THE12 best junior (Under 20) sides in the world will lay on a spectacle of fast, flowing rugby when the IRB Junior World Cup gets underway in South Africa this week. But, just because they are juniors don't for a second think that these guys are lightweights. Luke Whitelock, who captains New Zealand for the second year in a row has already made his debut in the smoking hot cauldron of the Super 15 playing for the Canterbury Crusaders. The youngest of four brothers playing for the New Zealand franchise (two of whom have already represented their country at senior level) he has huge reputation and is already being touted as a future All Black captain. The baby of the family he tips the scales at 210 pounds and is 6'3'. Some baby!The Baby Blacks, as they are known, will be hard pressed to hold onto the trophy they won last year with the traditional powerhouses of Australia and South Africa looking to wrest the cup that New Zealand has won all four times the tournament has been held.Whitelock, who has already had his hands on the coveted trophy when he captained the Kiwis in Italy last year is not getting carried away with being named the IRB 2011 World Junior Player of the Year.'There were a lot of great players in the tournament and a lot of great players should or could have been nominated for that award. I just think it was a great team, if you are going to win it is not just going to be down to one or two players, it will be a whole team.'Is the captain feeling the pressure to maintain his country's perfect record in the tournament''There is a bit of pressure but every team is new in the sense that every year it is a totally different bunch of boys and each one is sort of unique in its own way so each one wants to make their own make their own mark and make the best of the opportunity.'The IRB Junior World Cup is set to break all previous records for a junior rugby tournament when it's beamed to a projected 240million homes this month. Host broadcaster Supersport will be giving live feeds to 162 territories through 17 major networks including NBC in the USA who will broadcast the tournament for the first time, as will EPSN Star in Asia. Other leading broadcasters include Fox Sport in Australia, Eurosport, France TV, RAI in Italy, Sky Sports UK, Bandsport in Brazil, Fiji TV and OSN across the Middle East.The cumulative total of live coverage for the three-week tournament is projected to exceed 300 hours for the first time.The tournament which kicks off on 4th June will be played in two magnificent stadiums in Bellville and Stellenbosch, in South Africa.All games will be broadcast live, see Supersport schedules for details.Line-outA line out is used to restart play where the ball has gone into touch. (crossed the side line)No more than seven and no less than two forwards line up parallel with each other between the five-metre and 15-metre lines. The hooker of the team (No 2) in possession throws the ball in while his opposite number [may] stand in between the touchline and the five-metre line.All players not involved in the lineout, except the scrum-half, must retire 10 metres.The ball must be thrown down the middle of the lineout between the two sets of forwards. If throw is not straight then the throw is given to opposition or ascrum.Jumpers can be lifted by their team-mates below the waist, but the opposition's jumpers must not be obstructed, barged or pulled down.LockLocks or second-row forwards wear shirts number 4 & 5. Locks are very tall, athletic and have an excellent standing jump along with good strength. So they are the primary targets atline-outs. They also make good ball carriers, bashing holes in the defence around the ruck and maul. They also have to push in therucksandmauls.08033843683archtheadman@gmail.com
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