(IRB.COM) Tuesday 1 July 2008 
Joe Simpson and Australia captain David Pocock both caught Eddie Jones' eye at the Junior World Championship Former Wallaby coach Eddie Jones was an interested onlooker at the IRB Junior World Championship, commentating on several matches for Total Rugby and so is perfectly placed to identify five players who caught the eye in what he describes as a “very high quality tournament.” New Zealand lived up to their billing as pre-tournament favourites to be crowned the inaugural champions, beating England 38-3 in the final at the Liberty Stadium in Swansea with some impressive displays along the way. But which five players would make Jones’ shortlist of those to keep an eye on in the future? |
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(IRB.COM) Sunday 22 June 2008 
Australia's Ratu Nasiganiyavi is the leading try scorer in the tournament with seven - Photo: Huw Evans Some interesting statistics from the final day of the IRB Junior World Championship 2008 in Wales. |
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Bright future looms for Samoa |
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(IRB.COM) Sunday 22 June 2008
By Karen Bond
David Masoe scores the first try of the match against South Africa - Photo: Huw Evans
Although all eyes turned to the final of the IRB Junior World Championship won impressively by New Zealand over England, Samoa’s impressive campaign in Wales rounded off nicely by beating Argentina at Rodney Parade in Newport to finish seventh overall did not go unnoticed. In looking back at the tournament, highlight for the Samoans was undoubtedly their 16-11 defeat by South Africa in the Pool B decider, an encounter only decided by Stefan Watermeyer’s try two minutes from time after the sides had been locked at 11-11 since the break. Few outside the Samoan camp expected such a tight battle or any sniff of a major upset – especially given the South Africans had wracked up 108 points against USA and another 72 against Scotland in their two previous matches.
But according to Team Manager, Namulauulu Sami Leota, that was in his side’s favour. “Those scores were also to our advantage as well because it gave our boys a lot more reasons to prepare harder and play harder because we didn’t want that to come our way as we expected the South Africans to be a very strong team,” Leota told irb.com. |
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Learning curve for coaches not just players |
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(IRB.COM) Friday 20 June 2008
By Alison Donnelly
Nigel Redman is just one former international now coaching the next generation of players While all eyes have been on the stars of the future on show at the inaugural IRB Junior World Championship across four regional venues in Wales, it’s been worth casting a glance to the sidelines as well in recent weeks. For as well as some of the brightest talents at Under 20 level displaying their skills with the 16 participating teams, some well-known players of the past have been pacing the sidelines passing on their international playing experience to those climbing the ranks. |
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Scotland Under-20s slip up to hand Samoans victory |
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Published Date: 07 June 2008 By Alan Lorimer SCOTLAND'S IRB Under-20 World Cup campaign started badly as they lost 29-17 against Samoa last night at Wrexham. But the Scots were by no means outplayed and came close to beating their higher-ranked opponents only to concede vital late scores. |
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