Australia Under 20s Extended Squad

Australian Under 20s Coach Adrian Thompson today announced the extended National Squad to play Fiji and Samoa in April at Bond University on the Gold Coast, in preparation for the IRB Junior World Championships in New Zealand in June.

The squad of 33 players includes four contracted Super Rugby players, with Allen Alaalatoa (University of Canberra Brumbies), Luke Burton (Western Force), David Horwitz (NSW Waratahs), and Sean McMahon (RaboDirect Rebels) all potentially available for selection.

The squad announcement comes after a successful National Under 20s Championship last week in Canberra in which the NSW side emerged as champions following a tight match against Queensland 31-18.

Adrian Thompson is excited about his players having the opportunity to compete against two strong Pacific nations in the lead up to the IRB Junior World Championships.

“The matches against Fiji and Samoa on the Gold Coast will be an excellent opportunity for us to test players in positions and continue our selection process.”

“We are determined to improve on our seventh place in the IRB Junior World Championships in Paris last year. This squad knows there is a lot of hard work to come if they want to be selected in the squad heading to the competition in June.”

Australian Under 20s key dates 2014:

22 April-4 May 2014 International Preparation Tournament
Bond University, Gold Coast

20-29 May 2014 IRB Junior World Cup Assembly Camp
Narrabeen Academy of Sport, Sydney

30 May-21 June 2014 IRB Junior World Championship
Auckland, New Zealand

Australia Under 20s Extended Squad

1. Allan Alaalatoa ACT
Cameron Orr NSW
Tom Banks QLD
Jack Payne QLD
Luke Burton WA
Joel Penders ACT
Sam Croke NSW
Rowan Perry ACT
Andrew Deegan NSW
Matthew Philip NSW
Jack Dempsey NSW
Jonah Placid QLD
Lalakai Foketi VIC
Joseph Powell ACT
Scott Gale QLD
Angus Pulver NSW
Michael Gunn QLD
Tom Robertson NSW
Ross Haylett-Petty WA
Andrew Robinson ACT
David Horwitz NSW
Harry Scoble WA
Alifeliti Kaitu'u QLD
Pat Sio NSW
Andrew Kellaway NSW
Tom Staniforth ACT
Brad Lacy WA
Jimmy Stewart NSW
Jake McIntyre QLD
Johnny Vaux NSW
Sean McMahon VIC
Tevita Vea NSW
Rory O'Connor NSW

Well done to all that were selected

Double the amount of Victorian players, which is good to see from a WA development perspective, and from a "we were the fourth team" perspective.

Wonder if Angus is related to Bill?!

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Originally Posted by Alison

Wonder if Angus is related to Bill?!

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Yeah it's his son he is a good little half back.

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Originally Posted by chibi

Double the amount of Victorian players, which is good to see from a WA development perspective, and from a "we were the fourth team" perspective.

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Pretty sure that both of those Victorian players are from NSW/QLD. They are only listed in the VIC category because they are signed with the Rebels EPS. So in actual fact we have an infinite number times the number of Victorian players :)

I feel a bit rorted. WA reportedly had the best pack in the Southern States and won that competition. Southern States only narrowly lost the U20 championship and also reportedly had the best pack. So how come we don't have more than 4 players (and only 2 forwards!) in the final squad? Conspiracy!

The National Australian Under 20s side to play Samoa Under 20s at Bond University on Wednesday 30 April is:
1. Rory O’Connor (NSW)
2. Harry Scoble (WA)
3. Tom Robertson (NSW)
4. Tom Staniforth (c) (ACT)
5. Jack Payne (QLD)
6. Sam Croke (NSW)
7. Rowan Perry (ACT)
8. Lolo Fakaosilea (QLD)
9. Joe Powell (ACT)
10. Andrew Deegan (NSW)
11. Brad Lacey (WA)
12. Luke Burton (vc) (WA)
13. Lalakai Foketi (VIC)
14. Sasa Tofilau (NSW)
15. Jonah Placid (QLD)

Reserves:
16. David Vea (NSW)
17. Cameron Orr (NSW)
18. Alifeliti Kaitu’u (QLD)
19. Ross Haylett-Petty (WA)
20. Pat Sio (NSW)
21. Angus Pulver (NSW)
22. David Horwitz (NSW)
23. Tom Banks (QLD

Congrats to all the WA Boys and good luck securing your spot in the World Cup squad

Well done, boys.

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Originally Posted by GAFFA

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Tom Staniforth ACT
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ya canna handa man a granda spanner????

Scot's Cousin

Aussie u20 boys won the game after trailing half time 3-5 against Samoa
Scored 31 unanswered points second half to win 34 - 5
Try scorers:
Sasa Tofilau (2)
Lalakai Foketi
Brad Lacey (WA)
Alifeliti Kaitu’u

Luke Burton (WA) kicked 3 con & 1 pen

there are some traditionally australian names in that list!

What is happening with the Au U20s selectors - Luke Burton on the bench again V England??/

I thought exactly the same

He's been busy like Hodgo, he will get his chance soon.

leaking defence in the midfield against England

Bugger.. Hate losing to England under any circumstances!!

England were a step up from our guys. I thought we had a chance but we were dominated. We also seemed , to me, that we didn't have a captain, to relieve some of the refs judgments. Not that that should or would have changed the result.
As for the way the baby boks dominated the ab's "wow". There is a team of the future, if they are ever allowed to play together!

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Originally Posted by SNOB

England were a step up from our guys. I thought we had a chance but we were dominated. We also seemed , to me, that we didn't have a captain, to relieve some of the refs judgments. Not that that should or would have changed the result.
As for the way the baby boks dominated the ab's "wow". There is a team of the future, if they are ever allowed to play together!

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At least half of them will end up at the Force ;)