rucks and set pieces were contested by England. The Irish tackling was the worst aspect of it.

The tournament should be extended by a week with the IRB picking up the cost. Its crazy to expect players to play every 3/4 days.

One the topic of skills, well as usual NZ are right up there along with Australia and now England too. I think Ireland are right up there too actually. The Irish backline are all eligible next year apart from Kelleher and Wootton.

Also from an Ireland point of view its worth noting that in the last 2 seasons the U20 team has been weakened by injuries and withdrawals. Henshaw and Olding last year. O'Brien, John Madigan, Peter Robb, Dan Leavy, Craig Trenier, Adam Byrne, David Busby, all injured or withdrawn from this years squad and most if not all were starters. At the end of the day it hasn't been a bad year.

Next years group will be harder though. Ireland will have NZ, Argentina and Scotland in their group.

[blackcanelion]

Pretty much nails it right on the button:

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/jun/18/england-under-20s-skilful-support-stuart-lancaster

Can't really dispute anything here. There are a number of commentators in NZ rugby that think we'll probably be alright because we take skillful players and put bulk on them later vs take big players and try and put skill on them. I'm not so sure.

The finals going to interesting. The feeling I get from reading Bilting is England look the goods.

[Biltong]

If we want to beat England we are going to have to play some rugby, I still don't know how we beat NZ in the semi, they made all the play and we only started playing some rugby when the time was almost up.

[blackcanelion]

If we want to beat England we are going to have to play some rugby, I still don't know how we beat NZ in the semi, they made all the play and we only started playing some rugby when the time was almost up.

You were all over us like a rash at the end.......

[Biltong]

If we want to beat England we are going to have to play some rugby, I still don't know how we beat NZ in the semi, they made all the play and we only started playing some rugby when the time was almost up.

You were all over us like a rash at the end.......

Yes, but why only then, why not play for 80 minutes?

[thebandwagonsociety]

I have the feeling Ireland are about to be put firmly back in their place in the next game. It isn't going to be pretty from an Irish perspective. A learning experience for the players will be the polite spin.

[profitius]

Pretty much nails it right on the button:

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/jun/18/england-under-20s-skilful-support-stuart-lancaster

Can't really dispute anything here. There are a number of commentators in NZ rugby that think we'll probably be alright because we take skillful players and put bulk on them later vs take big players and try and put skill on them. I'm not so sure.

The finals going to interesting. The feeling I get from reading Bilting is England look the goods.

Its worked for NZ so far.

[jelly]

What time does the final kick off - UK time?

[Portnoy's Complaint]

What time does the final kick off - UK time?

Fri 20 IRB U20s World Championship Final: England Under-20s v South Africa Under-20s, Auckland
19:35 local, 07:35 GMT, 08:35 BST

[jelly]

Thanks

[Exiledinborders]

Pretty much nails it right on the button:

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2014/jun/18/england-under-20s-skilful-support-stuart-lancaster

Can't really dispute anything here. There are a number of commentators in NZ rugby that think we'll probably be alright because we take skillful players and put bulk on them later vs take big players and try and put skill on them. I'm not so sure.

The finals going to interesting. The feeling I get from reading Bilting is England look the goods.

Its worked for NZ so far.

I am not sure that is correct. Age group rugby used to be dominated by NZ and subsequently the players dominated senior rugby. Now they are not the dominant force at under twenties. There is no precedent that says they will dominate senior rugby in the future.

Winning is a habit. Secondly I have seen nothing to indicate that NZ are more skilful at the junior levels.

[quinsforever]

England looking good so far. SA players already puffing after 8 mins. 0-0

[quinsforever]

ref making big errors at the scrum, SA LH going sideways every time and he hasnt spotted it...fingers crossed the TJ has a word in his ear

[quinsforever]

who is this ref he is hopeless. was a clear knock-on, didnt touch his knee. ridiculous.

[No 7&1/2]

Anyone know the Ireland score. Had to leave for work just after half time.

[Cumbrian]

England get a penalty, the Baby Boks could have been penalised for about five different things in that passage of play.

[Gunner]

Miracle of miracles.
Fox Sport Asia is playing the 3 games this afternoon.
Some big boys playing.

[Cumbrian]

Baby Blacks won it 45-23. As far as I saw Ireland were well in it until about 50 minutes.

[quinsforever]

watch the SA LH go sideways and the ref do nothing again...he's standing on the wrong side of the scrum...  

[quinsforever]

bad decision by england 9 to tap and go from own 22 there. led straight to SA try

[Biltong]

I suppose that is a lucky try as well?

[Cumbrian]

That was the England scrum half's fault. What a stupid decision, a quick tap and throw it to an isolated LH prop with 70 meters to go.

[quinsforever]

are you watching the game bilt? do you disagree with the scrum mistakes? even the backs commentating have mentioned it...

[quinsforever]

and yes since you mention it the SA try was lucky in that england's 9 tapped and went with a pen from in his own 22 then threw possession straight to SA. nice chip kick though.

[quinsforever]

did i really just hear the commentator say "SA looking to carry on at speed..."   

[quinsforever]

can we sub the ref? i think he's used to RL scrums...

[Geordie]

Who is the ref...wheres he from?
And whats the score

[quinsforever]

should have been 3 scrum penalties to england so far. the ref refuses to come to the SA LH side

this is a joke.

[quinsforever]

he sounds south african, strangely.

[lostinwales]

Score currently 10-3 to the boks. Updates on planet rugby

[lostinwales]

'Ben O'Keeffe of New Zealand will referee the Final of the 2014 Junior World Championship'

[quinsforever]

ben o'keeffe from NZ

[nobbled]

England confidence seems low.
Line out not going well. Poor choices.

[Cumbrian]

Well he's got a bit of a boot on him!

[nobbled]

England going for 56 yard penalty - got it! 10-6

[Guest]

Sh*t, big kick that

[Gunner]

Huge Kick.

[quinsforever]

56 metre pen kick sailed over by aaron morris. wow! nice weapon to have in your arsenal.

lets hope someone has a word with the ref about scrums at half-tiume

[quinsforever]

pollard should get a yello for that. but no chance this ref is going to give it.

[quinsforever]

what did i tell you. worst ref display i have ever seen in an intl match at any level so far.

[quinsforever]

even the commentators said that was a yellow, and one is a saffer!

[Cumbrian]

Get in! Great try from England.

[nobbled]

Try!!!!!!

[quinsforever]

beautiful try england. tomkins broke 5 tackles, walk-in for earle in the corner

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