• Six Aucklanders to line-up for NZ U20 side
• Opening clash of Oceania Tournament
• Opportunity for players to stake claim for World Championship later in the year

There will be six Aucklanders to take the field for New Zealand Under 20s opening clash with Tonga on the Gold Coast.

Robert Cobb, John Akau’ola-Laula, Harry Plummer, Tanielu Tele’a will all start the match, with Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa and Hoskins Sotutu to come off the pine.

All players were members of the victorious Auckland side at last year’s Jock Hobbs Memorial National Under 19 Tournament, with Plummer and Sotutu members of the Auckland Mitre 10 Cup side in 2017.

The match represents the halfway point of what has been a significant journey for the NZ U20 side as they look to build toward the World Championship proper.

The cool head and experience of Plummer has also seen him named as vice-captain for the first match.

Head Coach Craig Philpott was confident in the team’s preparations throughout the week and is looking forward to seeing it put into action tomorrow evening.

“We are still very much in selection mode if we’re looking at the World Champs. We’ve got 29 players over here and we want them all to get some game time.”

Without knowing too much about the sides they’re about to come up against, Philpott is prepared for a number of tough battles.

“First up we have Tonga and we have come to expect they will have a physical team that looks to play an expansive style of rugby. Or challenge will be keeping to our structures and systems, if we can implement our game plans and everyone gets a chance to stretch their legs we’ll be happy.”

The team is:

Schedule for Oceania Under 20 Championship:
Friday 27 April v Tonga, 7.00pm NZT
Tuesday 1 May v Fiji, 5.00pm NZT
Saturday 5 May v Australia, 9.00pm NZT