Junior Wallabies shock rugby world by demolishing New Zealand in Oceania U20s Championship final
The Junior Wallabies have won the Oceania U20s Championship for the first time leaving New Zealand scoreless 24-nil at Bond University on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.
In front of 2,136 strong crowd, the Junior Wallabies have finished their Oceania campaign on a high, remaining undefeated. It marks the second time in history that Australia has defeated the New Zealand U20s.
Australia’s Will Harris kicked 14 points at Bond University to secure the Junior Wallabies win adding to his championship total of 33.
Junior Wallabies Head Coach Jason Gilmore said: “We have prepped well for a good performance tonight and the boys delivered.
“The most pleasing aspect was to keep our opposition scoreless in our last two matches.
“Winning is a habit and we aimed to win this tournament which is a great effort.
“However, we can’t get carried away. The World Championship is the aim and we need to stay humble, keep working hard and enjoy what we do,” Gilmore said.
The Junior Wallabies now look ahead to the World Rugby U20s Championship in Argentina in June where they will face Italy, England and Ireland in Pool B.
The #JuniorWallabies have won a maiden #OceaniaU20s title, beating New Zealand 24-0 on the Gold Coast to set up their world junior championship campaign.https://t.co/PlIqYEeaY6
— RUGBYcomau (@rugbycomau) May 4, 2019
In the earlier match of the day, Fiji took out their first win of the Championship defeating Junior Japan 57-39.
After staring down the Haka the Junior Wallabies were first to receive the ball in slippery conditions on the Gold Coast. The Junior Wallabies took to the scoreboard first with Will Harrison starting the match on a high and converting his first penalty of the night. After a fierce aerial battle, Australia yet again won the ball back of the visitors and Harrison continued his accuracy slotting the points to give the Junior Wallabies a 6-nil lead.
New Zealand would attempt to strike next following a Junior Wallabies penalty but New Zealand’s Fergus Blake missed the kick as Australia’s maintained the lead. A subsequent offensive from the All Blacks saw them succumb to the defensive wall of the Junior Wallabies, and a penalty to the men in Gold again saw Will Harrison continue his pinpoint accuracy extending the lead 9-nil.
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A dominate Australian scum continued its form and allowed the team to retain the ball on their own line. The following penalty saw Harrison again opt for the kicking tee as he extended the Australian to 12-nil lead. A powerful Australian outfit continued to steal New Zealand ball, however the slippery conditions saw the Junior Wallabies turn the ball over with a penalty. However New Zealand’s Fergus Blake was again unsuccessful in adding the extras.
A powerful rolling maul from the New Zealand side followed and saw the Junior Wallabies defensive efforts put to the limit, with Will Harris issued with a yellow card to following a high tackle and the Australian’s heading into the sheds up 12-nil at halftime.
Following the kick off a powerful Junior Wallabies scrum saw star flyhalf Will Harrison regather the ball and kick it deep into New Zealand territory as the Junior Wallabies continued to apply the pressure. It was here that Noah Lolesio regathered the ball and put it up in the air, across the field and into the hands of Triston Reilly who would then cross over for Australia’s first try of the match, taking the Junior Wallabies to 17-nil at the midpoint of the second half.
A maul off the back of a lineout followed the restart and saw captain Fraser McReight crossing the line in what would be the last try of the match. Harrison again added the extras extending the Australian lead 24-nil.
It was at this point coach Gilmore called on the reinforcements with Pat Tafa, Esei Ha’angana and Bo Abra coming on to replace Will Harris, Trevor Hosea and Angus Bell. They had an immediate effect with Australia again overpowering a New Zealand maul to earn the lineout for themselves and again regaining the ball.
The last few minutes of the game saw the side bolstered by Nathan Lawson, Ollie Barden, Carlo Tizzano, Ben Donaldson, Henry Robertson who replaced Harry Wilson, Josh Nasser, Fraser McReight, Will Harrison and Michael McDonald to ensure the men in gold kept the visitors scoreless at full time.
Comments on RugbyPass
This team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to comments