Between injuries and suspensions, Junior Wallabies forced to revise several names
Under-20 World Cup: many changes in the Australia team that challenges Italy – ph. Sebastiano Pessina
Australia Under-20 coach Nathan Gray has named the Junior Wallabies squad to face Roberto Santamaria’s Italy on matchday two of the World Youth Championship.
Unlike the Azzurri, who were badly beaten in their debut at the 2024 World Rugby U20 Championship by Ireland, Australia closed the first round with a positive victory over Georgia by 35-11. But, and not figuratively speaking, the Junior Wallabies also left the first day with broken bones. At the end of the match against the Caucasians, Coach Gray had to serve four serious injuries in his ranks.
Read also: Under 20 World Cup, first day: results and scorers of Ireland-Italy and Australia-Georgia
They are Jack Barrett (leg), Tevita Alatini (knee), Ben Di Staso (ribs) and Hwi Sharples (Achilles tendon). As if that wasn’t enough, for the next two rounds coach Gray will also have to do without Harvey Cordukes, who was sent off in the first half for a red card.
A victorious debut paid at a high price against Georgia. Coach Nathan Gray has thus recalled four players from Australia (Nathaniel Tiitii, Billy Dickens, Will Goddard and Austin Durbridge) to replace the injured, and two of these will be on the bench against Italy for the second day of the Under-20 World Cup.
In light of all this, coach Grey has been forced to significantly revise the Australia Under 20 team for the challenge against Roberto Santamaria’s Italy, particularly in the scrum.
The entire front line changes, with Ieli, Tuipulotu and King in place of the Barrett-Edwards-Bloomfield trio. Also, McCrea has been given space in the second line in place of the suspended Cordukes, to keep the confirmed captain Macpherson company in the “engine room”.
The third line and starting three-quarters are largely confirmed, but this time with the winger Staniforth in from the first minute, who scored a brace of tries against Georgia. Several changes on the bench, where the aforementioned Tiitii and Dickens find their place together with Edwards, Bloomfield, Doyle, Thygesen, Dillon and Goldsbrough.
Under-20 World Cup, Day 2: Australia’s lineup to take on Italy
1. Lington Ieli – ACT Brumbies, Tuggeranong Vikings
2. Ottavio Tuipulotu – Melbourne Rebels, Eastern Suburbs
3. Trevor King – Queensland Reds, Souths Brisbane
4. Toby Macpherson (c) – ACT Brumbies, Uni-Norths Owls
5. Ollie McCrea – NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs
6. Aden Ekanayake – Australia Sevens, Gordon Rugby Club
7. Dane Sawers – Western Force, Kalamunda Districts
8. Jack Harley – ACT Brumbies, Gungahlin Eagles
9. Dan Nelson – ACT Brumbies, Canberra Royals
10. Harry McLaughlin-Phillips – Queensland Reds, Souths Brisbane
11. Angus Staniforth – ACT Brumbies, Canberra Royals
12. Jarrah McLeod – ACT Brumbies, Canberra Royals
13. Kadin Pritchard – ACT Brumbies, Gungahlin Eagles
14. Ronan Leahy – Western Force, University of Sydney
15. Shane Wilcox – ACT Brumbies, Tuggeranong Vikings
Available:
16. Bryn Edwards – NSW Waratahs, University of Sydney
17. Nathaniel Tiitii – NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs
18. Nick Bloomfield – Queensland Reds, Easts Brisbane
19. Eamon Doyle – NSW Waratahs, University of Sydney
20. Dominic Thygesen – Queensland Reds, Souths Brisbane
21. Billy Dickens – NSW Waratahs, Eastern Suburbs
22. Joe Dillon – NSW Waratahs, Manly Marlins
23. Frankie Goldsbrough – Queensland Reds, Easts Brisbane
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