Junior Wallabies World U20 Cup campaign begins as players meet, greet and hug at training camp
The Junior Wallabies have begun constructing a high performance rugby environment they hope will deliver a World U20 Cup - including hugging someone who just “bashed them’’.
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Junior Wallabies coach Nathan Grey is impressed with the enthusiasm and excitement shown by 40 of his charges at a training camp as players worked to create the “identity” of the team bidding to win the World U20 trophy in South Africa later this year.
Part of that process involved them hugging a teammate after three 20 minutes matches that bought the camp to a close for the rising stars of the sport at the AIS on Sunday.
“A lot of them are meeting each other for the time,’’ Grey said at the conclusion of the camp.
“They bashed each other up this afternoon and then we had a big team meeting and asked them to go and hug someone they had just beaten up.
“It’s about creating a real environment of high performance. They were up for it.’’
Grey said his end game is to out together a team of players who want to win at a tournament, being held for the first time since 2019 due to Covid cancellations.
“They are really keen to be involved and excited about the opportunity to potentially play in a World Cup.
“We have started to put our game together and create our own identity.
“When players come into the junior 20s environment and when we travel and play, we want people to have a good understanding we are representing a lot of different people, we are really driven for performance, we hold ourselves accountable and expect each other to deliver our best.
“I don’t just want players happy to be there. I want players happy to be there and win.’’
Grey said 40 players will attend another camp at the end of April before heading to New Zealand for two pre-tournament matches against the Kiwis.
“That will be excellent. The Kiwis are keen to do it and it will be great to help us both prepare,’’ he said.
Missing from action in Canberra was squad member Max Jorgensen, busy with the Waratahs in Super Rugby Pacific.
The youngster, who scored twice on debut in round one, scored again in the second half of the Waratahs fine 46-17 win over Drua on Friday.
The Junior Wallabies are being aimed at the World Rugby U20 championships in South Africa from June 24 to July 14 - a tournament and title they have yet to win.
The 2023 tournament is the first since 2019 due to Covid cancellations of the events in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
Australian will tackle England, Ireland and Fiji in Pool B.
France are the current holders of the Cup after winning the crown back in 2019.
Australia has yet to win the prestigious title.
JUNIOR WALLABIES 2023 SQUAD
NSW Waratahs: Jack Barrett (Randwick), Jamie Clark (Sydney Uni), Albert Alcock (West Harbour), Fritz Jahnke-Tavana (Eastwood), Ollie McCrea (Eastern Suburbs), Jaydon Viliamu (Randwick), Teddy Wilson (Eastern Suburbs), Jack Bowen (Eastern Suburbs),
James Hendren (Randwick), Archie Saunders (Warringah), Henry O’Donnell (Northern Suburbs), Max Jorgensen (Randwick). #Darby Lancaster not considered due to AU Sevens commitments
Queensland Reds: Floyd Aubrey (GPS) Taj Annan (Souths) Tom Lynagh (UQ), Harry McLaughlin-Phillips (Souths) Willem Johnstone (Souths) George Stoddart (Easts) John Bryant (Souths), Ben Daniels (Brothers), Nick Bloomfield (Easts), Harrison Usher (Bond)
ACT Brumbies: Liam Bowron (Royals), Massimo De Lutiis (Wests), Lachlan Hooper (Tuggeranong), Klayton Thorn (Gungahlin), Henry Palmer (Tuggeranong), Austin Anderson (Wests), Matias Jensen (Randwick).
Western Force: Marley Pearce (Joondalup Brothers), Ned Slack-Smith (Palmyra), Ryan McGloin (Joondalup Brothers), Caleb Karangaroa (Wandaroo).
Rebels: Patrick Lavemai (Melbourne Harlequins/Wests Bulldogs), Daniel Maiava (Wyndham Rhinos/Wests Bulldogs), Leafi Talataina (Endeavour Hills), Mason Gordon (Wests Bulldogs), David Vaihu (Wests Bulldogs), Lebron Naea (Endeavour Hills/Wests Bulldogs), Zac Hough (Wests Bulldogs)
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