Pledger in NZ team for final

4 days ago

Dylan Pledger. Photo: supplied
Otago halfback Dylan Pledger will take his place in the New Zealand Under-20 team to play South Africa in the final of the World Rugby U20 Championship on Sunday morning.
The starting XV remains unchanged following an impressive semifinal victory over France.
This marks just the second time New Zealand and South Africa have met in a final at this tournament, the first being in 2012 when the Junior Springboks claimed the title on home soil.
The game will kick off in Stadio Mario Battaglini in Rovigo, Italy, at 6.30am (NZ time).
- APL

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Otago Daily Times

2 days ago

Otago Daily Times

Relentless Baby Boks claim title

The Baby Blacks are good. But the Baby Boks are just a little bit better. New Zealand's next generation of stars restored the nation's reputation at under-20 level but could not quite get the glory in Italy yesterday. They were beaten 23-15 by South Africa in the final of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship at the Stadio Mario Battaglini in Rovigo. The Baby Blacks were chasing their first world junior title since 2017, a significant drought given they thoroughly dominated the early years of the tournament. But the power in world rugby right now — at all levels, it seems — is South Africa. They were too big, too relentless and too utterly determined to take the trophy home for the first time in 13 years. New Zealand had to do a lot of defending, and while they did it with courage, it eventually took its toll. South Africa made the perfect start to the final when they drove from a lineout and scored a try within three minutes. Classy first five Vusi Moyo, already with 50 points for the tournament, added the conversion. New Zealand fought back after 15 minutes when, from a nifty lineout move, lock Jayden Sa crashed over in the corner. Things went south when prop Sika Pole was sin-binned for a high shot that was quickly upgraded to a 20-minute red card, but South African could add only a penalty in that period, while losing a man of their own to a yellow card, to lead 13-8 at halftime. Rico Simpson and Moyo exchanged penalties as the game stayed in the balance heading into the final quarter. The Baby Blacks went back to 14 men when lock Xavier Treacy was binned, and the Baby Boks scored a cracking try thanks to an inch-perfect kick from outstanding halfback Hassiem Pead. Winger Maloni Kunawave scored a late consolation try for the New Zealanders. Otago halfback Dylan Pledger capped a fine tournament with another solid performance, while Southland midfielder Tayne Harvey got 20 minutes off the bench. 'It was a tough game for the boys, a tough pill to swallow,' New Zealand captain Manumaua Letiu said. 'South Africa showed us how to dominate in the collisions and we couldn't get our attack right. 'It's been an awesome campaign. We've built a really strong culture, and to see New Zealand back in the final makes me proud.' U20 final The scores South Africa 23 Xola Nyali, Gilermo Mentoe tries; Vusi Moyo 2 con, 3 pen. New Zealand 15 Jayden Sa, Maloni Kunawave tries; Will Cole con, Rico Simpson pen. Halftime: South Africa 13-8.

Otago Daily Times

4 days ago

Otago Daily Times

Do or die for unlikely finalists

Harbour are planning to flip the script on Kaikorai during the Dunedin club rugby division 1 final at Forsyth Barr Stadium today. There is no real clear favourite. Both sides beat more highly-rated teams during the playoffs to set up an unlikely final. However, Kaikorai managed to beat Harbour twice during the round-robin. One of them was a very one-sided encounter, but that result appears to have been an outlier. The more recent match was decided by the boot of Ben Miller. There was very little between the teams on that day, and it shapes that way again. But some of the talk leading into the final has been about how Kaikorai is better positioned to exploit the dry conditions under the roof. The Demons like to play with width and probe the fringes for gaps. But Harbour captain Taylor Dale reckons the Hawks' chunky pack will enjoy firm ground beneath their boots as well. "We can use our set-piece as a weapon," Dale said. "Everyone is going on about the hard pitch suiting Kaikorai, but it is going to be much better for our scrums and lineout drives, which we will be using." No secret there. Harbour will kick for territory and unleash their rolling maul and powerful forward play. Dale will feature strongly in that game plan. The 23-year-old has made the move to the blindside recently. He has played most of his career at lock, but the former Otago Boys' first XV player is keen to explore his options. He believes he is not tall enough to play lock at the next level, and he hopes the move to blindside will open up opportunities. Harbour missed out on the playoffs last season but have made a dramatic improvement this year. They have freshened up their lineup with some recruits and finished the round robin in fourth place. The club has just one title. It shared the spoils with University in an epic final in 2018, which ended 30-30. Kaikorai captain Lucas Casey hails from Northland. He moved to Dunedin to study commerce at the University of Otago four years ago. He has inked a deal with Otago for the next two seasons. Casey made his debut for Otago last season but has taken his game to a new level this year. The 22-year-old has been a standout in the club competition and he is very keen to finish the club season on a strong note by holding aloft the Championship Shield. "It will mean everything," he said. "There is a lot of history in our club, but we've only won it twice [since the finals format was introduced in 1986]. But we have a few boys who were part of the team which won in 2016 and they have talked a little bit about what it means. "It would just be awesome to win. Not just for us as players but for the club. "We'll really put our best foot forward to win it." Ideally, Casey would slot in at openside. But Slade McDowall has a mortgage on the No 7 jersey and Casey has shifted to No 8. He can also play blindside, so he is versatile. But the dominant feature of his game is his speed and his ability to find gaps in the wide channels. Harbour have an experienced centre in Aleki Morris-Lome who has rediscovered some good form this season. They have a former All Black in Waisake Naholo on one wing and a classy halfback and first five combination in Nathan Hastie and Rique Miln. Hooker Gabriel Francesconi and lock Boston Hunt have big wraps. Casey will be supported in the loose by the experienced McDowall, who played in the 2016 final when Kaikorai defeated Dunedin 29-22 to claim their last title. Highlanders hooker Henry Bell will bolster the front row and first five Ben Miller is a crucial cog in the Kaikorai backline. And centre Jake Fowler has some X-factor. Division 1 final Forsyth Barr Stadium, 3pm Harbour: Luca Fuller, Waisake Naholo, Aleki Morris-Lome, Willy Tufui, Wiremu Brailey, Rique Miln, Nathan Hastie, Jeff Ikani, Toni Taufa, Taylor Dale (captain), Boston Hunt, Nasili Ikahihifo, Ben Fakataha, Gabriel Francesconi, Darius Fiddow. Reserves: Angus Hewett, Tevita Pole, Carlos Miln, Lucas Govaerts,Tetauru Cruthers, Drew Aniterea, Mone Samate-Palu. Kaikorai: Charlie Breen, Rota Lafita, Jake Fowler, Dante Hihi, Rico Fisher, Ben Miller, Taine Hand, Lucas Casey (captain), Slade McDowall, Rawiri Martin, Lachlan Stevens, Sidney Fidow, Moana Takataka, Henry Bell, Henry Cleaver. Reserves: Ben Hellriegel, Ben Ellis, William Tucker, Phoenix Tapatu, Orlando Tuhega-Vaitupu, Mason Lome-Hindle, Jacob Field.

Otago Daily Times

4 days ago

Otago Daily Times