The Jock Hobbs National U19 tournament concluded yesterday in Taupo with Waikato winning the main event. Who were the standout players at the tourney featuring over 400 of New Zealand’s leading age group talent? Who might feature in the New Zealand U20’s next season? Here is a Club Rugby Form XV, as picked by me.
1. Jerry Samania (Auckland) – The smiley faced prop had good reason to grin. The product of St Kentigern College was excellent with his robust scrummaging, firm lineout lifting and bustling carries. Samania was yellow carded in the final, the victim of persistent team infringements.
2. Samisoni Taukei’aho (Waikato) – Withstanding some errant lineout throwing in the final, Taukei’aho had a strong tourney. The product of St. Paul’s Collegiate carries often and effectively. Taukei’aho scored two tries, hits rucks hard and tackles abrasively. A strong contender for the New Zealand U20s in 2017.
3. Alex Fidow (Wellington) – Is already well on his way in professional rugby having appeared for the Lions in the Mitre 10 Cup. Fidow is not a typical prop. He carries with a force, speed and sleight of hand rarely seen. Fidow effectively won the third-place game on his own. He scored four tries in three games having previously dotted down 49 times in 60 games for his First XV.
4. Jacob Pierce (Auckland) – The son of former All Black lock Murray Pierce, Jacob showed strong lineage with three fine displays. A tower of strength in the lineouts, a real feature of Pierce’s play is his niggle around the field. He got under the skin of Wellington in the semi-final and threatened to derail Waikato in the decider.
5. Isaiah Walker-Leawere (Wellington) – The son of former Fijian captain Kele Leawere, Isaiah appears to have a big future in the game. A busy and bullying ball carrier with height in the lineouts, Walker-Leawere scored three tries in the tourney. Earlier this year he was briefly called into the Hurricanes during Super Rugby.
6. Luke Jacobson (Waikato) – The Mooloos Captain won the John Graham Award as the best player of the tournament. Though he played all three matches at No.8, Jacobson has played frequently on the blindside. Luke is the younger brother of Kane and Mitchell Jacobson both of whom have played for Waikato. Luke offers height in the lineout, diligence on defense and has improved his ball carrying.
7. Du’plessis Kirifi (Waikato) -In the final Kirifi won the turnover which ultimately sealed victory for Waikato. Additionally he made the last tackle of the game to terminate the contest. It was fitting the former Taranaki flanker should feature so prominently in those crucial plays because he was a major reason behind Waikato’s success. The complete package in this series, Kirifi appears to be a dead certainty for the New Zealand U20’s.
8. Viliami Taulani (Counties) – Boasts the speed of a winger having played rep football in that position. Taulani was explosive in the final of the Michael Jones Trophy scoring two tries (including one over 85-meters) and setting up another. Counties had a big and talented team, but disappointing lead-up form resulted in a lower finish than perhaps desired.
9. Caleb Korteweg (Waikato) – A sprightly scrum-half who despite a somewhat unusual passing technique cleared efficiently and questioned the defense on occasions. Korteweg missed the best part of two years after injuring both anterior cruciate ligaments. He is a tough and talented halfback who has surely put himself in the New Zealand U20’s reckoning.
10. Matthew Lansdown (Waikato) – Kicked Waikato to victory in the final with a record six penalties. Lansdown showed his attacking qualities in the semi-final with two tries. The converted fullback takes the ball to the line with authority and generally made good decisions.
11. Salimoni Tukania (Counties) – Spent most of the tourney at centre, but is a proven outside back. Tukania’s searing pace bagged him five tries in three games, including the winner in the Michael Jones Trophy final.
12. Loketi Manu (Auckland) – A rock solid presence in the Auckland midfield, Manu was scary at times on defense. His attacking game is sound, though Auckland scored most of their tries through the forwards.
13. Braydon Ennor (Canterbury) – The Canterbury captain is well and truly over his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament injury. He was the architect of several of Canterbury’s tries and impresses with his distribution, sound defense and superior judgement.
14. Peni Rokoduguni (Heartland) – The Heartland team was a composite side made up of teams from New Zealand’s smaller unions. The Fijian from Wairarapa Bush excelled scoring two cracking tries on day one against Tasman. The Heartland team only trained twice before the event, but Rokoduguni wouldn’t have looked out of place in a more accomplished side.
15. Will Jordon (Canterbury) – The promising cricketer scored 19 tries for the Christchurch Boys’ High School First XV last year and so he decided to pursue the 15-man code. That decision is paying off. Jordon scored two tries and his elusive running caused trouble for all opponents.
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He was born 1905, 1904 or 1908 according to various reports, in Wairoa, Hawkes Bay, and is remembered as one of the great Māori players.
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