What selectors want to see in Australian U18 development squad in rugby battle with Australian Schools

How Australian U18 players handle game intensity against each other and the Australian schoolboys rugby team on Wednesday will be critical for selection in the team touring New Zealand

NSW player Angus Grover is one of the guns looking to impress in the matches on Wedensday. Picture: Julian Andrews

How Australian U18 players handle game intensity against each other and the Australian schoolboys rugby team on Wednesday in Canberra will be critical for selection in the team touring New Zealand

The three-way trial of matches between the best schoolboy and U18s rugby talent in the country will help determine the makeup of the U18s team to tour New Zealand next month.

The soon to be named Australian under 18s will face the New Zealand Barbarians in Hamilton on October 2 and then the New Zealand team on October 6.

But selectors must cull their squad of 38 down to a more manageable 26 with the mini tournament in Canberra on Wednesday the last chance for players to impress.

“There’s some good depth in the group and a lot of very talented players. There’s a lot to play for,’’ said Australian U18s coach Shannon Taylor.

“We are excited to play the two games in New Zealand and have a much bigger squad in the normal and we are trying to see how this system works.

Heinz Lemoto. NSWRL Junior Reps, Harold Matts Cup round four, Sydney Roosters vs Penrith Panthers at Henson Park, 24 February 2024 Picture: Warren Gannon Photography.

“This is a crucial match for them.

There are certain things we are doing quite well as a group and others we need to tighten up … we haven’t done a lot of Contact and collision yet. We’re leaving that for the game.

Taylor listed arrange of skills and traits he and fellow selectors want to see on Wednesday in Canberra.

“We want to see how they handle game intensity and game context,“ he said.

“We want to see how they remain how they respond to adversity and how they handle a good run and momentum.

“Also the pressure of the game.”

Of interest from fans of both rugby and league will be will be the form of Zach Fittler, Heinz Lemoto and Heamasi Makasini who are well known in both codes.

A Gold side made up of players from the U18s development squad will play the Australian schoolboys Rugby Union under 18‘s team at 1pm and then back up against the composite Green team 18s at 12:55pm at Viking park.

The Green under 18s will then take on the Australian schools rugby union side in the final match of the day at 1:50 pm

Zach Fittler is in the Australian development team.

AUSTRALIA U18 RUGBY DEVELOPMENT SQUAD:

Angus Grover – St Ignatius College, Riverview, Avery Thomson – GPS Rugby Club, Bennett Armistead – Nudgee College, Blaze Moana – The Southport School, Charlie Poynton – Barker College, Dylan Bretton – Wests Rugby Club, Edwin Langi – Eastern Suburbs, Eli Langi – Brisbane State High School, Ewald Kruger – GPS Rugby Club, Finn Mackay – St Laurence’s College, Frankie Goldsbrough – Easts Rugby Club. Hayden Lavercombe – The King’s School, Heamasi Makasini – Newington College, Heinz Lemoto – The Scots College, Isaac Fonua – The King’s School, Jacob Johnson – Nudgee College.

Jay McKenzie – The Scots College, John Grenfell – Nudgee College, Jonty Fowler – St Joseph’s College, Josh Takai – Brothers Rugby Club, Kingsley Uys – The Southport School, Leo Jaques – The Scots College, Lewis Wilson – St Augustine’s College, Louis Fenwicke – The King’s School, Luca Cleverley – Newington College, Marshall Le Maitre – The Shore School, Nathaniel Thomas – Barker College, Nick Conway – Nudgee College.

Nick Hill – Barker College, Noah Rylands – St Augustine’s College, Rex Bassingthwaite – The Shore School, Sam Blank – St Augustine’s College, TJ Talaileva – Barker College, Toby Brial – The Scots College, Tom Goldie – The Southport School, Tom Hartman – St Ignatius College, Riverview, Tom Howard – Marist College, Tom Robinson – UQ Rugby Club, Will Ross – Padua College, Zach Fittler – The Scots College.

Angus Grover is one player looking to impress. Picture: Julian Andrews

AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS RUGBY SQUAD 2024

1 Nate Hepi Q1 Sunshine Coast Grammar, 2 Cyrus Suniula Q2 Brisbane State High, 3 Keegan Daly N1 Barker College, 4 Edward Baxter N2 The Shore School, 5 Phoenix Graham N2 St Ignatius Riverview, 6 Oscar Cleary N2 Kinross-Wolaroi, 7 Charlie Blank N2 St Augustine’s College, 8 Nat Gallagher N1 Westfield Sports HS, 9 Grady Woolley ACT Canberra College, 10 Jackson Jury Vic Brighton Grammar, 11 Max Roach N1 Knox Grammar, 12 Zac Nichol Q1 Sunshine Coast G, 13 Cooper Watters N2 St Stanislaus’ College, 14 Blake Miller Q1 Sunshine Coast G, 15 Jai Callaghan N1 The Shore School, 16 Charles Ghattas N2 St Joseph’s College, 17 Cameron Paull N2 St Augustine’s College, 18 Felix Harvison NJ The Shore School, 19 Saxon Thompson Q1 Sunshine Coast G, 20 Charles Ul coq N1 Scots College, 21 William Graham Q1 St John’s College, 22 Troy Patea N1 Waverley College, 23 Nate Thompson Q1 Siena Catholic College.

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Originally published as What selectors want to see in Australian U18 development squad in rugby battle with Australian Schools