What Junior Wallabies coach Chris Whitaker looking for in Waratahs, Reds, Force, Brumbies trials

Skills, traits and characters the coach charged with bringing through the next generation of Wallabies wants to see as rugby’s best teenagers from the Waratahs and Force take the field,

Max Jorgensen has plenty of X-factor despite his age. Picture Matt King/Getty Images

They are the skills, traits and characters new Australian U20s coach Chris Whitaker and fellow selectors want to see from the rising stars of rugby in a special series of games helping him forge a talent squad to take Australian rugby into the future.

The coach charged with bringing through the next generation of Wallabies has a list of things he wants to see this month in a series of games helping create a squad to take rugby into the future

The trial matches continue this weekend with a battle between the NSW Waratahs and Western Force in Sydney although the U18s game between the Waratahs U18s and Reds has been postponed due to Cylone Alfred,.

Watching with more interest than anyone is Whitaker who has taken over the reigns of the Australian U20s from former Wallaby Nathan Gray ahead of a number of big tournaments in 2025.

Whitaker, a former Wallaby, Waratah and assistant Tahs coach is acquainting himself with the rising tide of teen talent in the country as he looks to create a group of players capable of shaking things up at the U20 World Cup later this year - an event Australia has never won.

“Some of the key points are the effort of getting off the ground, effort of getting into positions, effort on the ground in getting the ball back,’’ Whitaker said.

Chris Whitaker taking on the Brumbies back in 2004.

STARS OF TAHS A BATTLE

SEVENS GUNS INVADE SUPER RUGBY W

“The set piece is a big part of our game as well.

“Everyone wants someone to compete with that mindset of trying to win everything. That will mean they are tough and physical.’’

Whitaker said size and speed and a bit of X-factor are also important along with a desire to win.

Max Jorgensen holding off a Highlanders player in Super Rugby Pacific. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

“A Max Jorgensen style who can change the game. Someone with X-factor,’’ he said.

Everyone wants some to compete … that mindset of trying to win everything. that will mean toughness and physical.

Whitaker said the series of match which kick off with a game between the Waratah and Brumbies on Saturday in Canberra, are important for both the players and coaches.

“For me personally I haven’t been in this space and it’s the first live games with the selection piece attached,” he said,

Waratahs U20s squad to tackle Western Force in Sydney on Saturday: 1 LOOSEHEAD PROP Jack Cesare FR, 2 HOOKER Charlie O’Kane FR, 3 TIGHTHEAD PROP Kaleb Ah Colt FR, 4 LEFT LOCK Joe Mangelsdorf, 5 RIGHT LOCK Eamon Doyle ( C ), 6 LEFT FLANKER Jacob Veiru, 7 RIGHT FLANKER Marshall Le Maitre, 8 NUMBER EIGHT Toby Brial, 9 SCRUMHALF Hwi Sharples, 10 FLY-HALF Jonty Fowler, 11 LEFT WING Hadley Tonga, 12 INSIDE CENTRE Zach Fittler, 13 OUTSIDE CENTRE, Cooper Watters, 14 RIGHT WING Jay McKenzie, 15 FULLBACK Brody McLaren

REPLACEMENTS: Bailey Park FR, Dante Siale FR, 18 Nick Hill FR, 19 Aron Brennan, 20 Luca Cleverley, 21 Wyatt Ballenger, 22 Sam Blank, 23 Louis Fenwicke, 24 Liam Grover, 25 Sid Harvey.

More rugby from AMANDA LULHAM HERE