Under-20 Competitions including Oceania & World U20s

[Dan54]

NZ boys certainly didn't look too flash against Italy this morning. And by the size and speed of Boks they may face an uphill battle there too.

 

[FNC Rugby]

Sharples is 20 though, he's not eligible for the ASJRU Championships

not talking about Sharples in this instance, its kids that get cottoned wooled into PONI squads and dont have to fight for their positions (like Sharples has never had to) when we have kids who get placed into squads without working for it (like Sharples) we have situations like we did last night in the20's

 

[Braveheart81]

not talking about Sharples in this instance, its kids that get cottoned wooled into PONI squads and dont have to fight for their positions (like Sharples has never had to) when we have kids who get placed into squads without working for it (like Sharples) we have situations like we did last night in the20's

You'd think these NSW kids would struggle when they play the other states.

 

[Major Tom]

To the eye. Martens looks far more threatening. He’s got a a sharp pass, and he’s quick to every breakdown. His ability to from the ruck asks a lot of the defence.

 

[Braveheart81]

To the eye. Martens looks far more threatening. He’s got a a sharp pass, and he’s quick to every breakdown. His ability to from the ruck asks a lot of the defence.

The point is that they are clearly pretty close. There's been games where Sharples has looked much better and vice-versa. I would say that Martens has more upside but is also more error prone. Sharples is pretty stable.

If Sharples was so bad you'd expect the other NSW 9s, Brumbies 9s and Force 9s to be pushing him out of contention for the Wallabies under 20s. That very clearly isn't the case.

 

[Italophile]

NZ boys certainly didn't look too flash against Italy this morning. And by the size and speed of Boks they may face an uphill battle there too.

Gruelling conditions, all of Italy is a blast furnace at the moment. The AB 10 vomited on pitch after a conversion. That said, Italy were good value, ABs lacked cohesion and their scrum was under pressure. One thing Italy can produce is big young lads who can scrummage.

 

[Dan54]

Gruelling conditions, all of Italy is a blast furnace at the moment. The AB 10 vomited on pitch after a conversion. That said, Italy were good value, ABs lacked cohesion and their scrum was under pressure. One thing Italy can produce is big young lads who can scrummage.

Yep saw him vomit Italophile, was watching as he lined up conversion and he looked to be struggling then. Was surprised he stayed on after halftime to be honest.

 

[FNC Rugby]

The point is that they are clearly pretty close. There's been games where Sharples has looked much better and vice-versa. I would say that Martens has more upside but is also more error prone. Sharples is pretty stable.

If Sharples was so bad you'd expect the other NSW 9s, Brumbies 9s and Force 9s to be pushing him out of contention for the Wallabies under 20s. That very clearly isn't the case.

its not a case of Brumbies/Force players being better, its the fact they've never had to work for their position. There is a kid Sam Howarth playing for Bond Uni in the Qld comp, offers far more than Sharples. The selectors will almost never opt for a kid that hasnt been on the pathway, if they do that its an admission that they've been wrong and they will never do that

 

[Major Tom]

The point is that they are clearly pretty close. There's been games where Sharples has looked much better and vice-versa. I would say that Martens has more upside but is also more error prone. Sharples is pretty stable.

If Sharples was so bad you'd expect the other NSW 9s, Brumbies 9s and Force 9s to be pushing him out of contention for the Wallabies under 20s. That very clearly isn't the case.

I’m not attacking Sharples as such. I just think martens is an exceptional talent and looks to have gone past him.