New Zealand U20 wary of Scotland's star trio after bizarre Japan finish

New Zealand escaped their first game of the World Rugby Junior Championships with a 38-21 win against Japan at AIA Arena in Kutaisi, Georgia.

In the 68th minute, a lightning storm forced the players from the field. After a 20-minute delay and deliberation, the match was abandoned. New Zealand was awarded a bonus-point victory after scoring six tries.

Captain and openside Caleb Woodley scored a try from a second-half lineout. The Sacred Heart College First XV 1A championship winner in 2023 has never been part of a game called off early before.

“Funny we had a huddle just before we were ordered off,” Woodley told RugbyPass.

“When we got into the dressing sheds, we talked about the game like a halftime break. Then we didn’t know what to do,” he laughed.

New Zealand coach Kane Jury added: “I lived and coached in Hong Kong for ten years, where that scenario was fairly common, not necessarily the game being called off but delays.

“Every time there was another flash of lightning, half an hour was added to the break. It soon became clear the game wouldn’t resume. I was discussing what happens next with management and keeping the boys in the loop and focused on the job at hand.

“France and Fiji were worried because they were due to play after us. Australia and Spain didn’t start until ten past nine at night. It was a pretty strange day, alright.”

Japan hadn’t won a match in the tournament since 2015 and had lost 18 consecutive pool games heading into the New Zealand encounter. By contrast, New Zealand was 40-5 in pool play. Trailing 21-7 in the first half, Japan fought back to level the scores before the break. Winger Shinnosuke Uchida gathered a perfectly weighted cross-field kick from first five Takeru Niwa. Then, hooker Sota Miura produced a stunning 25-metre burst from a driving maul that had splintered left, leaving the New Zealanders shell-shocked.

“A lot of their success came from our lack of discipline: penalties we could control, offside, tackle height, the yellow card,” Jury said.

“We have a momentum graph that shows the peaks and troughs in the game. Our goal is to dominate and win but that doesn’t happen all the time. We want to show what the game looks like in blocks. There was a big dip in the moments we weren’t world-class.”

Points Flow Chart

New Zealand U20 lead by 17

Time in lead

56

Mins in lead

0

71%

% Of Game In Lead

0%

79%

Possession Last 10 min

21%

0

Points Last 10 min

0

“We went to the maul a lot in the second half, which suited the conditions,” Woodley observed.

“Our game drivers took ownership, which was good. With my try, Josh Findlay was asking for the ball. When I saw how close the line was, there was no way I was giving it to him.”

Scotland, 38-32 winners over Italy, awaits in the next round. New Zealand outside back Logan Williams is familiar with Scotland. From Dundee, Scotland, he moved with his family and two siblings to New Zealand when he was two. Raised on a farm just outside Canterbury, his family relocated back to Scotland when he was a teenager. He played First XV rugby for Strathallan School, whose alumni include Scottish internationals Jamie Ritchie, Zander Fagerson, Matt Fagerson, George Horne, and Ollie Smith. He has played with or against several of the Scottish team.

“I’ve never experienced anything like the Japan game. When the ball hit the ground, it felt like it sped up,” Williams said.

“Scotland’s back three are definitely players to watch. They’re pretty good. I expect a bit of stick. I’m looking forward to it.”

The back three of Rory McHaffie (2), Dan Kelly and Nairn Moncrieff all scored tries for Scotland in their win against Italy. Centre Henry Kesterton was dangerous, and blindside Christian Lindsay played the entire game.

Scotland was fifth in the Six Nations Under-20 in February and March. They managed a four-try bonus point in their 45-26 loss to eventual Grand Slam winners France.

New Zealand have won all four of their previous matches against Scotland at the Junior World Championships. Their most recent clash was in Italy in 2019, where New Zealand won 52-33 with Samoan international Lalomilo Lalomilo scoring two of the eight tries. Ironically, Scottish international Fergus Burke kicked six conversions for New Zealand, who arguably selected a stronger bench than starting XV.

The future All Blacks on the bench included Ollie Norris, Tamaiti Williams, Cullen Grace, Leory Carter, and Leicester Fainga’anuku. Billy Proctor, Quinn Tupaea, Simon Parker, and Tupou Vaa’i were the future All Blacks in the starting XV. In 2017, in Georgia, Leicester Fainga’anuku’s brother, Tima, was the star in a 42-20 win over Scotland. Tima has since played nine senior Tests for Tonga.

New Zealand have made three changes for their clash with Scotland. In the forwards, Hurricanes and Hawke’s Bay loose forward Patrick Mauga comes into the squad at No.8 after missing the first match due to injury, while Ethan Webber and Cohen Norrie move into the starting XV at tighthead prop and fullback respectively.