U18: Winning Endings for Argentina, Wales and SA Schools
On the third and last round of the Under-18 International Series, played at Hoërskool Hugenote in Wellington on Saturday, the SA Schools team battled but beat England Under-18 to end the tournament unbeaten. They won all three of their matches.
Argentina won two matches, Wales won one match with a draw, England and France each won one and lost two, and SA Schools A, where A means second XV, had a draw and two defeats.
Round 3 Results
Argentina vs SA Schools A, 27-12
Wales vs France, 18-14
SA Schools vs England, 33-27
SA Schools A vs Argentina Under-18
The Pumitas were too strong for SA Schools, scoring four tries to two. The Schools A started well enough with a 17-phase attack on the Pumitas who stood firm. But then they kicked and Argentina counterattacked. They advanced at speed and big eighthman Joaquín Oviedo burst through for a try near the posts. Flyhalf Mateo Camerlinckx converted.
A brilliant line kick by the Schools flyhalf, Sihlalo Benge, gave them a five-metre lineout. They mauled and a body piled over the line for a try credited to hooker Teague Loelly.
The first half ended with the score 7-5. There is great credit to the SA Schools A from this for Argentina Under-18 had enjoyed 74% of possession in the half.
In the second half the Argentinians did what the South Africans had turn – turn a penalty into a five-metre lineout and score a try by Jerónimo Gómez Vara. 12-5.
Argentina won a South African lineout, flank Ignacio Ruiz charged with great effect and Martín Vaca scored a try converted by Camerlinckx. 19-5.
After a yellow card for tall Schools lock, Corné Rahl, whose nickname is Potlood (Pencil), Argentina had another five-metre lineout and substitute Álvaro Llaver scored. 24-5.
A penalty set the Schools on the attack with Jacques Rossouw close, but handling let them down. The Pumitas cleared downfield and the schools countered – Joseph Iye was close and Rahl got right to the line. Then substitute hooker Allister Williams powered his way over for a try near the posts.
There was only one pother score – a penalty by Camerlinckx, which was followed by the final whistle.
Scorers
For Argentina Under-18:
Tries: Joaquín Oviedo, Jerónimo Gómez Vara, Martín Vaca, Álvaro Llaver
Cons: Mateo Camerlinckx 2
Pen: Mateo Camerlinckx
For SA Schools A:
Tries: Teague Loelly, Allister Williams
Con: Jacques Rossouw
Teams
SA Schools A: 15 Jacques Rossouw, 14 Nsuku Baloyi, 13 Tiaan Pretorius, 12 AJ Johnson, 11 Joseph Iye, 10 Sihlalo Benge, 9 Kabelo Mokheti, 8 Jarod Cairns (captain), 7 Renzo du Plessis, 6 Sisonke Vumazonke, 5 Marco van Rhyn, 4 Raynard Roets, 3 Gerhard van der Merwe, 2 Teague Loelly, 1 Lukhanyo Vokozela
Replacements: 16 Allister Williams, 17 Rynhardt Rijnsburger, 18 Philip Masango, 19 Izan Esterhuizen, 20 Josh van Vreden, 21 Daimon O’Connell, 22 Indiphile Tyeda, 23 Sonwabo Sokoyi, 24 Corné Rahl, 25 Pierich Siebert, 26 Sibusiso Javu
Argentina: 15 Iñaki Delguy, 14 Valentín D’Angelo, 13 Justo Piccardo, 12 Lautaro Sánchez Rubio, 11 Julián Hernández, 10 Mateo Camerlinckx, 9 Tomás Oria, 8 Joaquín Oviedo, 7 Ignacio Ruiz, 6 Jerónimo Gómez Vara, 5 Julián Conti, 4 Marcelo Toledo, 3 Franciso Moreno, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Nicolás Toth
Replacements: 16 Thomas Gallo, 17 Martín Vaca, 18 Nicolás Ciancio, 19 Álvaro Llaver, 20 Abraham Elías, 21 Bautista Grenon, 22 Juan Bautista Arranz, 24 Facundo Villarba, 25 Ramiro Waisberg, 26 Mariano García Ascárate
Referee: Manuel Bottino (Italy)
Assistant referees: Vince Minnaar (South Africa), De Wet du Plessis (South Africa)
Television match official: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
France vs Wales
This turned into an agonising thriller. With six minutes to go, the score was 13-7 to Wales. But from just inside the French half, wing Enzo Lanzutti scored far out on the left. From far out, Louis Foursans Bourdette converted and France led a fragile 14-13.
France had another chance to score when stocky wing Jessy Maizier had a strong run down the middle of the field. With two men outside him , he opted to go on his own and Carrick McDonough brought him down. France were penalised and Wales had a line-out on the right. They won the ball and went wide left to Mason Grady just in from the left touchline. The outside centre, now on the wing, raced ahead, beat two defenders and scored. That is what made the final score 18-14 to Wales.
It was a fast and intense match as both sides moved the ball.
Wales were the ones to score first when flyhalf Tom Mathews kicked a penalty goal.
Jake Thomas thought he had scored when he chased a kick but consultation with the TMO decided that Morgan Richards had been offside at the kick and the try was wiped out. Instead France were next to score when a lineout became a maul and tall lock Wesley Lindor scored a try which captain Nolann Le Garrec converted, and France led 7-3.
But a try by Grade, converted by Mathews gave Wales a 10-7, the half-time score.
Again a Mathews penalty was the first score of the half and Wales led 13-7 for the next 26 minutes of energetic rugby, till Lanzutti’s try while Travis Huntley was sitting in the sin bin.
It was an excellent match.
Scorers
For Wales:
tries: Mason Grady 2
Con: Tom Mathews
Pens: Tom Mathews 2
For France:
Tries: Wesley Lindor, Enzo Lanzutti
Cons: Nolann Le Garrec 2
Teams
France: 15 Logan Tabet, 14 Enzo Lanzutti, 13 Philippe Savelli, 12 Ethan Randle, 11 Jessy Maizier, 10 Mathéo Garcia, 9 Nolann Le Garrec (captain), 8 Théo Ntamack, 7 Kilian Tixeront, 6 Baptiste Prcanovic, 5 Wesley Lindor, 4 Noah Kanika, 3 Thomas Cretu, 2 Sacha Idoumi, 1 Thomas Moukoro
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Boudou, 17 Victor Montgaillard, 18 Thomas Kolokilagi, 19 Mathéo Desjeux, 20 Mahamadou Coulibaly, 21 Maxime Baudonne, 22 , 23 Paul Jambon, 24 Paul Jambon, 25 Louis Foursans Bourdette, 26 Léo Barré, 27 Éric Boussard
Wales Under-18: 15 Dan John,
14 Jake Thomas,
13 Mason Grady,
12 Joe Hawkins,
11 Morgan Richards,
10 Tom Mathews,
9 Luke Davies,
8 Peter Vickers, 7 Alex Mann, 6 Travis Huntley, 5 Ben Carter (captain), 4 James Fender, 3 Archie Griffin, 2 Oliver Burrows, 1 Kieran Stevens
Replacements: 16 Rhodri King, 17 Theo Bevacqua, 18 Lewys Jones, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 Rhys Thomas, 21 Ollie Howard, 22 Bradley Roderick, 23 Jake Morgan, 24 Carrick McDonough, 25 Ben Burnell
Referee: Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Vince Minnaar (South Africa), De Wet du Plessis (South Africa)
Television match official: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
SA Schools vs England
This was a thrilling match. England dominated, South Africa dominated and the score was finalised only with the final whistle, for England were still battling with might and main for the score that would win the match for them.
South Africa scored first when a maul produced a try credited to hooker André-Hugo Venter. They also scored second when Venter’s school mate and prop, big Jan-Hendrik Wessels scored. 10-0 before England got going but by half-time the visitors led 19-13 after two yellow cards for the Schools team, two tries and a penalty try for England.
England increased their lead to 24-13 when Matthew Ward scored in the corner.
Then SA Schools came back with tries by the unrelated Van Wyks – Henco van Wyk of Krugersdorp and eighthman Gideon van Wyk of Paarl, and the score was 24-23.
Jurich Claasens put SA Schools ahead at 26-24 before Orlando Bailey restored England’s lead, also with a penalty goal. 27-26.
With 10 minutes still to play, South Africa marched England back a long way on the left, before going right and bashing at the England line till Mntungwa Mapantsela threw a magnificent long pass out to Keane Galant who was unmarked on the right. Galant went straight over for a try in the corner. From touch Jurich Claasens converted.
Scorers
For SA Schools:
Tries: André-Hugo Venter, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Henco van Wyk, Gideon van Wyk, Keane Galant
Cons: Jurich Claasens
Pens: Jurich Claasens 2
For England:
Tries: Emeka Ilione, Orlando Bailey, Penalty Try, Matthew Ward
Cons: Orlando Bailey 2
Pen: Orlando Bailey
Teams
SA Schools: 15 Zeilinga Strydom, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Tyler Bocks, 11 Tharquinn Manuel, 10 Kian Meadon, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 George Cronjé (Captain), 7 Jarrod Taylor, 6 Keketso Morabe, 5 Dylan de Leeuw, 4 Simon Miller, 3 Sibusiso Shongwe, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels
Replacements: 16 Jacques Goosen, 17 Okuhle Siyeni, 18 Blaine Golden, 19 Wandile Hlope, 20 Mntungwa Mapantsela, 21 Keane Galant, 23 Jurich Claasens, 24 Quan Horn, 25 Gideon van Wyk, 26 Connor Evans
England Under-18: 15 Oliver Melville, 14 Matthew Ward, 13 Will Joseph, 12 Louis Hillman-Cooper, 11 Alex Harmes, 10 Orlando Bailey, 9 Sam Edwards, 8 Kit Smith, 7 Harry Taylor, 6 Emeka Ilione (captain), 5 Ethan Staddon, 4 Freddie Thomas, 3 Fin Baxter, 2 John Stewart, 1 Phil Brantingham
Replacements: 16 Tarek Haffar, 17 Joe Keohane, 18 Ewan Richards, 19 Daniel Eckersley, 20 Will Trenholm, 21 Sam Bryan, 22 Ethan Grayson, 23 Michael Dykes, 24 Oscar Beard, 25 Charlie Atkinson
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Manuel Bottino (Italy), Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
Television match official: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
Tournament Results
Round 1
France Under-18 vs South African Schools A, 43-19
Argentina Under-18 vs England Under-18, 29-19
South African Schools vs Wales Under-18, 23-13
Round 2
SA Schools A vs Wales, 31-31
SA Schools vs Argentina Under-18, 48-14
England Under-18 vs France, 29-25
Round 3
Argentina vs SA Schools A, 27-12
Wales vs France, 18-14
SA Schools vs England, 33-27
