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New Zealand U20s have survived their first pool clash in the World Rugby U20 Championships in Stellenbosch with a 27-26 win over Wales U20.
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New Zealand opened the scoring in the 6th minute when first five Taha Kemara found his right wing Caleb Tangitau unmarked from an attacking scrum play inside the 10.
The All Blacks Sevens rep went over untouched for a 5-0 lead but it was Wales who took control with three tries and 19 unanswered points.
Wales enjoyed sustained attacking possession, eventually cracking New Zealand’s line with a driving maul in the 21st minute through hooker Lewis Lloyd.
Flyhalf Dan Edwards was next to score again after a rolling maul again marched New Zealand back to their own line. After a few phases of pick and goes, a release and well-executed block play put Edwards in space to score next to the posts.
With the lead Wales were well and truly on top, making generous gain line only to be repelled at the line by last-ditch New Zealand defence.
The weight of possession eventually cracked as the Welsh struck again from another set-piece strike. Fullback Cameron Winnett was stopped inches short before No 8 Morgan Morse drove over on the next phase.
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Down by 19-5 at halftime, New Zealand U20 coach Clarke Laidlaw wasn’t panicked knowing that they would be aided by a strong wind in the second half.
“Everyone was pretty relaxed, we started the game well but we then gave away a lot of possession and territory,” Laidlaw said.
“We knew if we could get a bit of field position playing down the hill and with the wind at our backs that we could build pressure. We just needed to understand how to build pressure and keep hold of the ball.”
“The wind doesn’t win you the game, but it does give you the chance to build pressure. The game-drivers, our nine, 10 and 15, kicked well in the second half and built some pressure. There were some good lessons there of how to play in different conditions.”
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A Noah Hotham box kick was the catalyst for a comeback after a strong tackle and counter-ruck from Caleb Tangitau and Sam Hainsworth-Fa’aofo won a penalty.
Crusaders winger Macca Springer strolled over after multiple phases of lead up, with club Taha Kemara once again picking the right option with a timely cutout pass.
New Zealand closed the gap to two points when openside Hainsworth-Fa’aofo crossed from a quick lineout maul with no jump.
The Baby Blacks took the lead through a Harry Godfrey penalty goal in the 55th minute before Che Clark scored to take a 27-19 lead.
Wales struck late with a consolation try, again from the maul, to close the gap to just one point but did ran out of time to challenge for the win.
Laidlaw was impressed with Kemara’s kicking in the second-half which controlled proceedings for New Zealand, but was wary of Northern Hemisphere opposition after such a drought between games.
“There are lots of areas but we have not played on the world stage for a while. Getting to play Six Nations teams is why we are here and it’s what excites us,” he said.
“We know how good France are. We’ve had a really good look at them and that will be a huge challenge come Thursday.”
New Zealand will play Six Nations runners-up France next while Wales play Japan.
Comments on RugbyPass
Late growth spurts are a common problem over here. I’m well over 30, and I just started having a growth spurt too. Could be a world class prop soon.
1 Go to commentsas much as the challenge cup is a bit of a nothing competition, winning it would still mean something. last year it was won by toulon, who are now something like 4th in the top 14? The year before it was won by Lyon a season before they finished 3rd in the league. The year before that the final was contested by Montpellier and Leicester - 12 months before they both became domestic champions. That should give Gloucester fans some hope.
1 Go to commentsgreat article - although I can’t help wonder whether the more relevant debate over coming years will be between Ford and Fin Smith!
1 Go to commentsMaking Scott Barrett captain might be a masterstroke….will calm him down & stop brain fades and also take pressure off Ardie, so he can just play his natural monster game. Lets see how that all pans out🧐
8 Go to commentsI’m surprised Scotland are planning to rest key players this summer - I don’t think any other tier 1 nation will be doing the same?
2 Go to commentsGreat analysis Brett and what a shame that RA haven't spent more on the tight five instead. BTW I see the latest 8-9 Combo has dropped, looking forward to that. It's incredible the amount of damage that Hamish and Eddie's egos did in such a short space of time. From memory Eddie drove the initial drive to poach league stars way back in the 00s, with community rugby paying the price in reduced funding. Australia went from 15% of its income being spent on community rugby in 2002 to 2.4% in 2015, sheer madness and look where they are now. Hamish reminds me of Scrappy Doo. Always mouthing off, spoiling for a fight with bigger dogs who'd eat him alive. Sadly RA didn't have a Scooby Doo to bail him out.
10 Go to comments*_“I love watching bone-shuddering tackles, brutal clear-outs, monster ball carries, and crushingly intense scrummaging. I love it. These things make my heart rate spike. These aren’t the only things I love about rugby, but I feel no need to pretend I don’t love them, or to apologise for loving them just in case someone thinks I shouldn’t.”_* beautifully put Flats🔥
3 Go to comments“Hidden comments” all over the place😂 Turlough’s been a busy little boy ey🤭
80 Go to commentsit’ll all be released in an autobiography a few years from now….. “Razor shafted me” blah blah blah. thinking of making Scott Barrett captain might be a good move. Could calm down his brain fades & make him an even better player for them
3 Go to commentsSadly he played far too many games too young. England and France really do need to look after their younger players better.
1 Go to commentsHaving finally been able to watch the first Chasing the Sun (thanks RugbyPass!) - because I refuse to pay DSTV's extortionate monthly fee in SA - after four years, it was amazing to see Mapimpi's story as well as seeing my personal hero, Rassie, breaking down when telling it. There _is_ hope for the country, but only once we've got rid of the crooked and incompetent ANC (and others) who have set out to destroy it. Viva Rassie, viva Kolisi viva rugby!
1 Go to commentsWhether true or not, all the best to you Sam Cane. A warrior of a player and a loyal servant to the ABs! Go get you some yen and have some fun.
3 Go to commentsThe game was changing too much with teams trying to role the dice drawing fouls. Would be better if scrums and the adjudicating problems were resolved but this is a good immediate fix.
42 Go to commentsLike many here I am encouraged by this post. Our forwards are where the real rewards and improvements must come from. With a 50/50 pack against any opposition, our backs could ensure more than 50% of the games will be won. We need Valetini at 6 and Cale at 8 to make the most or a good tight 5, McWright will add to the effectiveness of the pack BUT must get a very good tight 5 out there first.
119 Go to commentsThe key point I think that is missing is that if Joseph wants to guarantee a Lions spot, he really has to play wing in his first year. He is easily going to nail down whatever he wants to do, but with just half a season, how much of a factor he proves to be in the Lions series could be dictated by this initial choice of playing position.
10 Go to commentsthe game was 2 weeks before the challenge cup final. I really don’t believe they needed to rest that many players.
1 Go to commentsI really feel like neither of the Vunipolas is given the respect they deserve. I would have liked to see both of them get a few more caps than they have gotten in the past couple of years, but unfortunately the fact that they both peaked young has meant that for a number of years they have been perceived as disappointments. When they are both retired, in the cold light of day they will be recognised as two of the best players of their generation of any nation.
4 Go to commentsthis generation of saracens players could produce some really incredible coaches. When Farrell retires he could walk into any premiership team as a defence, attack, or kicking coach. Itoje could make it as a defence or a lineout coach, and Jamie George as a lineout or scrum coach. The problem the Vunipolas are going to have is that its not clear what their coaching speciality would be. Neither are great in the set piece, and while they were good in attack and defence, they were never tactical masterminds. Perhaps contact skills would be their ideal brief? Mako perhaps could work in strength & conditioning, but Billy has a bit of a reputation for not taking that side of the game seriously.
4 Go to commentsA very good player.We are finally getting some balance in our team. Plummer..Heem ..Lam a solid..experienced combo who take the sensible options consistently. Clarke was a grt impact of the bench option until Lam moved to 13 to replace an injured Reiko. Cotter is doing a grt job building his team. .
1 Go to commentsSaturday was last straw. Terrible record in Premiership since Jan 23. Capitulation against Bath at home. There are 3 conclusions. Players aren't good enough. Coaching team aren't good enough or combination of both.
2 Go to comments