Plus500 Brumbies Rob Valetini and Nick Jooste have been named in the BMW Australia U20s side to take on England in the final Pool A match of the World Rugby U20s Championship in Georgia.Valetini and Jooste have been named on the bench for the side’s crucial clash, the winner will win the pool and progress through to the tournament Semi-Finals.
Having made nine changes for the match against Samoa, Cron has brought back several players into the starting lineup including Captain Reece Hewat, Izaia Perese, Ryan McCauley, Sham Vui and Liam Wright.
Australia currently sits second in Pool A on nine points behind last year’s U20s Champions, England, on ten points with the winner of the match to top the pool. Should Australia lose the match, the young men in gold would have to rely on results in other two pools going their way in order to claim the fourth-place wild card position in the Semi Finals.
BMW Australia U20s Head Coach, Simon Cron said: “We left opportunities on the field against Samoa and you can’t afford to do that against the top teams however the players are better for having another game together.
“England are a good side and our boys are keen to get on the field and play and represent our country in the gold jersey once again.”
The Australia v England U20s Pool A match will be broadcast live at 2.30am EST, Friday 9 June on Fox Sports.
Cody Walker, NSW Gen Blue, Easts
Jordan Uelese, Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne University
Shambeckler Vui, Western Force, University of WA
Ryan McCauley, NSW Gen Blue, Easts
Harry Hockings, Queensland U20s, University of Queensland
Angus Scott-Young (VC), Queensland U20s, University of Queensland
Liam Wright, Queensland U20s, Easts
Reece Hewat (C), Queensland U20s, Norths
Harrison Goddard, Melbourne Rebels U20s, Randwick
Hamish Stewart (VC), Queensland Reds, Bond University
Semisi Tupou, Melbourne Rebels U20s, Box Hill
Sione Tuipulotu, Melbourne Rebels U20s, Southern Districts
Izaia Perese, Queensland Reds, Easts
Henry Hutchison, Australian Sevens, Randwick=Liam McNamara, Australian Sevens, Sunnybank
Reserves
Efi Maafu, Queensland U20s, Wests
Harry Johnson-Holmes, NSW Gen Blue U20s, Sydney University
Gavin Luka, Queensland U20s, Bond University
Lachlan Swinton, NSW Gen Blue U20s, Sydney University
Rob Valetini, Brumbies, Wests
Harry Nucifora, Queensland U20s, Bond University
Nick Jooste, Brumbies U20s, Wests
Dylan Riley, Queensland U20s, Bond University
