Junior Wallabies plotting path to international redemption in 2020

Thu, Jan 2, 2020, 1:04 AM
Beth Newman
by Beth Newman
Carlo Tizzano is one of five players who is in the mix to return to the Junior Wallabies in 2020. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley
Carlo Tizzano is one of five players who is in the mix to return to the Junior Wallabies in 2020. Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stuart Walmsley

This year’s World Rugby U20s Championships are still several months away but this year’s Junior Wallabies crop already have redemption on their minds.

Australia’s U20s side had an impressive 2019, winning the Oceania U20s championship on the Gold Coast before progressing to their first World Rugby U20s Championship final in eight years.

The Junior Wallabies fell agonisingly short of the title in a 24-23 loss to France, and for much of the squad, that was their final aged outing.

For a handful of players, though, including Waratahs backrower Carlo Tizzano there is a chance to try and go one better this year and it’sone they’re desperate to take.

This year’s 20s prospects will have their first 2020 camp later this month,as they begin their preparations for the World Rugby U20s in Italy.

Tizzano is one of five players from last year’s Junior Wallabies crop pushing for a chance to go one better this year with a host of others aging out of the U20s program.

Already, Tizzano said, staff and players were discussing their desire to continue the success on and off the field of the 2019 crop.

“I think even talking to some of the coaches that did it this year, we're definitely already talking about it and real keen to start  ripping in and create and be better from what we were this year,” he said.

“We need to create that good culture we had this year and just go from there and bring in the new guys and then win it. 

“This year we were so close but we could work on a few things and I'm really excited.”

While that final appearance, and their Oceania U20s championship win earlier in the year, made waves, Tizzano said the key for this year would be continuing the culture that laid the platform for those performances.

“I think that was the real good thing about our 20s this year was that we were open with everyone, everyone could be themselves, no one shied away and I think that showed on the field as well when we played,” he said.

Before the aged representative season comes around, Tizzano has a different challenge on his hands - the simple task to battling Michael Hooper for NSW’s no. 7 spot.

Carlo Tizzano in action for the Force in the NRC. Photo: Getty ImagesTizzano joined the Waratahs from the Western Force after the 2019 NRC season and he will compete against Hooper and others including Ned Hanigan and Lachie Swinton for a spot in the matchday 23.

While the prospect of trying to push the Wallabies captain could be intimidating for many, Tizzano embraced the opportunity when opting to take up a deal with the Waratahs.

“I think being here is a great opportunity not only to learn off someone who's captain of the Wallabies, I think he's about to be the youngest Wallaby to reach 100 caps,” he said.

“To learn off a bloke like that but also to compete with him every day, I feel like that could really set me up for a good platform to progress from and develop as a player. 

“The whole idea of competing with him really appealed to me, to be honest."

The Waratahs play their first 2020 Super Rugby trial on Friday January 17 against the Highlanders at Leichhardt Oval. Buy tickets here.

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