Kiwis get a 'make-over'
Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:24
New Zealand will take on Ireland in their Pool A match at the International Rugby Board (IRB) Junior World Championship in Cardiff on Tuesday with a new-look team and captain.
Canterbury midfielder Ryan Crotty, who was a member of the New Zealand team that won the 2007 IRB Under-19 World Championship, will captain the Under-20 side - while only three players who started in the game against Tonga last Saturday were included in the starting XV for the match against Ireland.
They are Zac Guildford of Hawke's Bay, Peter Saili of Auckland and Josh Townsend of Otago.
Co-Coach Russell Hilton-Jones said the changes would not affect the way New Zealand approach the game.
"It is important to manage our players given the quick turnaround between games but we have selected what we believe is the best team to take on Ireland," Hilton-Jones said.
"Looking ahead to this game, we aim to be more accurate in everything we do and continue the momentum."
New Zealand: 15 Zac Guildford (Hawke's Bay), 14 Kade Poki (Tasman), 13 Jackson Willison (Waikato), 12 Ryan Crotty (Canterbury, captain), 11 Sean Maitland (Canterbury), 10 Trent Renata (Waikato), 9 Grayson Hart (Auckland), 8 Nasi Manu (Canterbury), 7 Luke Braid (Bay of Plenty), 6 Peter Saili (Auckland), 5 Josh Townsend (Otago), 4 Sam Whitelock (Canterbury), 3 Ben Afeaki (North Harbour), 2 Quentin MacDonald (Tasman), 1 Rodney Ah You (Canterbury).
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon (Hawke's Bay), 17 Toby Smith (Waikato), 18 Chris Smith (North Harbour), 19 Hugh Reed (Hawke's Bay), 20 Aaron Smith (Manawatu), 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick (Wellington), 22 Andre Taylor (Manawatu).
Date: Tuesday, June 10
Venue: Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
Kick-off: 21.10 (20.10 GMT)
Referee: James Leckie (Australia)
Touch judges: Romain Poite (France),
Andrea Pasquin (Italy)
Assessor: Michel Lamoulie (France)
