Micheal McDonald to start and Carlo Tizzano on the pine as Junior Wallabies Head coach Jason Gilmore names his side to play Italy U20s in Australia’s opening clash of the World Rugby U20s Championship.
Following a rigorous training schedule in Sydney the WA representatives are well prepared for the tournament ahead, molding well with their counterparts from the Eastern States.
McDonald has established himself as one of the leaders within this Junior Wallabies captaining the side in the Oceania tournament against Fiji as well as maintaining the starting position at halfback.
Tizzano has been seeing regular minutes in the second half for the team stepping in the place of captain Fraser McReight in the backrow.
The World Rugby U20s Championship will again trial match day squads of 28 players to further player welfare, after an initial trial during the Oceania Championship. Coaches will still be limited to the normal eight substitutions but will now be able to select these replacements from an extended 13-man bench.
Junior Wallabies Head Coach Jason Gilmore said: “We’ve named a strong side ahead of our first match of the Championship, with the boys looking forward to their first hit-out over here.
“Like all the other teams in our pool, the Italians are fresh off their own six nations campaign, but we have prepared for this encounter and are looking forward to the challenge that they will bring.”
The match kicks off at 9:30pm on Tuesday 4 June and will be broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS 507
2019 World Rugby U20s Championship Pool B Fixtures*
Tuesday 4 June
Australia v Italy, 9:30pm AWST, Club de Rugby Ateneo Inmaculada, Santa Fe
Saturday 8 June
Australia v Ireland, 9:30pm AWST, Club de Rugby Ateneo Inmaculada, Santa Fe
Thursday 13 June
Australia v England, 2:30am AWST, Club de Rugby Ateneo Inmaculada, Santa Fe
World Rugby U20s Championship, Junior Wallabies team to take on Italian U20s
1. Angus Bell, Sydney University
2. Lachlan Lonergan, Tuggeranong Vikings
3. Josh Nasser, University of Queensland
4. Michael Wood, Brothers
5. Trevor Hosea, Harlequins Rugby Club
6. Harry Wilson, Brothers
7. Fraser McReight ©, Brothers
8. Will Harris, Eastern Suburbs
9. Michael McDonald, Palmyra
10. Will Harrison, Randwick
11. Mark Nawaqanitawase, Eastwood
12. Noah Lolesio, Tuggeranong Vikings
13. Semisi Tupou, Box Hill
14. Triston Reilly, AU7s/Randwick
15. Isaac Lucas, Sunnybank
Reserves:
16. Joe Cotton, Wests Bulldogs
17. Bo Abra, Eastern Suburbs
18. Darcy Breen, Sydney University
19. Rhys Van Nek*, Easts
20. Esei Ha’angana, Melbourne Unicorns
21. Pat Tafa, Northern Suburbs
22. Nick Frost*, Queanbeyan Whites
23. Carlo Tizzano, University of Western Australia
24. Henry Robertson, Sydney University
25. Ben Donaldson, Randwick
26. Sione Tui, Melbourne Unicorns
27. Kye Oates, University of Queensland
28. Joey Walton, Gordon
*Denotes uncapped player
