Junior World Cup: Aus v France in Final

PLAY-OFFS: Australia and defending champions France will contest the World Rugby Under-20 Championship Final, after ending the title dreams of hosts Argentina and South Africa respectively on Monday.

Australia’s nine-year wait for a second World Rugby U20 Championship final is over after they ended Argentina’s hopes of a first appearance in the title decider on home soil on Wednesday.

The Junior Wallabies, who were beaten 62-17 by New Zealand in the first Final held in Argentina in 2010, played the entire second half with a man down after try-scorer Michael McDonald received a second yellow card trying to prevent a Los Pumitas’ try, but scored the only tries of the second half to triumph 34-13.

They will meet defending champions France in the final on Saturday after Louis Carbonel inspired Les Bleuets to a 20-7 defeat of South Africa, the 2012 champions who were bidding to reach their first final since 2014.

Below are all the scores and scorers

Semifinals

Argentina 13-34 Australia

Australia are in the final. Their magnificent win over home side Argentina has brought them to the final and in the process has shown what an excellent side they are.

The Junior Wallabies can do anything – catch and pass, tackle, kick, run, jump, contest ball on the ground and ball in the air, maul and stop mauls. Anything a rugby team is required to do, they can do. It is no wonder that they gave the Baby Blacks a lathering in the final of the Oceania Under-20 Championship recently.

Against a willing, determined and skilled opponents , the Australians dominated possession and territory and scored more points. They played the whole of the second half with 14 players and won the half 17-0!

It was raining and miserable in Rosario, and both sides ignored the conditions and played as if it were the balmiest of days. They did that from start to finish. The Australians did it better, partly because they ran straighter and were determined to forge ahead with every carry.

After 19 minutes the score was 3-all, and the Junior Wallabies had lost scrumhalf Michael McDonald to the sin bin for a dangerous tackle. When he came back Australia led 10-6.

The Junior Wallabies kept running at the Pumitas and something had to give. Hooker Lachlas Lonergan made the break and gave to big flank Harry Wilson and the Queenslander scored under the posts.

A break by centre Noah Lolesio set up a try for returnee McDonald. 17-6.

It was time for half-time when right wing Rodrigo Isgró raced for the corner. McDonald tackled him, but the tackle was high. The result was a penalty try and a mandatory yellow card for the scrumhalf. Two yellows = 1 red.

That made the half-time scored 17-13 and the Junior Wallabies a 14-man team.

A maul from a line-out 10 metres from the line, gave Lonergan a try. That was a close-range, combined effort. The next try was a solo effort from a ling way out. From a turnover in his 22, Ben Donaldson broke, kicked ahead, won the race to the ball, footed into Pumitas in-goal and grounded the ball a nanosecond before Mate Carreras could.

The last score was a penalty goal by Donaldson who had a splendid game.

One thing is sure the final will not be at all like the Australians’ only other appearance in such a final. that was in 2010, also in Argentina, and on that occasion they lost 62-17 to the Baby Blacks.

Scorers:

For Australia:
Tries: Lonergan, McDonald, Donaldson, Wilson
Cons: Donaldson 4
Pens: Donaldson 2

For Argentina:
Try: Penalty try
Pens: Mendy

Teams

Argentina: 15 Ignacio Mendy, 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 13 Juan Pablo Castro (captain), 12 Gerónimo Prisciantelli, 11 Mate Carreras, 10 Joaquín de la Vega Mendia, 9 Gonzalo García, 8 Bautiste Pedemonte, 7 Juan Martín Gonzalez, 6 Juan Cruz Pérez Rachel, 5 Lucas Bur, 4 Manuel Bernstein, 3 Francisco Coria, 2 Pablo Dimcheff, 1 Thomas Gallo
Replacements: 16 Francisco Minervino, 17 Mariano Muntaner, 18 Francisco Calandra, 19 Estanislao Carullo, 20 Ramiro Tallone, 21Ignacio Ruiz, 22 Jerónimo Gómez Vara, 23 Federico Parnás, 24 Joaquín Pellandini, 25 Nicolás Roger, 26 Francisco Jorge, 27 Tomás Acosta Pimentel, 28 Marco Moneta

Australia: 15 Isaac Lucas, 14 Sione Tui, 13 Semisi Tupou, 12 Noah Lolesio, 11 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Michael McDonald, 8 Will Harris, 7 Fraser McReight (captain), 6 Harry Wilson, 5 Trevor Hosea, 4 Michael Wood, 3 Josh Nasser, 2 Lachlas Lonergan, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Joe Cotton, 17 Bo Abra, 18 Darcy Breen, 19 Rhys Van Nek, 20 Esei Ha’angana, 21 Carlo Tizzano, 22 Nick Frost, 24 Henry Robertson, 26 Kye Oates, 27 Joey Walton

Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

South Africa 7-20 France

The reigning champions have the chance to reign again. France who won the World Under-20 championship last year are back in the final this year after their win over South Africa in Rosario, a slightly surprise victory but one which France richly deserved.

The surprise was not that France won but that South Africa played so poorly. France were better in most aspects of play but especially in their confidence, which was evident. From the very start the young South African s were hesitant.

There is only thing that could have caused their hesitance if one looked at their previous matches. They had every reason to be confident. After all, they were the only unbeaten team after the pool rounds. They had scored more points than the other 11 sides and had had fewest scored against them.

Yellow cards seem to be the only reason why they should have been hesitant. They picked them up in their pool matches but in those matches played with greater zest and confidence, even with 14 men, than they did in this match of 15 men. And being hesitant did not pay off, for they were much penalised.

In this match each side scored a try from a maul but the difference was the five penalties that Louis Carbonel kicked for France.

That said, France scrummed better, tackled much better, kicked better and were more prepared to run with the ball.

In the previous semifinal, the teams had started running with the ball. In this semifinal, the teams started off kicking the ball to and fro, and France did it better than South Africa did.

Carbonel gave his side a 6-0 lead with penalties from a tackle infringement and then from a scrum infringement.

Successive penalties produced a five-metre lineout, which produced a maul which produced a try and France led 11-0.

A penalty for offside made it 14-0 and then it was South Africa’s turn to maul over the line, making the half-time score 14-7.

The only scores in the second half were penalty goals.

Scorers

For France:
Try: Jordan Joseph
Pens: Louis Carbonel 5

For South Africa:
Try: Fezokuhle Mbatha
Con: Jaden Hendrikse

Teams

France: 15 Matthis Lebel, 14 Vincent Pinto, 13 Arthur Vincent (captain), 12 Julien Delbouis, 11 Donovan Taofifanua, 10 Louis Carbonel, 9 Leo Coly, 8 Jordan Joseph, 7 Thibault Hamonou, 6 Haddad Victor, 5 Killian Geraci, 4 Florent Vanverberghe, 3 Alex Burin, 2 Théo Lachand, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: 16 Rayne Barka, 17 Eli Eglaine, 18 Georgi Beria, 19 Paul Mallez, 20 Gauthier Maravat, 21 Mathieu Hirigoyen, 22 Loïc Hocquet, 23 Quintin Delord, 24 Mathieu Smaïli, 25 Antoine Zeghoar, 26 Ethan Dumortier, 27 Alexandre De Nardi

South Africa: 15 Vaughen Isaacs, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 James Mollentze, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phendulani Buthelezi(captain), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Dylan Richardson, 5 Elrigh Louw, 4 JJ van der Mescht, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Fezokuhle Mbatha, 1 Dian Bleuler
Replacements: 16 Dameon Venter, 17 Kudzwai Dube, 18 Keagan Glade, 19 Thabiso Mdletshe, 20 Jaco Labuschagne, 21 Celimpilo Gumede, 22 Zwelendaba Mnombo, 23 Sanele Nohamba, 24 Janko Swanepoel, 25 Emile van Heerden, 26 Caleb Dingaan, 27 David Coetzer, 28 David Kriel

Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy), Nehuén Jauri Rivero (Argentina)
Television match official: Ian Smith (Australia)

Fifth to eighth place

Ireland 23-30 England

It was the third time the two teams have met, and third time lucky for England.

In the Six Nations, Ireland won 35-27 and in this very tournament Ireland won 42-26 but England won this third match-up 30-23.

At half-time England led 13-6 and with just eight minutes to play, a try by Jonathan Wren had got Ireland to 23-16. Then replacement No.8 Brian Deeny charged down a kick, gathered the ball and ran 40 metres to score. 23-all.

After that England lost Rusiate Tuima to the sin bin, but with time up replacement lock Tom Willis scored, Josh Hodge converted and the referee blew the final whistle.

Scorers

For England:
Tries: Maunder, Hodge, Willis
Cons: Hodge 3
Pens: Hodge 3

For Ireland:
Tries: Wren, Deeny
Cons: Healy 2
Pens: Healy 3

Teams

England: 15 Tom de Glanville, 14 Ollie Sleightholme, 13 Fraser Dingwal (captain), 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Josh Hodge, 10 Manu Vunipola, 9 Sa Maunder, 8 Ted Hill, 7 Aaron Hinkley, 6 Richard Capstick, 5 Alex Coles, 4 Joel Kpoku, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Will Capon, 1 Kai Owen
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Olly Adkins, 18 James Kenny, 19 Tom Willis, 20 Rusiate Tuima, 21 Ollie Fox, 22 Connor Doherty, 23 Tom Seabrook, 24 Luke James, 25 Ollie Hassell-Collins

Ireland: 15 Jake Flannery, 14 Aaron O’Sullivan, 13 Liam Turner, 12 David Ryan, 11 Jonathan Wren, 10 Ben Healy, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Azur Allison, 7 Ronan Watters, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Thomas Ahern, 4 Charlie Ryan, 3 Charlie Ward, 2 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 1 Michael Milne
Replacements: 16 Declan Adamson, 17 Thomas Clarkson, 18 Josh Wycherley, 19 John McKee, 20 Brian Deeny, 21 Niall Murray, 22 Luke Clohessy, 24 Colm Reilly, 25 Rob Russell, 26 Cormac Foley, 27 Angus Kernohan, 28 Max O’Reilly

Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy), Nehuén Jauri Rivero (Argentina)
Television match official: Ian Smith (Australia)

New Zealand 7-8 Wales

For Wales this was a great occasion, beating New Zealand at the Under-20 World Championship. It did not matter that it was by only a single point, for this was just the second time they have beaten the Baby Blacks who had humiliated them in the past. It was a match more memorable for the score than the play – oh, and for the long interruption.

The rain poured down on the Racecourse Ground at the Jockey Club in Rosario and then there was the possibility of a lightning strike, which caused the match to be suspended for an hour. It was stopped just before half-time but played the full 80 minutes till the final whistle which came straight after New Zealand had missed a penalty by centimetres. The best part of the game was the last nine minutes when 12 points were scored and potential winner just missed.

The weather did not make for a flowing game. New Zealand, with their lineout domination, had far more possession than Wales, which meant that the Welsh tackled much more, which in turn meant that New Zealand conceded far more turnovers. The majority of possession also meant that New Zealand made more handling errors.

It was a handling error that led to the only score of the first 71 minutes of play.

From a scrum about eight metres inside their half, New Zealand failed to take a pass and Welsh centre Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler left-footed a flykick downfield. Kaylum Boshier was first to the ball falling at it but only knocking it back towards his own line. Thomas-Wheeler carefully toed the ball over the line and beat Boshier to the touchdown for the try.

That gave Wales A 5-0 lead which they defended with determined tackling till nine minutes were left to play.

Two penalties got New Zealand to a five-metre lineout. They bashed briefly and lock Tupou Vaa’i plunged over for a try, which flyhalf Fergus Burke converted.

Two penalties then got Wales to a lineout well inside New Zealand territory, where New Zealand were penalised. Up stepped Cai Evans s to take the kick. He was the leading goal-kicker in the tournament but had missed a conversion and three long-range penalties in this match. One of the penalties hit an upright and stayed out. This was an angled kick, 15 metres in from touch. He goal ked it and with 45 seconds to play New Zealand sought reprieve.

Wales were penalised for side entry when securing their own ball at a tackle. Burke lined it up but the kick was slightly to the left and the final whistle went.

Glee for all of Wales, even those drenched in Rosario.

Scorers:

For Wales:
Try: Thomas-Wheeler
Pen: Evans

For New Zealand:
Try: Vaa’i
Con: Burke

Teams

New Zealand: 15 Scott Gregory, 14 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Leicester Faingaanuku, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Taufa Funaki, 8 Devan Flanders, 7 Kohan Herbert, 6 Kaylum Boshier, 5 Tupou Vaa’i, 4 Taine Plumtree, 3 Tamaiti Williams, 2 Kianu Kereru Symes (captain), 1 OllieN orris
Replacements: 16 Shilo Klein, 17 George Dyer, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, 20 Cullen Grace, 21 Samipeni Finau, 22 Jeriah Mua, 23 Simon Parker, 24 Leroy Carter, 25 Rivez Reihana, 26 Billy Proctor, 27 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 28 Cole Forbes

Wales: 15 Ioan Davies, 14 Deon Smith, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, 11 Ryan Conbeer, 10 Cai Evans, 9 Dafydd Buckland, 8 Jac Morgan, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Lennon Greggains, 5 Jac Price, 4 Morgan Jones, 3 Ben Warren, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 1 Kemsley Mathias
Replacements: Garin Lloyd, Rhys Davies, Nick English, Ed Scragg, Iestyn Rees, Harri Morgan, Rio Dyer, Sam Costelow, Teddy Williams, Tom Devine, Ioan R Davies, Will Griffiths, Tomi Lewis

Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Tomas Bertazza (Argentina)
Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Assessor: Matt Peters (New Zealand)

Promotion-relegation

Scotland 19-16 Italy

This match at the Old Resians Club in Santa Fe was interrupted by the threat of lightning. But it was not lightning that struck Scotland but penalty tries.

Three penalty tries must be some sort of record but that’s what Italy achieved in avoiding the prospect of relegation to the World Under-20 Trophy next year while condemning Scotland to a battle for survival.

At half-time, Italy led 19-7.

Scorers

For Scotland:
Tries: Ashman 2, Blain
Cons: Thompson 2

For Italy:
Tries: Garbisi, Penalty Try 3

Teams

Italy: 15 Jacopo Trulla, 14 Edoardo Mastandrea, 13 Matteo Moscardi, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Cristian Lai, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Mirko Finotto, 7 Davide Ruggeri (captain), 6 Andrea Chianucci, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Nicolare Stoian, 3 Filippo Alongi, 2 Andrej Marinello, 1 Matteo DrudiLorenzo Michelini
Replacements: 16 Niccolò Taddia, 17 Luca Franceschetto, 18 Matteo Nocera, 19 Ange Capuozzo, 20 Thomas Parolo, 21 Federico Mori, 22 Antoine Koffi, 23 Lorenzo Citton, 24 Giacomo Da Re, 25 Giulio Bertaccini, 26 Micheal Mba

Scotland: 15 Cameron Anderson, 14 Lomond MacPherson, 13 Rory McMichael, 12 Robbie McCallum, 11 Jack Blain, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Roan Frostwick, 8 Tom Marshall, 7 Connor Boyle (captain), 6 Marshall Sykes, 5 Cameron Henderson, 4 Ewan Johnson, 3 Euan McLaren, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Murphy Walker
Replacements: 16 Rory Jackson, 17 Andrew Nimmo, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Mak Wilson, 20 Ross Bundy, 21 Jack Hill, 22 Kwagga van Niekerk, 23 Murray Scott, 24 Teddy Leatherbarrow, 25 Nathan Chamberlain, 26 Ollie Smith, 27 Matt Davidson

Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)
Assistant referees: Pali Deluca (Argentina), Nehuén Jauri Rivero (Argentina)
Television match official: Ian Smith (Australia)
Assessor: Andy MacPherson (Scotland)

Georgia 12-8 Fiji

Fiji, who led 5-0 at half-time, now have to do battle with Scotland to avoid relegation.

Scorers

For Georgia:
Tries: Karkadze, Iashagashvili
Con: Abzhandadze

For Fiji:
Try: Momo
Con: Muntz

Teams:

Georgia: 15 Teimuraz Tchitchinadze, 14 Otar Lashkhi, 13 Demur Tapladze, 12 Lasha Lomidze, 11 Zura Kavtaradze, 10 Tedo Abzhandadze, 9 Mikheil Alania, 8 Ioane Iashagashvili, 7 Koba Kolotauri, 6 Beka Koriauli, 5 Vakhtang Jincharadze, 4 Luka Gelashvili, 3 Zaur Tevdorashvili, 2 Luka Nioradze, 1 Luka Azariashvili
Replacements: 16 Vano Karkadze, 17 Nika Gvaladze, 18 Gia Kharaishvili, 19 Tato Gvimradze, 20 Ioseb Gusharashvili, 21 Giorgi Margalitadze, 22 Nika Gvaladze, 23 Gia Kharaishvili

Fiji: 15 Etonia Waqa, 14 Natoga, 13 Ilaisa Droasese, 12 Soqonawasaloa (captain), 11 Epeli Momo, 10 Caleb Muntz, 9 Josh Vuta, 8 Aminasi Shaw, 7 livereti Loaloa, 6 Qaranivalu, 5 Christopher Minimbi, 4 Osea Waqaninavatu, 3 Joseva Nasaroa, 2 Tevita Ikanivere, 1 Livai Natave
Replacements: 16 Lino Mairara, 17 Emosi Tuqiri, 18 Elijah Kuilamu, 29 Seeto, 20 Taniela Ramasibana, 21 Sailo, 22 Simione Kuruvoli, 23 Veresa Tuqovu

Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Damian Schneider (Argentina), Esteban Filipanics (Argentina)
Television match official: Santiago Borsani (Argentina)