Rebels star Jonah Placid will return for his third Junior World Cup later this year in Italy.

by Sam Ryan –

Despite failing to record a top four finish in the previous three Junior World Cups, Australian U20’s coach Adrian Thompson believes his squad is good enough to go all the way in Italy later this year.

“It’s looking really good. We’ve got a few guys back from last year, which really helps,” Thompson told Rugby News.

“It was good to see them play against each other (at last weeks National Championships), plus we get a few guys back from Super Rugby and Sevens who we can add into the mix.”

Thompson announced an extended 29-man squad yesterday with Rebels star Jonah Placid and Junior World Cup leading try-scorer Andrew Kellaway both set to return to the program.

“The fact that they are training professionally full time really helps. This will be Jonah’s third World Cup and Kellaway’s second so we expect them to add a lot to the team.”

Reds giant Campbell Magnay and Australian Sevens recruit Brad Wilkin will further bolster the squad that features 12 players from New South Wales, 10 players from Queensland, three from Victoria and two each from Western Australia and the ACT.

“Often the guys in the Super Rugby programs are on the fringes and don’t get to play much, so I think they’ll appreciate the opportunity to get out and play some football over the coming months,” the coach said.

NSW winger Harry Jones impressed at the National Championships. Credit – ARU Media Unit

Australia will play New Zealand, Samoa and Japan in a trial tournament on the Gold Coast in May before heading to Italy in June to face Samoa, Italy and South Africa in the pool stages of the World Cup.

“We found last year that we were best when we tried to score lots of points, so we’ll look to keep the ball in hand a fair bit,” Thompson said.

“I’m really keen to get the guys like Kellaway and Placid some space, so we are going to have to work really hard to do that.”

Thompson said he liked what he saw at last weeks National Championships in Canberra and whilst he was hesitant to be specific, the coach admitted a number of players played their way into the squad.

“We probably hadn’t filled too many positions before we went into the tournament so I think it was a lot more open this year.”

He says the tournament, in its second year, is crucial for Australian rugby.

“It’s not just valuable for the U20’s program, but for the development of all of these 18-20 year-old kids. It gives them that focus to train with their academies for a purpose and not just for the sake of it.”

And as for this years World Cup?

“I think they are (good enough to win). The big thing is to make it to the semi-finals and I think we have a genuine chance to do that this year.

“From there, anything can happen.”

Australian U20’s Extended Squad

Cameron Orr – West Harbour, NSW
Folau Faingaa – Sydney University, NSW
Matthew Sandell – Sydney University, NSW
Ned Hanigan – Randwick, NSW
Harrison Williams – Sydney University, NSW
Olly Kamp – Randwick, NSW
Andrew Deegan – Randwick, NSW
Andrew Kellaway – Randwick, NSW
Alex Newsome – Eastern Suburbs, NSW
Lukhan Lealaiauloco – Randwick, NSW
Harry Jones – Warringah, NSW
Henry Hutchinson – Randwick, NSW
Aaron Pleash – University of QLD, QLD
Adam Korczyk – University of QLD, QLD
Lolo Fakaosilea – Sunnybank, QLD
Michael Gunn – Easts, QLD
Duncan Paia’aua – GPS, QLD
James Dalgleish – University of QLD, QLD
James Tuttle – GPS, QLD
Campbell Magnay – GPS, QLD
Harry Nucifora – Bond University, QLD
Brad Wilkin – Easts, QLD
Connal McInerney – Tuggeranong, ACT
Tyrell Lomax – Tuggeranong, ACT
Riley Winter – Wests Scarborough, WA
Hayden Anderson – Wests Scarborough, WA
Fereti Saaga – Melbourne Uni, VIC
Sione Tuipolotu – Southern Districts, VIC
Jonah Placid – Melbourne Uni, VIC