France shock the Baby Boks in Dubai
String of surprise results on Day One of Division A
The opening Division A match day in this year's International Rugby Board (IRB) Under-19 World Championship in Dubai on Wednesday produced a string of surprise results, the most prominent of which was defending champions South Africa's 42-3 loss to France.
The Baby Boks won the tournament when it was held in their own backyard in 2004 and were tipped to defend their title in Dubai. But the South Africans had no answer to the deft hands of their hugely mature opponents and were reduced to mere onlookers as the quick-witted French ran in six tries that dripped with poise and cunning.
The crowd on pitch one at Exiles Rugby Club in Dubai had barely had time to digest that result before they were confronted with another one – Ireland edging out England 17-16, having been 13-3 down at half-time.
New Zealand confirmed that they will be strong contenders for the title by defeating Six Nations under 19 Grand Slam champions Wales 38-14. Australia can also count themselves among the favourites after they outclassed Scotland 78-3.
Agustín Vaccari's drop-goal in the dying moments of the second half robbed newly promoted Samoa of a famous victory over Argentina, whilst Japan recovered from a two-point deficit at half time, to defeat Romania 30-17.
Reports:
France 42-3 South Africa
The French were good value for a 13-0 lead at the break after dominating proceedings for long spells with scrum-half Terry Bourahoua a constant threat around the fringes thanks to the work of his pack.
And his sniping break and well-timed pass put centre Thomas Combezou clear for a converted try in the seventh minute.
South Africa responded with a period of pressure but the French defence was equal to the task, and they ended the half well on top, hammering away at the try line and earning three kicks at goal, Mathieu Belie landing two to stretch the lead to 13 points.
South Africa made the start they needed to the second half, Conrad Hoffman slotting an early long-range penalty. The sin-binning of Bourahoua, for tackling a player off the ball, should have given the champions an advantage.
But it was France who were next on the board, captain Jean Monribot latching on to a kick through which bounced kindly for a converted try.
His side, now back to full strength, then made the game safe with a length-of-the-field counter attack which ended with replacement Alexis Palisson crossing.
And as South African heads dropped so France continued to attack. Palisson was next over the line after another long fluid breakout while Belie also got in on the act before the final score, from winger Mathieu Nicolas, put the seal on a complete French performance, which included a stand-out effort from centre Mathieu Bastareaud in attack and defence.
Argentina 10-8 Samoa
A drop goal in the dying stages clinched the win for Argentina and cruelly robbed the Samoans, who had looked set to pull off a result that earlier seemed highly unlikely.
The encounter was dominated by Argentina for most of the first half, but they were still trailing 3-0 to a 25th minute penalty by Ki Anufe until injury time.
Three minutes into injury time flanker Pablo Ruiz scored a try, converted by fly-half Ignacio Mieres, and the second half seemed set for Argentina to convert their possession and territory into points.
However the Samoans had other ideas, soaking up relentless pressure and gradually asserting their own authority.
Adventurous running and handling created several forays into the opponents’ 22-metre area for almost the first time in the match, and they were rewarded after 50 minutes when wing Silaumua Potifele crossed the line by the left corner flag.
Anufe missed the conversion and Argentina duly came storming back with wave after wave of attack threatening the try line, but still the Samoan defence held firm.
As the clock ticked down into injury time, Samoa seemed to have defied the odds to cling on to their one point advantage until the crucial drop goal from Agustin Vaccari dashed their hopes.
The ball broke from a ruck to the replacement centre standing just inside the 22-metre line, and with time and space to spare he coolly struck the ball between the posts to the relief of his team-mates and the strong Argentine contingent in the crowd.
Argentina will next face England at Sharjah Wanders on Sunday, while Samoa take on defending champions South Africa at the same venue.
Japan 30-17 Romania
Romania were unable to fight off a brave Japan comeback, in what was a closely fought match.
Cristian Onofrei and Hiroshi Tashiro got the scoring underway, exchanging penalties to leave the score at 3-3. Japan's tactic of kicking for territory seemed to be paying off with some well executed kicks gaining good yards into the Romanian half at times.
The Romanian pack were running riot, driving home to take the lead with a second try from Onofrei, but the Japanese, who were no doubt spurred on by a fantastic barrage of Japan flags in the crowd, scored an unconverted try through Reo Kishiwada. This left the half time score at 10-8 to Romania.
A tense second half ensued, with the Romanian forwards gaining momentum and territory, to take the lead. Japan also picked up this technique, spreading the ball well down the line to pull the score back to 17-11 to Romania.
As the Romanian legs began to tire, the superior speed of their opponents paid off with tries from Captain Shinya Makabe, Masaaki Murashita, and a second from Kishiwada that sealed a 30-17 win.
New Zealand 38-14 Wales
New Zealand made their intentions brutally clear after a commanding win over Wales. After a sluggish start which saw Wales race into an early 6-0 lead, New Zealand sparked into gear midway through the first half to give themselves a handy 21-6 lead at the break.
It all started with a beautiful one handed off-load from fly-half Michael Hobbs to open the gate for Timothy Bateman, who screamed away for the first of his two tries.
Leading 7-6, New Zealand started to find their way and when wing Greg Tweddle split the Welsh defence and came within inches of the line it was only a matter of time before they took control.
Captain Victor Vito looked dangerous every time he had the ball in his hands and stamped his authority on the game with a solo effort to put his men ahead 14-6.
Hobbs then cut the defence open and crossed virtually untouched to put New Zealand in complete command at the break.
Wales looked sharp early in the second half and their persistence was rewarded when hooker Kenneth Owens crashed over following strong lead up work.
A penalty in front of the posts put them back in the hunt, but New Zealand scored 10 points within three minutes to put end any hopes of a fight back.
Tweddle completed the win by scoring in the shadows of full time.
New Zealand now move on to face Japan at Sharjah Wanderers on Sunday, while Wales meet Scotland at Dubai Exiles on the same evening.
Australia 78-3 Scotland
The scoreline says it all. Scotland fought gamely but were completely outclassed by a masterful Australian side who more than lived up to their pre-tournament billing as one of the favourites.
On this performance they will take a lot of stopping, certainly more than the Scots were capable of offering as the Aussies went on a try spree and seemed capable of scoring virtually at will in this Division A encounter.
The final tally of 12 tries and nine conversions could easily have been more.
Strong Scottish support at the Sharjah Wanderers stadium was encouraged by a fairly promising start, a penalty by fly-half Cameron Ferguson after 16 minutes reducing the deficit to 7-3 after an early try by Australian flanker David Pocock, converted by full back Lachlan Turner.
But the Scots in the crowd fell silent as the Australians rattled in a succession of tries with almost monotonous ease to rack up a 38-3 lead at half-time.
The tries were shared by Anthony Faingaa, Joshua Holmes (2), Patrick McCutcheon, and Brett Gillespie, with Lachlan Turner converting three of them.
The second half brought more of the same, with the Australians crossing the Scottish tryline with metronomic regularity.
Scrum-half Joshua Holmes completed his hat-trick, David Pocock collected his second, Brett Stapleton added two more, and Luke McLean, and Daniel Linde chipped in with one apiece.
Lachlan Turner converted two plus three more to Luke McLean when he took over the kicking duties.
A late flurry by the Scots briefly threatened the Australian line, but this time, there were no consolation points to be had. Australia play Romania at Dubai Exiles on Sunday while Scotland face Wales at the same venue.
Ireland 17-16 England
Ireland rallied from 13-3 behind at one stage to claim a superb victory over England in a tense clash.
In front of a packed main stand, Ireland took revenge for a 32-9 defeat last month by their rivals in the U19 Six Nations on St Patrick’s Day in London, thanks to a committed performance in defence and the rock-solid kicking of Brian Collins, who landed four crucial penalties.
England made the stronger start and established a six-point lead thanks to two penalties from fly-half Danny Cipriani before Collins put his side on the board with his first kick in the 24th minute.
Captain Adam Powell then showed good strength to bash his way over the line for a try, which put England 11-3 ahead, Cipriani’s conversion establishing a handy 13-3 advantage at the break.
However Ireland stepped up a gear and hauled themselves back into the game with a huge forward effort. Relentless pressure forced England to give away a string of penalties, while their discipline also slipped with prop Matthew Mullan and full back David Doherty being sin-binned, reducing the side to 13 men at one stage.
Collins needed no second invitation to land three successive penalties to make it 13-12 before Cipriani added a third penalty to give England a little breathing space.
Ireland though were not finished and with six minutes to go centre Keith Earls was worked over for a match-winning try wide on the right.
England still had chances to steal it, but the superbly committed Ireland defence held firm for a memorable win.
England must now regroup ahead of their match with Argentina at Sharjah Wanderers on Sunday, while Ireland take on France at the Exiles on the same evening.
RESULTS – DIVISION A, DAY ONE
South Africa 3-42 France, Exiles RFC
New Zealand 38-14 Wales, Exiles RFC 2
Romania 17-30 Japan, Sharjah Wanderers 2
Scotland 3-78 Australia, Sharjah Wanderers
Argentina 10- 8 Samoa, Sharjah Wanderers
Ireland 17-16 England, Exiles RFC
