IRB age groups breed 'world superstars' say WRU
Scrum.com
November 21, 2007
The Welsh Rugby Union, who will host the inauguaral IRB Under-20 Junior World Championship in 2008, have hailed age group competitions as "quite simply, the breeding ground of the next generation of rugby's world superstars". Since the IRB took control of the old FIRA/AER Under 19 and Sanzar/UAR Under 21 championships in the new millennium, said the WRU, the two tournaments have become forerunners to the game's major tournament, the Rugby World Cup. Springbok coach Jake White cut his teeth as an international coach in the younger age groups, helping South Africa to win the 1999 Sanzar/UAR Under 21 title in 1999 before steering his country's talented youngsters to the inaugural IRB Under 21 Championship title at Under on home soil in 2002. Five years on, White was re-united with nine of his Under 21 squad members in France as the Springboks captured the Webb Ellis Cup for the second time with their victory over England in Paris. "I had John Smit as captain of my 1999 side and Jean de Villiers, Fourie du Preez and Jean Smith in the 2002 squad. The core of the group that helped win the World Cup for South Africa in 2007 came from those two junior teams," said White. "One of the main reasons I was able to get some success at senior level as Springbok coach was because I had worked with so many of the players at Under 21 level. These junior tournaments are a fantastic opportunity for players to get a taste of what is before them if they are prepared to work hard and develop their game. "Those successful experiences at Under 21 level meant I was coaching players with the Springboks who knew what it was like to win a World Cup by beating the All Blacks, the French and the Australians. "I was lucky because the South African Rugby Board gave me everything I needed to prepare the sides and there is no doubt the professional programmes that are being put in place for these young players are helping to raise the standards of the game around the world. "I even had Os Du Randt acting as a scout for me in 2002 when we were looking for the best players to take to the tournament." Former IRB World Player of the Year, Schalk Burger, played in the 2003 IRB tournament at Under 21 level in England and featured in a game against a Wales side at Newbury. The 'Baby Boks' were 52-21 winners on the day and Burger will meet up again with two members of the Wales pack from that game on Saturday in the Prince William Cup clash at the Millennium Stadium, prop Rhys Thomas and lock Luke Charteris. "I was fortunate enough to coach Wales at five tournaments and I would have to say that Burger stood out head and shoulders as the best player I've seen at that age," said former Wales Under 21 coach Chris Davey. "It was a marvellous experience for the players to meet their peers from around the world and it certainly demonstrated to the northern hemisphere nations exactly what work needed to be done to match the best from down south. "To begin with we weren't physical enough to match the New Zealanders, Australians and South Africans. But these days we are as well conditioned as any nation and are able to compete well against them all. "Having the IRB Junior World Championship at Under 20 level in Wales will be a great opportunity for our best youngsters to see where they rank in the world game. It will also provide the fans with a fantastic chance to see the next generation of rugby superstars before they hit the headlines." Davey coached Wales to fourth place in the 2002 tournament, when they were beaten in the 3rd/4th Play-Off match by a New Zealand side containing Dan Carter and Tony Woodcock. Wales hosted the 1999 IRB/Fira Junior World Cup at Under 19 level. On that occasion a Welsh side captained by Dragons and Wales lock Adam Jones reached the final after beating England, Argentina and South Africa. Blues full back Rhys Williams, centre Jamie Robinson, Dragons outside half Ceri Sweeney, Worcester Warriors scrum half Ryan Powell, Scarlets flanker James Bater and Dragons No 8 Michael Owen were all capped from the Wales side, while Dwayne Peel was among the replacements. New Zealand won the final 25-0 in front of a 12,000 crowd at Stradey Park and had an exceptional side. Jerry Collins was voted 'Player of the Tournament', Richie McCaw was in the back row and Mils Muliaina among the back line. "I played twice in the Under 19 tournament and each time was a fantastic experience. We lost to New Zealand in the final in 1999 and they had a number of players I went on to meet again for Wales and the Lions - Richie McCaw, Jerry Collins and Aaron Mauger," said Wales scrum half Dwayne Peel. "These junior competitions are great tournaments with a hell of a lot at stake. What made them really difficult was the fact you play so many games with such a short turnaround. "But everyone really enjoyed them. They have proven to be a massive breeding ground and it was a good place to play because a lot of us were capped only a year later. "It definitely exposed me to a higher level of rugby and gave me a better insight into what was needed to step up onto the international stage. "You only have to look at the big name players who have played well in those tournaments to see they are a stepping stone to bigger and better things" Peel also went to the 2000 tournament and a year later it was the turn of the talented Gavin Henson to taste the global scene for the first time. He spearheaded the Welsh charge into the semi-finals of the Under 19 competition in Chile in 2001 - the fifth time in seven tournaments since their debut in 1995 that Wales had reached the last four. France beat Wales to reach the final, which was won by New Zealand, and the Welsh side went down 43-24 to Australia in the 3rd/4th Play Off game. "I was a youngster at the time, but playing full-time at Swansea. That meant I went into the Junior World Cup with plenty of confidence," said Henson, who was named the inaugural IRB Young Player of the Year that summer. "I was playing against men week-in-week out, so I knew I was of a standard and that gave a real boost to my game. I'm a confidence player and I think that probably brought out the best in me. "We did reasonably well and should've done better really. We all thought we were playing well and could have won the competition. "The pundits obviously thought I did okay because they gave me the young player of the year award, which was a very proud moment for me. "As it turns out, that was my only experience of World Cup rugby to date. It left me itching to be involved at senior level which, unfortunately, hasn't happened yet.
"But the memories of 2001 still spur me on and maintain my thirst for top-class international rugby on the world stage." Wales coach Pat Horgan will have a talented group of players to take into the inaugural IRB Junior World Championship at Under 20 level next year. Sam Warburton's Under 19 side finished fourth in IRB competition in Belfast last year and will be keen to do well on home soil next summer. A number of that side have already gained Regional experience - Gareth Owen at the Ospreys, Daniel Evans and Jonathan Davies at the Scarlets - and they will be hoping to go one better than Adam Jones' side of 1999.
IRB Young Player of the Year Award Winners IRB World Junior Championship at Under 21
2002 South Africa South Africa's Victorious Under-21 squad: Pat Barnard (WP), Roland Bernard (Lions), Gary Botha (Blue Bulls), Jacques Cronjé (Blue Bulls), Jean de Villiers (WP), Fourie du Preez (Blue Bulls), Jaco du Toit (SWD), Christiaan Els (Leopards), Quinton Geldenhuys (Sharks), Rayno Gerber (Cheetahs), Gordon Gillfillan (WP), Dean Hopp (SWD), Enrico January (Boland), Tsepo Kokoali (Lions), Jorrie Muller (Lions), Odwa Ndungane (Border), JP Nel (Blue Bulls), Clyde Rathbone (Sharks), Maurice Reid (Boland), Jean Smith (Cheetahs), Guthro Steenkamp (Cheetahs), Francois Swart (WP), Dewey Swartbooi (Blue Bulls), Stefan van Rooyen (Leopards), Pedri Wannenburg (Blue Bulls), Ashwin Willemse (Boland).
2003 England
2004 Scotland Final Standings: 1 New Zealand, 2 Ireland, 3 South Africa, 4 Australia, 5 England, 6 Wales, 7 Argentina, 8 France, 9 Italy, 10 Scotland, 11 Russia, 12 Tonga
2005 Argentina
South Africa: 1 Heinke van der Merwe, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 3 Sangoni Mxoli, 4 Nikolai Blignaut, 5 Cliff Milton, 6 Derick Kuun, 7 Hilton Lobberts, 8 Pieter Louw; 9 Paul Delport (C), 10 Morne Steyn; 11 Marius Delport, 12 Thabang Molefe, 13 Earl Rose, 14 Cedric Mkhize; 15 Hendrik Daniller
Australia: 1 Benn Robinson, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 3 Alex Walker, 4 Dean Mumm, 5 Richard Stanford, 6 Ben Mowen (C), 7 Julian Salvi, 8 Leroy Houston; 9 Nic Berry, 10 Daniel Halangahu; 11 Digby Ioane, 12 Lloyd Johansson, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 Henari Veratau; 15 Cameron Shepherd Final standings: 1. South Africa, 2. Australia, 3. New Zealand, 4. France, 5. Argentina, 6. Scotland, 7. England, 8. Wales, 9. Ireland, 10. Samoa, 11. Canada, 12. Italy
2006 France
South Africa: 1 Heinke van der Merwe, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle (C), 3 Sangoni Mxoli, 4 Nikolai Blignaut, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 6 Pierre Spies, 7 Hilton Lobberts, 8 Keegan Daniel; 9 Jano Vermaak, 10 Isma-eel Dollie; 11 Cedric Mkhize, 12 Bradley Barritt, 13 Waylon Murray, 14 JP Pietersen; 15 Marius Delport IRB World Junior Championship at Under 19
2004 South Africa
2005 South Africa
New Zealand: 1 Justin Davies, 2 Dane Coles, 3 Scott Murphy, 4 Nick Crosswell, 5 Joshua Bekhuis, 6 George Whitelock (C), 7 Vern Kamo, 8 Falfili Levave; 9 Baydon Phillips, 10 Steve Alfeld; 11 Lance MacDonald, 12 Seminar Manu, 13 Timothy Bateman, 14 Nicolas Thomson , 15 George Pisi. 3rd Place Match: Australia 29-21 England
2006 United Arab Emirates
New Zealand: 1 Shane Cleaver, 2 Mason Pomare, 3 Jonathan Direen, 4 Chris Smith, 5 Chris Middleton, 6 Michael Coman, 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 8 Victor Vito (C); 9 John Legg, 10 Trent Renata; 11 Greg Tweddle, 12 Male Sa'u, 13 Timothy Bateman, 14 Armyn Sanders; 15 Colin Slade 3rd Place Match: England * 12-12 France
2007 Ireland
South Africa: 1 Corne Fourie, 2 Henri Bantjes, 3 Frederick Kirsten, 4 Cornell Hess, 5 Martin Muller, 6 Thiliphaut Marole, 7 Johan van Deventer, 8 Gerrit van Velze (C); 9 Francois Hougaard, 10 Francois Brummer; 11 Vainon Willis, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 14 Bernado Botha; 15 Wilton Pietersen 3rd Place Match: Australia 25-21 Wales © Scrum.com
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