Dramatic day ends with New Zealand failing to make the Under-20 semi-finals
Wednesday’s closing pool fixtures at the Under-20s World Cup in Argentina provided a feast of entertainment that left the host nation celebrating a semi-final clinching win over 2018 champions France on the same day that New Zealand were eliminated from the tournament on the back of their 25-17 loss to South Africa.
The South Africans and the Kiwis arrived into their meeting in Rosario deadlocked on 10 points apiece after each had wins over Georgia and Scotland in the opening rounds. However, rather than both sides producing a result that would have seen both teams progress to the last four, South Africa’s first-half dominance proved vital.
The led 19-3 at the break and while New Zealand managed to claw back some of that deficit in the second half, they still finished eight points adrift in a 25-17 defeat.
Their failure to clinch a losing bonus point was critical as it meant they finished fifth best in the overall rankings, one point behind fourth-place France who will now play South Africa in the semi-finals.
New Zealand thought it was mission accomplished with just five minutes remaining when they scored a converted try through Lalomilo Lalomilo to cut the margin to five points.
It's the @JuniorBoks who come out on top in the Pool C decider with their late penalty not only making certain of the win but also denying @AllBlacks U20s a place in the semi-finals alongside them! pic.twitter.com/oSU1evzkVm
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 12, 2019
However, they were left crestfallen by a penalty two minutes from time by Sanele Nohamba which denied them the all-important bonus point they needed to progress. They will now play Wales in a semi-final play-off for fifth place.
Argentina will take on Australia on the other side of the draw following their thrilling 47-26 win over the French, who came into the tournament as defending champions following their win in the 2018 final over England.
Ireland’s 38-14 win over Italy earlier on Wednesday meant that the English were already out of the semi-final reckoning before they even kicked off against Australia in Santa Fe. They had lost to Ireland and struggled to an unimpressive victory over Italy.
It's a day for the forwards ?
JJ van der Mescht romps up the field to notch one up for the big fellas! #WorldRugbyU20s @JuniorBoks pic.twitter.com/JGzv14tztk
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 12, 2019
However, they finally found their feet versus an already qualified Australia and they ran out convincing 56-33 winners with an eight-try performance that featured two scores from Worcester’s Ted Hill. That was enough to earn them a fifth-place semi-final fixture against Ireland, their opening round nemesis.
The day’s other eye-catching result was Georgia’s deserved 17-12 win over Scotland.
'The calibre and skill set of the players being developed speaks to a bright future for the Lelos' – @alexshawsport hails a seminal result for @GeorgianRugby at the World Rugby under-20 championship ?https://t.co/VhF6Lm7NVy
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 12, 2019
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments