New Zealand first-five Tiaan Falcon scores against Ireland at the World Rugby U20 Championship. Photo / Photosport.
The stars are aligning for New Zealand to sail into the World Rugby Under 20 Championship final in Tbilisi.
Craig Philpott's charges face France, the fourth qualifier, in the semifinal in the Georgian capital in the early hours of Wednesday morning (NZT). New Zealand are leading all the main attacking
statistical categories, with classy fullback Will Jordan running for 361m, and wing Caleb Clarke leading all tryscorers with five and 14 defenders beaten over the three games. But the stat that will please them the most is their tackle success rate of 91.6 percent, testament to a tight-knit group with a hard-nosed attitude.
New Zealand have scored 26 tries with the sun on their backs, while France, who drew 23-all with South Africa, edged Argentina 26-25 and blanked Georgia 54-0, have crossed for 14.
There are just three changes in the starting XV from the side that dispatched Ireland 69-3, all in the forward pack. Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, a muscular No 8, and multi-skilled Auckland loosie Dalton Papali'i, back from injury, will start, as will Hawke's Bay prop Pouri Rakete-Stones, who relegates Alex Fidow to the No 18 jersey. Tamati Tua comes into the No 22 jersey at the expense of Thomas Umaga-Jensen. This appears to be the strongest possible team New Zealand can field.
"From what we have seen of France, they are big and powerful, plus they have a very good 9 and 10 combination which we will have to shut down," says coach Craig Philpott.
