Baby Boks win again in Italy

The South African Under-20 team beat Ireland 42-26 in an IRB Junior World Championships match at Stadio Comunale di Monigo in Treviso on sunny Wednesday. They scored five tries to two. But the big score of the day was New Zealand’s annihilation of Wales.

Results, Day 2

Pool A
New Zealand vs Wales, 92-0
Argentina vs Italy, 27-3

Pool B
Australia vs Fiji, 50-25
France vs Tonga, 27-14

Pool C
England vs Scotland, 39-18
South Africa vs Ireland, 42-26

South Africa vs Ireland

It was not a match that the South Africans dominated. In fact the Irish got as good as they got but every now and again the South Africans burst through for tries. Ireland got most penalties (10-5), most line-outs and most scrums. At scrum time the Irish were considerably stronger and yet it was the Baby Boks who won an Irish scrum to set up a try for imposing Eben Etzebeth.

In particular it was the Irish midfield – physically big men, who found the South Africans hard to contain as they burst through time again, sometimes with a tough forward but also with François Venter who was always a threat.

The most threatening of the Irish backs was right wing Andrew Conway who scored two tries and nearly set up a third. For the rest their scoring was done by the boot.

There was not much kicking in the match, which was just as well as the South African kicking was largely a waste of time and the Irish kicking was fodder for the South African counterattacks.

Ireland countered off a South African kick and were at the line when the Baby Boks were penalised. 3-0. The lead did not last long as Etzebeth charged through the Irish middle, Johan Goosen was close and Venter bumped and scored. Goosen converted and then goaled a penalty. 10-3 after 8 minutes.

When the score was 13-6 the Irish were close and only a great tackle by everywhere-man Nizaam Carr saved a try.

Ireland kicked a third penalty and then the Bokkies scored a great try. They attacked but were penalised. Ireland failed to find touch and the Baby Boks countered. They went far left, then far right where Goosen was close. They went left and Carr gave Venter a short, clever pass and the centre burst through for a try at the posts. 20-9.

After Ireland had goaled a fourth penalty, South Africa attacked, one an Irish scrum and Etzebeth bashed through two sturdy tight forwards to score. 27-12 after 35 minutes.

Just when the South Africans looked ready to run away with the match, on the left-hand side of the field Conway burst, evaded five would-be tacklers and scored a great try under the bar. 27-19, which was the half-time score.

Conway nearly made another try early in the second half when he raced down the right off a turnover and then kicked a diagonal for Craig Gilroy. It seemed that Ireland had to scope but South African tackling, not perfect, was better than Irish tackling. Instead, South Africa were next to score.

Ireland cleared and Goosen dropped a 45-metre goal. Ireland grubbered and Ulrich Beyers, great on attack but not on defence, countered and after many passes Wandile Mjekevu dived over on the right. 35-129 after 67 minutes.

But back came the fighting Irish and after much handling – and some sloppy defence – Conway got his second try. 35-26 with seven minutes to play.

The South Africans nearly scored when substitute scrumhalf Pieter Rademan broke on a long run from a scrum but lost the ball as he tried to ground it in Tiernan O’Halloran’s tackle.

In injury-time South Africa won a line-out and Arno Botha burst through and raced 22 metres to scope. Goosen’s conversion was the last act of the match.

The scorers:

For South Africa:
Tries: Venter 2, Etzebeth, Mjekevu, Botha
Cons: Goosen 4
Pens: Goosen 2
DG: Goosen

For Ireland:
Tries: Conway 2
Cons: McKinney, Jackson
Pens: McKinney 4

The teams:

South Africa: 15 Ulrich Beyers, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Bradley Moolman, 12 François Venter, 11 Wandile Mjekevu, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Lohan Jacobs, 8 Arno Botha (captain), 7 Cornell du Preez, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Eben Etzebeth, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 John Roy Jenkinson, 2 Michael van Vuuren, 1 Stephan Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Nic Schonert, 18 Jean Cook, 19 Siyamthanda Kolisi, 20 Pieter Rademan, 21 John Welthagen, 22 Paul Jordaan.

Ireland: 15 Tiernan O’Halloran, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Brendan Macken, 12 JJ Hanrahan, 11Craig Gilroy , 10 James McKinney, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Eoin McKeon, 7 Aaron Conneely, 6 Jordi Murphy, 5 Daniel Qualter, 4 Michael Kearney, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Niall Annet (captain), 1 James Tracy.
Replacements: 16 David Doyle, 17 Conor Carey, 18 Iain Henderson, 19 Dominic Gallagher, 20 Peter du Toit, 21 Paddy Jackson, 22 Luke Marshall.

Referee: Jonathon White (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Carlo Damasco (Italy), Marius Mitrea (Italy)

New Zealand vs Wales

This is the biggest winning margin in the history of the Junior World Championship, surpassing the 90-point winning margin of South Africa when they beat Wales 108-18.

The scorers:

For New Zealand:
Tries: Piutau 2, Cane 2, Sopoaga 2, Whitelock, Luatua, Llewellyn, Perenara, Barrett, Shields, Robertson, Weber
Cons: Anscombe 11

The teams:

New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Rhys Llewellyn, 12 Lima Sopoaga, 11 Charles Piutau, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Luke Whitelock (captain), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Steven Luatua, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Solomona Sakalia.
Replaceemnts: 16 Sefo Setefano, 17 Michael Kainga, 18 Dominic Bird, 19 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 20 Brad Weber, 21 Francis Saili, 22 Glen Robertson.

Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Iolo Evans, 13 Owen Williams, 12 Lewis Robling, 11 Dale Ford, 10 Steve Shingler, 9 Lewis Jones, 8 Owen Sheppeard, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Ed Siggery, 5 Cory Hill, 4 Lloyd Peers (captain), 3 WillGriff John, 2 Kirby Myhill, 1 Rhodri Jones.
Replacements: 16 Jamie Sollis, 17 Will Taylor, 18 Macauley Cook, 19 Luke Hamilton, 20 Jonathan Evans, 21 Matthew Morgan, 22 Ross Jones.

Referee: Greg Garner (England)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Neil Paterson (Scotland)

Argentina vs Italy

The scorers:

For Italy:
Pen: Gennari

Foir Argentina:
Tries: Montero, Masera, Moroni
Cons: Ormson 3
Pens: Ormson 2

The teams:

Italy: 15 Augusto Cosulich, 14 Marco Gennari, 13 Giovanni Alberghini, 12 Tommaso Castello, 11 Michele Visentin, 10 Saverio Bruni, 9 Guglielmo Palazzani, 8 Ruben Riccioli, 7 Edoardo Ghiraldini, 6 Giacomo Brancoli, 5 Filippo Gerosa, 4 Alfio Luca Mammana, 3 Piermaria Leso (captain), 2 Andrea Lupetti, 1 Nicola Quaglio.
Replacements: 16 Giovanni Maistri, 17 Alessandro Furia, 18 Riccardo Cagna, 19 Edoardo Ruffolo, 20 Andrea Balsemin, 21 Vittorio Callori Di Vignale, 22 Michele Campagnaro.

Argentina: 15 Matias Masera, 14 Matías Moroni, 13 Jerónimo De La Fuente, 12 Matías Orlando, 11 Manuel Montero, 10 Brian Ormson (captain), 9 Ramiro Baronio, 8 Juan Lafontana, 7 Miguel Urtubey, 6 Facundo Lagos, 5 César Fruttero, 4 Juan Cruz Guillemaín, 3 Nahuel Lobo, 2 Diego Fortuny, 1 Ignacio Saenz.
Replacements: 16 Lucas Sartori, 17 Jonathan Marchetta, 18 Matias Alemanno, 19 Joaquin Camacho, 20 Marcos Bollini, 21 Sebastián Poet, 22 Javier Rojas.

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Neil Paterson (Scotland), Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Australia vs Fiji

The scorers:

For Australia:
Tries: Bredenhann, Hooper, Butler, Anderson, Siliva, Woodhouse, Enever, Postal
Cons: Bredenhann 5

For Fiji:
Tries: Ratini, Talebula, Mudu
Cons: Lalagavesi 2
Pens: Lalagavesi 2

The teams:

Australia: 15 Jacob Woodhouse, 14 Damon Anderson, 13 Tom Kingston, 12 Simon Morahan, 11 Kimami Sitauti, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Eddie Bredenhann, 8 Jarrad Butler, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Ted Postal, 5 Luke Jones, 4 Blake Enever, 3 JP Pradaud, 2 Siliva Siliva, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Paul Alo-Emile 18 Greg Peterson 19 Ed Quirk, 20 Matt Lucas 21 Bill Meakes, 22 Rohan Saifoloi

Fiji: 15 Josateki Lalagavesi, 14 Ratu Ratini, 13 Peter Lee, 12 Solomoni Rasolea (captain), 11 Matayavusa Lea, 10 Metuisela Talebula, 9 Eliki Sicinilawa, 8 Simione Sawene, 7 Aca Simolo, 6 Sailosi Dawai, 5 Maikeli Mudu, 4 Aminio Nasilimosi, 3 Tomasi Kolo, 2 Joshua Tuqiri, 1 Kirwan Sanday
Replacements: 16 Alifereti Cawanibuka, 17 Sione Kolo, 18 Netani Qicatabua, 19 Uliano Samunaka, 20 Kenneth Robertson, 21 Teti Tela, 22 Jone Wai

Referee: Federico Pastrana (Argentina)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle (England), João Mourinha (Portugal)

France vs Tonga

The scorers:

For France:
Tries: Delmas, penalty try, Chateau, Gayraud
Cons: Palis 2, Barraque

For Tonga:
Tries: Ahki, Faeamani
Cons: Paraki 2

The teams:

France: 15 Geoffrey Palis, 14 Jean Bernard Pujol, 13 Pierre Berard, 12 Thibaut Visensang, 11 Yohann Artru, 10 Jules Plisson, 9 Sebastien Bezy, 8 Karl Chateau, 7 Pierre Julien, 6 Leonard Vignon, 5 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 4 William Demotte, 3 Victor Delmas, 2 Romain Colliat (captain), 1 Florian Fresia.
Replacements: 16 Clement Bourgeois, 17 Walter Desmaison, 18 Pierre Gayraud, 19 Julien Come, 20 Jean Marc Doussain, 21 Jean Pascal Barraque, 22 Jean Marcelin Buttin.

Tonga: 15 Kali Hala, 14 Siale Talakai, 13 Pita Ahki, 12 Nio Lavemai, 11 Tonga Afu, 10 Mesui Vea (captain), 9 Ma’amaloa Taufa, 8 Sam Finau, 7 Motekiai Faeamani, 6 Ofa Finau, 5 Loni Toumohuni, 4 Lose Tukufuka, 3 Elisi Pulu, 2 Sefo Sakalia, 1 Solomone Kioa.
Replacements: 16 Sam Niue, 17 Sione Koloamatangi, 18 Lautaimi Fetuani, 19 Mathew Howling, 20 Sefo Ma’ake, 21 Mona Paraki, 22 Sioeli Veamatahau.

Referee: Johan Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle (England), João Mourinha (Portugal)

England vs Scotland

The scorers:

For England:
Tries: Yarde, Wade 3, Mills
Cons: Farrell 2, Ford 2
Pens: Farrell 2

For Scotland:
Tries: Kennedy, Gossman
Con: Weir
Pen: Weir
DG: Weir

The teams:

England: 15 Jon Joseph, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Ryan Mills, 11 Marland Yarde, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Sam Jones, 7 Matt Everard, 6 Matt Kvesic (captain) , 5 Joe Launchbury, 4 Sam Twomey, 3 Will Collier, 2 Rob Buchanan, 1 Ryan Bower.
Replacements: 16 Koree Britton, 17 Henry Thomas, 18 Charlie Matthews, 19 Alex Gray, 20 Chris Cook, 21 George Ford, 22 Ben Ransom.

Scotland: 15 Glenn Bryce, 14 Sam Atkin, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Danny Gilmour, 11 Kerr Gossman, 10 Duncan Weir (captain), 9 Sean Kennedy, 8 James Tyas, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Mitch Eadie, 5 Robert McAlpine, 4 Mitch Todd, 3 Colin Phillips, 2 David Cherry, 1 Alex Allan.
Replacements: 16 Richard Ferguson, 17 George Hunter, 18 Robin Hislop, 19 Jamie Swanson, 20 Jamie Stevenson, 21 Craig Jackson, 22 Grant Runciman.

Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Assistant referees: Carlo Damasco (Italy), Marius Mitrea (Italy)