Blyth learns for the future
THE Oceania Rugby Under20 Championships winner will be decided on Saturday but Bond University giant Angus Blyth insists this is not “do-ordie” for his career.
Australia and New Zealand enter the last round of matches unbeaten, though the latter’s combined winning margins against Samoa and Fiji tallies 117 points, compared with 31 for the Junior Wallabies.
Australian coach Simon Cron lashed his side’s effort against Fiji on Tuesday night in which they were plagued by poor lineout execution and butter-fingered handling.
Blyth, who made the most of the recovery session at Burleigh beach yesterday after being on the receiving end of some heavy Fijian tackles, expects a tough few days on the training paddock ahead of the Kiwi clash.
“They definitely look like a top side so we have got a lot to work on but everything we can fix,” he said.
“Simon Cron our coach definitely wants us to be perfect in everything we do with our lineout and scrum just to not let off any time during the match … we just need to nail the one percenters and that will get us off to a good start I hope.
“So I’m just looking forward to training well and ripping in on Saturday.”
The hulking lock was satisfied with his 35-minute effort off the bench against Fiji.
“I tried to be an impact player, just trying to make a difference and lift the team up in that early second half after the break there so I thought I did that pretty well,” Blyth said.
“I definitely would rather start but it’s a good sort of role to lift the boys up.”
Blyth was “not sure” where he would fit into the side against New Zealand but was confident he would nab a spot somewhere in the 23.
“We have got a few locks, a few guys back from last year who are experienced at Australian under-20s level and have played in a World Cup,” he said.
“I still have got next year as well so it’s not like a do-or-die year for me.
“I’m just taking it as experience and enjoying playing the next level just to gain a lot from it but I’ll be happy wherever I am.”
On the injury front, Ryan Lonergan (concussion) will be sidelined for at least a week while captain Reece Hewat (calf) is expected to be fit to play New Zealand.
That clash will kick off at 7pm on Saturday at Bond’s Robina field, following a 5pm match-up between Fiji and Samoa.