Northern lights set to shine


2 JUNE 2005




One year on from Scotland 2004, the IRB Under 21 World Championship is again upon us and set to sort the men from the boys. The path from the more cosseted Under 19 event to the Under 21 showpiece is strewn with challenges both mental and physical, and the players who emerge two years on are older, wiser and much, much better.

While Cameron Shepherd sarted on the bench for the Waratahs in the Super 12 final, many more of the players picked to travel to Mendoza have excelled for high-power clubs in the hemispheres' premier competitions. While New Zealand, Australia and South Africa pick Super 12 stars, the northern sides also include players possessing big game and big-event experience.

Wales will rely on the power, precision and teamwork that won them this year's Under 21 Six Nations Grand Slam. Jonathan Mills and James Merriman, both playing first class rugby with Llanelli Scarlets and Gloucester, are just two of many to provide the strength up front, while the likes of Ricky Williams, who enjoyed a successful event at this level last year, gives attacking options out wide.

For France a deadly trio from Pau are well worth keeping an eye on. Half-backs Fabien Cibray and Lionel Beauxis will provide a cutting edge - Beauxis a real threat with both his attacking play and his place-kicking at outside-half - while Jean-Baptiste Peyras will be dangerous from deep in his second year in the U21 age-group, having been voted IRB U19 Player of the Year two years ago in this peer group.

Bourret and Lacroix will also provide fire power in the backs, with the likes of Marc Baget securing possession up front.

England again look set to impress in the scrum. Since a strong showing at last year's Under 19 showpiece in Durban, James Haskell has impressed for London Wasps this year, both on the domestic front and in Europe. Although his club colleague Tom Rees withdraws through injury, a replacement of the calibre of Leicester Tigers Will Skinner shows a strength in depth, while Leeds Tykes prop Michael Cusack has also impressed in the Heineken Cup this year.

For Scotland Ross Ford is likely to prove a massive cornerstone. With plenty of experience in both the European Cup and Celtic League for the Borders, the prop seems a certainty for the highest international honours, while Watsonians flanker Neil Cochrane and Alasdair Strokosch have broken into the Scotland squad for the IRB Sevens this season and will bring that level of professionalism.

Ireland's outside half Gareth Steenson, meanwhile, continues to impress for Dungannon a year after his tactical kicking game and all-round acumen helped inspire Ireland to last year's final in Scotland.

Scotland Under 21 coach Iain Paxton has named his 26 man squad ahead of the IRB Under 21 World Championship in Mendoza, Argentina from 9-25 June.

The Scots are seeded ninth for the tournament and will face Australia, Wales and Canada in the pool stages.

Paxton has brought in two new names to the squad that competed in the recent shadow Six Nations competition, where they achieved their highest ever finish with victories over Ireland, Italy and England.

Paxton took the opportunity to openly thank the new national management team for their co-operation in allowing The Borders’ professional front-row Ross Ford to be part of the squad.

“Frank Hadden and his management team have kindly allowed Ross to take part in what will be his last age grade tournament. It is good of them and it means that we will have Ross’s experience and talent in Argentina. Two seasons playing pro-rugby have developed him into a fine player and I am pleased he is involved.”

Cochrane to lead charge

Watsonians flanker Neil Cochrane will lead the side following on from his captaincy during the Six Nations.

“We’ve been very pleased with Neil’s leadership and the results have certainly been encouraging. This will present another challenge for him as we will be away for a longer period of time but I am quite sure he will respond admirably," said Paxton.

Paxton is fully aware that this tournament will provide a challenge for his young charges but he is looking forward to taking on Australia, Wales and Canada in Mendoza. On the forthcoming opposition Paxton said: “There is no such thing as an easy draw in the world championships because of the standard of competition.

“As an under 21 side, we know that Australia will be well prepared and skilful. The majority of their players will be involved with rugby academies of Super 12 sides so they will have talent. We know a lot more about Wales having played them this season. The first 20 minutes of that game in Aberdeen were the worst we produced but it taught us a lesson about ourselves and we have gained a lot from that.

“Canada are something of an unknown quantity at under-21 level but they too will be well prepared both physically and mentally. They’ll provide a different type of opposition for us but we are ready for that and looking forward to the challenges ahead,” he concluded.

FORWARDS

Willie Blacklock (Hawick), Stuart Corsar (Aberdeen GSFP & Grampian Institute of Sport), Stuart Fenwick (Ayr), Moray Low (Aberdeen GSFP), Ross Ford (The Borders & Scottish Institute of Sport), Stevie Lawrie (Watsonians & East of Scotland Institute of Sport), James Eddie (GHA & West of Scotland Institute of Sport), Ian Nimmo (Heriot's & Tayside and Fife Institute of Sport), Sean Tomes (Newcastle Falcons), Neil Cochrane (Watsonians & East of Scotland Institute of Sport) CAPTAIN, John Beattie (GHA & West of Scotland Institute of Sport), Scott Forrest (Glasgow Hawks & West of Scotland Institute of Sport), Alan MacDonald (Heriot's & East of Scotland Institute of Sport), Colin White (Stirling County & Central Scotland Institute of Sport)

BACKS

Alasdhair McFarlane (GHA), Greig Laidlaw (Jed-Forrest), David Blair (Sale Sharks), Ben Cairns (Currie & East of Scotland Institute of Sport), Iain Kennedy (GHA & West of Scotland Institute of Sport), Garry Law (Hawick & East of Scotland Institute of Sport), Nic De Luca (Heriot's & East of Scotland Institute of Sport), Ben Addison (Stirling County & Central Scotland Institute of Sport), Michael Adamson (Glasgow Hawks), Brian Archibald (Stirling County & Central Scotland Institute of Sport), Douglas Flockhart (Currie), Alan Nash (Watsonians & East of Scotland Institute of Sport)

This article was originally posted on 7-Jun-2005, 14:28 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 7-Jun-2005, 14:30.