There's a strong Southland contingent both on and off the field in the New Zealand side for the upcoming Under 20 Rugby World Cup in France. 

The squad features two Southland players in hooker Flynn Thomas and halfback Jay Renton, while the coaching staff features former Southland players Willie Rickards and David Hill as well as current Stags coach Dave Hewett. 

The squad completed its on-field  preparation in an Oceania tournament held on the Gold Coast earlier in the month, the Baby Blacks went through the tournament unbeaten, accounting for Australia, Fiji and Tonga. 

They team is currently in camp at Mount Maunganui, and Thomas said it was great to get a bit of heat prior to heading to France. 

"It's good to get away from the cold for a wee bit, up into the warmer part of the country. 

"I suppose since we are heading up to France, it's going to be a lot hotter than Invercargill, so it's good to have a wee bit of an adjustment period."

For hooker Thomas, having Hewett a former front rower and a man he will be spending a lot of time with in the Southland set-up heading away to France with him suits Thomas down to the ground. 

"It's quite exciting we will be able to work in well together before establishing a few things with him, and utilising those skills during the Southland season."

While halfback Renton has spent a bit of time with the Highlanders, he has eyes on another couple of halfbacks when he looks at how he models his game. 

"I really like the way Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall plays, while I'm also a fan of the way new All Black Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi plays, they're both very energetic and I like to feel as if I bring a lot of energy to the game." 

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Both Renton and Thomas have played for the Stags and have had stints in camp with the Highlanders, and Renton said being in those camps helps remove the mystique around some of the top players. 

"I'm normally quite talkative, can even be pretty annoying, but I found it quite intimidating in those environments, especially the Highlanders as I didn't know anyone, but by the time I went up to the second camp I felt like I could be myself."

Renton said in the lead up to a top tournament like the Under 20 World Cup, having the experience of being around top players helps with nerves. 

Both the former Southland Boys' alumni are predicting the side will play an expansive style, although how they go about that, they're keeping close to their chest. 

New Zealand's first game of the tournament will be against Japan next Wednesday. 

Source: stuff.co.nz, 22 May 2018