2002 a fine year of talent

Here are the Squads that competed the Under 21 World Championship Final in 2002.
As you can see, especially for Australia, it was a year of rare talent
The Australian Squad would make for a pretty handy Super 14 combination today!

Australia:

1-Nic Henderson,
2-Joshua Mann-Rea,
3-Anthony Mathison,
4-Daniel Heenan,
5-Mark Chisholm,
6-Jone Tawake,
7-Matthew Hodgson,
8-Tamaiti Horua (capt),

9-Matthew Henjak,
10-Brock James,
11-Luke Sweeney,
12-Morgan Turinui,
13-Mark Gerrard,
14-Peter Hynes,
15-Michael Tabrett,

16-Nick Churvin,
17-Guy Shepherdson,
18-Luke Doherty,
19-Adam (AJ) Whalley,
20-Mafi Kefu,
21-Chris Siale,
22-Matthew Giteau.

South Africa:

1-Guthro Steenkamp,
2-Gary Botha,
3-Patrick Barnard,
4-Stefan van Rooyen,
5-Jaun Smith,
6-Roland Bernard,
7-Pedrie Wannenberg,
8-Jacques Cronje,

9-Enrico Januarie,
10-Swys Swart,
11-Ashwin Willemse,
12-Dewey Swartbooi,
13-Clyde Rathbone (capt),
14-Jean de Villiers,
15-Jorrie Muller,

16-Dean Hopp,
17-Rayno Gerber,
18-Quinton Geldenhuis,
19-Schalk Burger,
20-Fourie du Preez,
21-Tsepo Kokoali,
22-JP Nel.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Burgs

Here are the Squads that competed the Under 21 World Championship Final in 2002.
As you can see, especially for Australia, it was a year of rare talent
The Australian Squad would make for a pretty handy Super 14 combination today!

Australia:

1-Nic Henderson,
2-Joshua Mann-Rea,
3-Anthony Mathison,
4-Daniel Heenan,
5-Mark Chisholm,
6-Jone Tawake,
7-Matthew Hodgson,
8-Tamaiti Horua (capt),

9-Matthew Henjak,
10-Brock James,
11-Luke Sweeney,
12-Morgan Turinui,
13-Mark Gerrard,
14-Peter Hynes,
15-Michael Tabrett

16-Nick Churvin,
17-Guy Shepherdson,
18-Luke Doherty,
19-Adam (AJ) Whalley,
20-Mafi Kefu,
21-Chris Siale,
22-Matthew Giteau.

---

Tabrett was a great young player who was destined for higher honours and was part of the QLD Reds, but passed away in 2003, his younger brother plays for Souths in Brisbane and has made quite a few appearances for the QLD 2nd XV

Thanks TOCC, I was wondering why I knew of all but him, that explains it.
Sad story for one so young.

The other was Luke Sweeney. Have heard his name around and think it was to do with Aus Sevens but not 100% there.

Isn't that interesting Brock James kept Gits out of the starting 15

Well, a combination of Brocky and that great Rugby brain Turinui, but yes was thinking the same thing when I put it up TQ1.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Thequeerone

Isn't that interesting Brock James kept Gits out of the starting 15

---

That was the first thing I noticed as well

gitts wasnt playing 10 back then was he?

well Morgan Turinui kept him out of 12 as well

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Thequeerone

Isn't that interesting Brock James kept Gits out of the starting 15

---

They were still trying to iron the kinks out of the little Mungo. ;)

"I guess you could say Im a leaguie. I played it all through my
youth, and was in the Canberra Raiders set-up until the age of about
15," he says, the famous Raiders club having boasted such recent
League legends as Mal Meninga and Laurie Daley, not to mention Giteau
senior, who moved young Matt to the capital only months after his
birth in Sydney, having signed for the Raiders after a stint in NSW."

from Planet Rugby.

Morgan was about 30 kgs lighter in those days!

Gits wouldve been touted as a 9 back then wouldnt he?

Henjak kept him out of 9 as well ;)