Rudderless
Arch Winning (36)
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NZ team is another example of a player who slipped the Australia system.
Xavier Tracey played both Club and School Rugby in Melbourne up until 2023. Another graduate of the Harlequins / St Kevins College system.
Moved to Christchurch to develop his game. Made his senior club debut in 2024, the Crusaders U20 (can't remember what year). The rest is history.
Absolutely brutal and physical player who would make mincemeat of his opposition. Lovely young man too. Can't be happier for him and his achievements. Go well mate.
His younger brother Louie is following the same path and won't be too far behind his brother in the rep ranks.
Xavier Tracey played both Club and School Rugby in Melbourne up until 2023. Another graduate of the Harlequins / St Kevins College system.
Moved to Christchurch to develop his game. Made his senior club debut in 2024, the Crusaders U20 (can't remember what year). The rest is history.
Absolutely brutal and physical player who would make mincemeat of his opposition. Lovely young man too. Can't be happier for him and his achievements. Go well mate.
His younger brother Louie is following the same path and won't be too far behind his brother in the rep ranks.
Slim 293
George Smith (75)
Australia U20 vs. New Zealand U20
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
10pm AEST Thursday 1 May
1. Finn Baxter (ACT Brumbies, Gungahlin Eagles)
2. Ollie Barrett (Western Force, Associates RUFC)
3. Kaleb Ah-Colt (NSW Waratahs, Randwick)
4. Eamon Doyle (c) (NSW Waratahs, Sydney University)
5. Joe Mangelsdorf (NSW Waratahs, Sydney University)
6. Jacob Veiru (NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs)
7. Eli Langi (ACT Brumbies, Tuggeranong Vikings)
8. Beau Morrison (ACT Brumbies, Sydney University)
9. Hwi Sharples (NSW Waratahs, Sydney University)
10. Joey Fowler (NSW Waratahs, Sydney University)
11. Sid Harvey (Australia Sevens)
12. Boston Fakafanua (Western Force, Wests Scarborough)
13. Liam Grover (NSW Waratahs, Sydney University)
14. Cooper Watters (NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs)
15. Shane Wilcox (ACT Brumbies, Tuggeranong Vikings)
Replacements
16. Lipina Ata (ACT Brumbies, Gungahlin Eagles)
17. Trevor King (Queensland Reds, Souths)
18. Nick Hill (NSW Waratahs, Warringah)
19. Charlie Brosnan (Queensland Reds, Brothers)
20. Toby Brial (NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs)
21. James Martens (Queensland Reds, GPS Rugby Club)
22. Joe Dillon (ACT Brumbies, Canberra Royals)
23. Nick Conway (Queensland Reds, Wests Bulldogs)
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha
10pm AEST Thursday 1 May
1. Finn Baxter (ACT Brumbies, Gungahlin Eagles)
2. Ollie Barrett (Western Force, Associates RUFC)
3. Kaleb Ah-Colt (NSW Waratahs, Randwick)
4. Eamon Doyle (c) (NSW Waratahs, Sydney University)
5. Joe Mangelsdorf (NSW Waratahs, Sydney University)
6. Jacob Veiru (NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs)
7. Eli Langi (ACT Brumbies, Tuggeranong Vikings)
8. Beau Morrison (ACT Brumbies, Sydney University)
9. Hwi Sharples (NSW Waratahs, Sydney University)
10. Joey Fowler (NSW Waratahs, Sydney University)
11. Sid Harvey (Australia Sevens)
12. Boston Fakafanua (Western Force, Wests Scarborough)
13. Liam Grover (NSW Waratahs, Sydney University)
14. Cooper Watters (NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs)
15. Shane Wilcox (ACT Brumbies, Tuggeranong Vikings)
Replacements
16. Lipina Ata (ACT Brumbies, Gungahlin Eagles)
17. Trevor King (Queensland Reds, Souths)
18. Nick Hill (NSW Waratahs, Warringah)
19. Charlie Brosnan (Queensland Reds, Brothers)
20. Toby Brial (NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs)
21. James Martens (Queensland Reds, GPS Rugby Club)
22. Joe Dillon (ACT Brumbies, Canberra Royals)
23. Nick Conway (Queensland Reds, Wests Bulldogs)
Didn’t Brial do that? Do theseTracey kids have NZ heritage?
Strewthcobber
David Codey (61)
Joe Brial played for the Canterbury sides for a bit after school, not Toby, although both grew up in Queenstown before moving to Sydney.
As Joe shows, too early to say yet if the Tracey boys have slipped out of the Aus rugby systems. Plenty of time yet to come back
As Joe shows, too early to say yet if the Tracey boys have slipped out of the Aus rugby systems. Plenty of time yet to come back
They’ve gone very anti QLD in this side.
Rudderless
Arch Winning (36)
The Reds Academy staff back in QLD will be pissed. Just 4 on the bench.
Anyone know what the go is with Vaitu Latu. He turned out for brothers 1sr grade last weekend.
The Ghost of Raelene
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Besides Wilcox aren’t all the ACT boys originally NSW 18s players as well? Fakafunua from the Force is another.
Those NSW sides were dominant right the way through the ages until the Brums get them into their gear come the 19s.
Those NSW sides were dominant right the way through the ages until the Brums get them into their gear come the 19s.
BobbyD
Herbert Moran (7)
To be fair, there a few Queenslanders in there via other states (eg. Wilcox, Langi), and Tom Robinson is injured for this game, Frankie Goldsborough injured and not touring, and Dre Pakeho starting for Reds big boys. Oh, and the Waratahs U20 pumped the Reds 40-12 at Ballymore and the Reds chose not to play the Brumbies or the Force who all had matches against each other .
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The Ghost of Raelene
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
I am surprised to see Harvey named on the Wing but glad he gets more game time then 20 mins at Fullback. Gives the side a dangerous backfield with Watters the big unit as well.
Didn't realize Robinson was injured.
Homer
Watty Friend (18)
Not sure about the scrummaging. Baxter is a good footballer but i wasn't sold on his scrum work. Same with Nick Hill, his body height and leg positioning is very high. However, Hill and King are massive units and hit the line hard with ball in hand.
Goddard would have been a great inclusion for the starting side, big loss there.
Goddard would have been a great inclusion for the starting side, big loss there.
That does seem like the best back 3.
Edwin Langi is pretty big, I thought TH would be covered by him and King. Injured maybe?
The Ghost of Raelene
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
I wonder if the big bodies will come in v Argentina who tend to really dominate this part of the game at this age. The NZ set piece over the last couple years hasn't been full of brutes and they have played a pretty open style similar to Aus.
The Ghost of Raelene
Nick Farr-Jones (63)
Squeezing talent on the park. Like Harvey on the Wing, Doyle in the Row who was 8 for NSW in most games. I like the move for this game but so many unknowns at this level.
Would love to see us win but honestly this is about working out what talent we have whilst getting experience and development into them so we can transition them into super teams more efficiently in the future. I'm happy with rotating the boys around each game to achieve this. The SA game will be interesting as we have them in our pool at the world championship later this year.