Australia U20 v South Africa U20: Boks don’t look like world champs, Aussie looked ‘a lot better’
The Junior Wallabies have got their Rugby Championship U20 campaign back on track with a hard-earned 24-19 win over the Junior Springboks on Tuesday evening.
It was a messy match at times with both teams dropping the ball but the Aussies did enough damage on the scoreboard when it mattered most.
Australia U20 only held a slender lead in the second half before fullback Shane Wilcox scored his second try of the contest. The Aussies were awarded a penalty try late on which also proved decisive.
The Junior Springboks scored with a couple of minutes left to play but it was too late. With time on the Aussies’ side, they held on for a tough win in front of their home fans at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
Here are some takeaways.
JUNIOR SPRINGBOKS DON’T LOOK LIKE WORLD CHAMP CONTENDERS
South Africa beat arch-rivals New Zealand to win last year’s Rugby World Cup final at Stade de France. It was a thriller, and the All Blacks definitely had their chances, but the record will forever show that the Springboks went back-to-back.
Later this year, the Junior Springboks will look to follow in the footsteps of their rugby heroes by becoming world champions in their own right. South Africa will host the best young men’s rugby talent in a tournament from June 29 to July 19.
That tournament is still just under two months away but at the moment the Junior Springboks don’t look like genuine contenders. Northern hemisphere powerhouses England, Ireland and France are to be feared, and New Zealand will likely be in the mix as well.
South Africa drew with New Zealand 13-all in the opening round of the inaugural U20 Rugby Championship on Thursday, and again had another frustrating performance against hosts Australia on Tuesday.
The Aussie dominated possession and territory but squandered multiple chances. They should’ve scored more points against South Africa and probably should’ve.
But Australia were still good enough in the end.
The second-round defeat means that South Africa are last on the ladder with just one match yet to play. Australia, Argentina and New Zealand have all won at least one match so far.
With the likes of JF van Heerden and Jurenzo Julius among their ranks, this team has the talent and potential to be a lot better, but they’re not quite there yet.
The Junior Springbok still have time to grow their game but at the moment they don’t look like genuine contenders to take out the World Rugby U20 Championship on home soil later this year.
AUSTRALIA LOOKED ‘A LOT BETTER’ AFTER LOSS TO PUMAS
The Junior Wallabies had no choice, they had to put in a performance that they could be proud of against South Africa. After a disappointing defeat to Argentina last time out, coach Nathan Grey made mass changes as the Aussies looked to bounce back.
Australia U20s were met with a cheer as they took the field at Sunshine Coast Stadium, and 40 minutes after their clash with South Africa U20s got underway, the tournament hosts took a hard-earned lead into the half-time sheds.
Junior Springbok Mbasa Maqubela was shown a red card midway about 20 minutes in so the Aussies had the numeral advantage for the remainder of the first half. But Australia’s much-improved performance was about more than the Boks’ poor discipline.
Before Maqubela was sent off, Australia dominated the territory battle by keeping what seemed to be the entire first quarter down South Africa’s end of the field. The Aussies also made their presence known with some heavy collisions in defence.
Then, once Maqubela’s infringement was initially shown a yellow under review from the TMO, South Africa U20s looked better – or certainly more desperate and threatening in attack.
But the Aussies showed some great character and resilience. Three minutes after conceding, Australia U20s hit back through Shane Wilcox.
“Definitely a lot better than the first game,” Australia’s Jack Harley said at half-time on Stan Sport.
“We just need to try and convert, especially with that red card, in the second half.
“We’ve just got to hold the ball on… hold the ball and we’ll score. We’ve got some weapons out wide so just hold the ball as forwards and we’ll get it out to them.”
The Aussies were either landing big blows or, when South Africa did take an element of control, they refused to go down during a promising first-half performance.
They deserve credit for that. It’s a step in the right direction, and they have the chance to be even better in their third match of the tournament – which leads into the next point.
JUNIOR WALLABIES WILL BE BETTER WITH MCLAUGHLIN-PHILLIPS
Joey Fowler and Cullen Gray are both solid, reliable and exciting playmakers with bright futures ahead of them. Fowler started in the No. 10 jersey against Argentina while Gray was handed a start for the clash with South Africa.
But, with a highly-anticipated clash with arch-rivals New Zealand now just a matter of days away, the Junior Wallabies have been handed a significant boost.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Junior Wallabies confirmed that Queensland Reds playmaker Harry McLaughlin-Phillips has joined the squad and will be available for Sunday’s blockbuster.
McLaughlin-Phlilips wasn’t considered for Tuesday’s match after only just joining the squad, which is almost a bit of a shame. The Queenslander is one of the brightest rising stars in recent times for Australian rugby.
That’s how good he both is and can be.
McLaughlin-Phillips has six games of Super Rugby Pacific experience under his belt, which has included starts at flyhalf away to the Melbourne Rebels and Moana Pasifika. In those matches, the Queenslander looked right at home.
But before those two starts, the Queenslander turned heads with a breathtaking cameo off the pine against the then-undefeated Chiefs. McLaughlin-Phillips looked comfortable as a playmaker and also secured a match-winning turnover at the breakdown.
That’s actually quite stunning, let alone incredible for a flyhalf.
So, for the young talent to be returning to the Junior Wallabies’ set-up this week, will benefit this team immensely. They’ll be a more-threatening Australia U20s outfit with McLaughlin-Phillips on the field.
“I only found out I was coming up yesterday arvo,” McLaughlin-Phillips told rugby.com.au. “There was a bit of communication between Les (Kiss) and Greysie (Nathan Grey) after the game against the Crusaders. I was kept in the loop and headed up Monday.
“It’s great to be back with the boys, nice to do it up here at home. The family were there last week – they’ll be there tonight watching and supporting (against South Africa).”
FORWARD-THINKING: AUSSIE INNOVATE AT THE SET-PIECE
South Africa sunned the rugby world last October by selecting a 7-1 split on the bench. It was a controversial decision that received either praise or criticism from fans and pundits alike, with practically everyone carrying an opinion on the matter.
But whether you love to hate it or hate to love it, the Springboks went on to win the Rugby World Cup. They named seven forwards on their bench for the decider against New Zealand and it ultimately paid off with Siya Kolisi hoisting the trophy.
Change can be scary and it’s a lot easier to follow the status quo, but daring to innovate can have a major upside and Australia U20s showed at least glimpses of a desire to do just on Tuesday evening.
Twice in less than about 10 minutes, hooker Otavio Tuipulotu decided to throw right to the front at lineouts. No, not a jumper, but rather the player standing closest to the sideline.
It’s something you see every once in a while, but to see it multiple times in such a quick period wasn’t just coincidence, it was strategy.
Tuipulotu found NSW Waratahs loosehead prop Jack Barrett with the first, and ended up going on a brief but exciting break down the left edge. The front-rower found Den Di Staso with a practically identical effort soon after.
Now, is this the same level of controversy or innovation as the 7-1 split? No, of course not, but it showed something unique to try it not once but twice.
For the Aussies, that’s an exciting insight to note ahead of their clash with New Zealand U20s and beyond into the World Rugby U20 Championship.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Brumbies hand, knocked a Crusaders hand. Therefore, knock on in goal. Crusaders, goal line drop out should’ve been awarded. most likely after that 24 full time, so extra time would’ve been the right an entertaining outcome. Act Jim
1 Go to commentsSpeell cehck
1 Go to commentsColeman is gaawwwwnnn.
1 Go to commentsnext SA head coach?
3 Go to commentsGreat try by van Poortvliet.
1 Go to commentsThey have been cruelled by injuries but almost nobody (Sevu Reece and Fletcher Newell big exceptions) has played above himself which regularly happened before. Surely Scott Robertson had maintained the recruitment programme and it looks like a reasonable squad. Last in this competition will stall a lot of careers. Penny seems likeable. But it’s not enough even though this was better. We haven’t been good enough and it’s not helped by the “it’s been 15 years since… “etc “after nearly every match. Seems somehow a soft gifting of something once valuable. Kieran Read giving comments last week almost choked describing the easy surrender of possession by the forwards. I’d love to think that the senior players some of whom are back can show enough pride in the jersey to test the Blues next week.
3 Go to commentsWho will Joe select for the back three with so many in form candidates? Just hope he doesn’t get shafted like Dave Rennie and to a lesser extent Deans.
6 Go to commentsAlways reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
3 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
6 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
5 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
5 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
6 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to comments