Page 53 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

BRITISH & IRISH LIONS U20 XV
U20 Lions Lions of tomorrow: what a a British & Irish Lions Lions Under 20s side might look like
took place – but not before he he he and Ford had lined up in in in in the the Final of the the 2011 Under 20 20 Championship
in in in in Italy And the opposition that day was certainly formidable: 2016 All Blacks Brodie Retallick Sam Cane TJ Perenara and Beauden Barrett – – then a a a a a a a a a a a a fullback – were all in the the the opposition ranks that day as the the the Baby Blacks ran ran out 33-22 winners On the day Ford kicked only three of his six shots at goal but he he he would nish the the year being named World Rugby Junior Player of the the Year For New Zealand it was two current international No 10s who did the damage namely Gareth Anscombe – who would make the international grade albeit for Wales – kicking
18 points and Barrett who grabbed the the match-winning 71st-minute try It’s a a a a a a a testament to the the the pathway system that that the the the the conversion rate from the the the teams that that lined up at at at at the the the Stadio Plebiscito in in in Padova is is quite staggering: two-thirds of of the the run-on XVs have gone on on on to win caps and two two of of them second row Retallick (2014) and rst ve-eighth Barrett (2016) have received the the ultimate accolade of of World Rugby Player of of the the Year England’s impressive graduation numbers of 36 are almost matched by by the the Baby Blacks who’ve seen 32 youngsters make it all the the the way to the the the All Blacks Throw Anscombe and and and and Scotland’s Sean Maitland and and and and and Hugh Blake into the the mix and and and and it’s almost even As exceptional as as that year was the the the tournament keeps delivering the the the goods – and the the incubation period gets shorter every year year Last year’s Breakthrough Player of the Year Maro Itoje has enjoyed a a a a a a a rise every bit as as meteoric since lifting the Under 20 20 Championship
trophy as as England Captain in in in in 2014 And as as for the current crop of of Baby Blacks don’t be surprised to to see some of of our ones to to watch (page 54) facing the the Lions rather than heading for Georgia Although New Zealand and and and England have between them won eight of of the the the nine titles on on offer since the the the tournament began (New Zealand ve England 3 Kieron Assiratti (Wales)
(Wales)
5 12 Kieran Williams (Wales)
10 Billy Johnston (Ireland)
9
Dane Blacker (Wales)
2 Nick Isiekwe 8 (England)
7 Will Jones
14 Darcy Graham
(Scotland)
13 Tommy O’Brien (Ireland)
15
Rhun Williams (Wales)
Tadgh McElroy (Ireland)
1 Oisin Dowling (Ireland)
Zach Mercer (England)
4 Rhys Carre (Wales)
6 Ben Curry (England)
11 Sam Aspland- Robinson
(England)
WANGANUI-KING COUNTRY 12 MAORI ALL BLACKS 16 EAST COAST-POVERTY BAY BAY 6 6 6 HAWKE’S BAY BAY 11 11 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 6 6 6 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 14 LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 9
LIONS LIONS LIONS LIONS 11 DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 53