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New Zealand U20 fall short to Junior Wallabies after early red card
Australian Under 20’s coach Nathan Grey has been outspoken and grumpy at the World Under 20 championships.
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Following a loss to Ireland, he labeled the refereeing a “disgrace” and after a draw against England he complained Australia was the “better side.”
Had his Junior Wallabies blown victory against New Zealand, a side whose measure they had in June two-test series, he might have had a hernia.
Regrettably, New Zealand lock Tom Allen was yellow carded in the 20th minute for lifting an Australian player past the horizontal in a tackle. Upon review, the sanction was upgraded to a red card meaning Allen was unable to return for the remainder of the contest.
New Zealand was ahead 12-8 when Allen departed but conceding a 6-0 penalty count soon saw blindside Malachi Wrampling-Alec sin binned in the 23rd minute following a team warning for persistent infringements.
Somewhat predictably Australia was able to score two tries and take an 18-12 lead. Once again defending the rolling maul was a headache for New Zealand. Hooker Max Craig alongside beastly No.8 Leafi Heka Talataina were among the best of the Aussie forwards.
Australia played abysmally before the interval. A series of shallow clearances was followed by five consecutive penalties as the ‘Baby Blacks’ piled on 18 unanswered points.
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First-five Taha Kemara with his precise and varied passing is an exciting prospect, Wrampling-Alec atoned for his dismissal with some explosive carries, and wing Caleb Tangitau showed the benefits of his time with the All Blacks Sevens.
As undermanned New Zealand naturally tired, Australia was able to create and exploit overlaps. Wings Tim Ryan and Rohan Leahy scored the junior Wallabies’ next three tries with Ryan’s second hurtful for New Zealand who hesitated when the ball bobbled loose and were caught napping blindside. An unlikely Harry McLaughlin-Phillips conversion made it 37-35.
Australia’s bench added much-needed impetus. John Bryant was a menace at the breakdown and front rowers Liam Bowron, Marley Pearce, and Trevor King added muscle.
Peter Lakai was named by Mastercard as Man of the Match. The New Zealand No.8 and co-captain never stopped working.
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New Zealand conceded their highest score in tournament history and can only repeat their seventh-place finish in 2019 if they win their final match.
By contrast, Australia has made real improvements from the side beaten 69-12 by New Zealand last year but Grey will be frustrated by the lack of consistency. With a one-man advantage for an hour, Australia made hard work of their second victory over the ‘Baby Blacks’ in 2023.
New Zealand U20: 35 (Macca Springer, Caleb Tangitau 2, Malachi Wrampling-Alec 2, Jack Taylor tries; Taha Kemara 2 con, pen, dg)
Australia U20: 44 (Max Craig 2, Henry O’Donnell, Tim Ryan 2, Rohan Leahy, Teddy Wilson tries; Harry McLaughlin-Phillips 3 con, pen)
HT: 25-18, New Zealand.
Comments on RugbyPass
It’ll be very interesting to see how Razor’s AB’s handle the new England rush D. It’s basically the Bok recipe they copied, so if England goes well then we know most likely the Boks will go well too. If England cops a hiding then we’ll have to study and adapt.
6 Go to commentsTypical trait of an australian is to moan. Goes well with there lack of humbleness as evident by the Reds bench on the weekend.
2 Go to commentsSBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
6 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
2 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
7 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
7 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
7 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
7 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
6 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
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