U20 RWC: Baby Boks knock NZ out

ROUND THREE: South Africa beat New Zealand 25-17 to knock the Kiwis out of the tournament before the semifinals.

Below are all the Round Three scores and scorers.

Italy 14-38 Ireland at Ateneo Inmaculada, Santa Fe

The match was over as contest, it seemed, at half-time when Ireland already led 31-7.

The second half was just 7-all.

Prop Michael Milne scored the first try after just six minutes, and Ireland led 31-0 before, on the stroke of half-time, scrumhalf Alessandro Fusco dummied cleverly and opened Italy’s account.

Just after half-time, Italy had a scrum five metres from the Irish line. They shoved Ireland back and were rewarded with a penalty try.

Lock Ryan Baird ended the scoring.

The bonus-point win keeps Ireland’s chances alive of earning a a semifinal spot, though it remains really only a theoretic possibility.

Scorers

For Ireland:
Tries: Milne, Foley, Allison, Russell, Baird,
Cons: Healy 5
Pen: Healy

For Italy:
Tries: Fusco, Penalty Try
Con: Garbisi

Teams

Ireland: 15 Jake Flannery, 14 Angus Kernohan, 13 Liam Turner, 12 Cormac Foley, 11 Rob Russell, 10 Ben Healy, 9 Colm Reilly, 8 Azur Allison, 7 Ciaran Booth, 6 David McCann 5 Ryan Baird, 4 Thomas Ahern, 3 Michael Milne, 2 John McKee, 1 Josh Wycherley
Replacements: 16 Declan Adamson, 17 Thomas Clarkson, 18 Charlie Ward, 19 Dylan Tierney-Martin, 20 Charlie Ryan, 21 Niall Murray, 22 Luke Clohessy, 23 , 24 Craig Casey, 25 Jonathan Wren, 26 David Ryan, 27 Aaron O’Sullivan, 28 Max O’Reilly

Italy: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Jacopo Trulla, 13 Federico Mori, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Cristian Lai, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Antoine Koffi, 7 Davide Ruggeri (captain), 6 Angelo Maurizi, 5 Thomas Parolo, 4 Nicolare Stoian, 3 Matteo Nocera, 2 Niccolò Taddia, 1 Lorenzo Michelini
Replacements: 16 Andrej Marinello, 17 Matteo Drudi, 18 Luca Franceschetto, 19 Filippo Alongi, 20 Andrea Zambonin, 21 Andrea Chianucci, 22 Mirko Finotto, 23 Lorenzo Citton, 24 Giacomo Da Re, 25 Giulio Bertaccini, 26 Matteo Moscardi, 27 Edoardo Mastandrea, 28 Micheal Mba

Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Ben Blain (Scotland), Julián Montenegro (Argentina)
Television match official: Ian Smith (Australia)

Georgia 17-12 Scotland at Hipódromo, Rosario

The first half was fairly drab – a score after five minutes to give Scotland a 7-0 lead at half-time but it was the shoddy handling that spoilt the game. But then as Georgia came back and took the lead with just six minutes to go, the energy lifted and the play became frantic.

Scotland were cleverer than the Georgians. They largely nullified the Georgian scrum strength with quick scrums and they turned Georgian lineouts to their own profit. Ironically the winning score came from a Scottish throw into a lineout.

Georgia, who had made sweeping changes to their team for this match, did not score in the first half and in fact all their points were scored by replacement players.

The Scottish score after five minutes came from a penalty-fuelled lineout, some bashing and a try by hooker Ewan Ashman which flyhalf Ross-Thompson converted.

Georgia had skilled, clever Tedo Abzhandadze at flyhalf in the second half and he made a huge difference. His penalty goal brought the score to 7-3 But then Scotland won another Georgian lineout and attacked. For the only time in the half Georgia were penalised, Scotland tapped and Ashman scored his second try. 12-3.

There was a Georgian scrum on the half-way line. They won the ball and went right. Substitute centre Mikheil Alania sent wing Otar Lashki charging down the right. He was tackled, the Georgians won quick ball and went wide left where Abzhandadze cut through and scrod. 12-10.

Scotland believed they had scored a lavish sweeping try when Jack Blain went over under the posts but for the second time in the match they were foiled by a TMO’s check-check. This time a forward pass was detected and the try cancelled.

Scotland biggest and most surprising and costly boob of the match came when they threw in to a lineout near their line. They overthrew, Replacement hooker Luka Noriadze caught the over thrown ball and had an open path to the line where he scored the winning points.

Scorers

For Georgia:
Tries: Abzhandadze, Nioradze
Cons: Abzhandadze 2
Pen: Abzhandadze

For Scotland:
Tries: Ashman 2
Con: Thompson

Teams:

Georgia: 15 Dachi Papunashvili, 14 Otar Lashkhi, 13 Irakli Simsive, 12 Konstantine Marjanishvili, 11 Sandro Margiani, 10 Giorgi Margalitadze, 9 Ioane Iashagashvili, 8 Beka Koriauli, 7 Paata Burchuladzse, 6 Vakhtang Jincharadze, 5 Luka Gelashvili, 4 Zaur Tevdorashvili, 3 Tevdorashvili, 2 Vano Karkadze, 1 Nika Ghvladze
Replacements: 16 Luka Nioradze, 17 Luka Azariashvili, 18 Gia Kharaishvili, 19 Nika Gvaladze, 20 Koba Kolotauri, 21 Mikheil Alania, 22 Tedo Abzhandadze, 23 Teimuraz Tchitchinadze, 24 Givi Tsintsadze, 25 Lasha Lomidze, 27 Ioseb Gusharashvili, 28 Luka Tchelidze

Scotland: 15 Matt Davidson, 14 Rory McMichael, 13 Cameron Anderson, 12 Grant Hughes, 11 Jack Blain, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Roan Frostwick, 8 Tom Marshall, 7 Connor Boyle (captain), 6 Jack Hill, 5 Marshall Sykes, 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 Robbie McCallum, 27 Ollie Smith, 28 Lomond MacPherson

Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy), Ignacio Bocardo (Argentina)
Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

Wales 44-28 Fiji at Ateneo Inmaculada, Santa Fe

It was 22-14 and the second half was also 22-14, which meant that Wales won 44-28, leaving Fiji in the relegation zone.

Scorers

For Wales:
Tries: Lake, Reffell, Lewis, Warren, Buckland, Davies
Cons: Evans 4
Pens: Evans 2

For Fiji:
Tries: Soqonawasaloa, Rasaku 2, Ramasibana
Cons: Kuruvoli 4

Teams

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

Fiji: 15 Natoga, 14 Rasaku, 13 Ilaisa Droasese, 12 Soqonawasaloa (captain), 11 Epeli Momo, 10 Simione Kuruvoli, 9 Kurisaru, 8 Sailo, 7 Vilive Miramira, 6 Qaranivalu, 5 Christopher Minimbi, 4 Taniela Ramasibana, 3 Lumelume, 2 Lino Mairara, 1 Emosi Tuqiri
Replacements: Manoa Mocelutu, Livai Natave, Elijah Kuilamu, livereti Loaloa, Aminasi Shaw, Josh Vuta, Etonia Waqa, Isaac Ratumaitavuki

Referee: Pali Deluca (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Martín Cordoba (Argentina)
Television match official: Santiago Borsani (Argentina)

France 26-47 Argentina at Hipódromo, Rosario

It was magnificent and it was ugly, the best and worst of matches, the most thrilling and the most tawdry – a match of contrasts not all of them positive.

The result produced one of rugby big surprises, one which could have longer term repercussions.

France were sitting pretty at the top of the pool and looked certainties for the semifinals. After all they e were unbeaten while Argentina had lost to Wales whom France had beaten. But by the end of this match, Argentina had dethroned France who were left hoping that somebody else could do them a favour that would enable them to limp into the semis.

There was so much to make one happy – and then there were two red cards and a yellow card and nasty outbursts of scuffling. And controversy will live on. But one hopes that the rugby will live on in memories of a remarkable performance by the home side’s Pumitas in the city of Rosario where first the Argentinian flag flew.

Argentinina scored forst – a humble penalty goal and then came the first ecsatacy-agony momtn, when anxiety came down cold on joy on the one hand and gave hope to dsiappointment on the other.

There was the magnificent sight of a prop, yes a burly prop, Thomas Gallo, burst straight down the middle of the field. He ran with great impetus for some 60 metres before he was felled just short of the posts. But he stretched out and scored. That try did not get an immediate salute of fanfare because way down the field there was a TMO examination. The Argentinians feared that an infringement would be found to nullify the try while the French hoped that an infringement would be found to nullify the try.. Instead a high tackle was examined that resulted in a red card for flank Sacha Zegueur. And – whew – the try stood. 10-0 and a red card after 11 minutes.

Argentina attacked down the left with a run of strength and skill by Mate Carreras. He chipped ahead and eventually scrumhalf Gonzalo García dummied and scored. 17-0 after just 13 minutes.

Five minutes later there was another red card, also for a high tackle, this time shown to Argentinian right wing Rodrigo Isgró.

There followed a penalty and a try and a yellow card, all for Argentina. Joaquín de la Vega Mendia kicked the penalty Juan Martín Gonzalez scored the try and Lucas Bur got the yellow card for a cynical infringement near his line when he stopped a possible try from a tapped penalty.

The French scrumhalf Quintin Delord scored a try and an energetic scuffle broke out.

After a try from a penalty, lineout, maul sequence scrod by Pablo Dimcheff, the half-time score was 34-7 to Argentina.

That left France with a mountain to climb. They managed a fair way up, ending with an important try by Matthis Lebel. It was important because it gave France a bonus point and a possible fourth place in the semifinals – depoending on what would happen when South Africa and New Zealand meet.

Scorers

For Argentina
Tries: Gallo, Garcia, Dimcheff, Castro, Gonzalez
Cons: De La Vega Mendia 4, Roger
Pens: De La Vega Mendia 3, Roger

For France:
Tries: Lebel, Joseph, Delord, Taofifenua
Cons: Carbonel 3

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 Cru 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 Augustín Toth, 21 Ramiro Tallone, 22 Jerónimo Gómez Vara, 23 Federico Parnás, 24 Joaquín Pellandini, 25 Nicolás Roger, 26 Francisco Jorge, 27 Tomás Acosta Pimentel, 28 Marco Moneta

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

Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy), Tomás Bertazza (Argentina)
Television match official: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)

England 56-31 Australia at Ateneo Inmaculada, Santa Fe

Wow! Who would have seen this coming? England had been beaten by Ireland and just scraped home against Italy and here they are thumping Australia, the champions of the Oceania Under-20 Championship.

At half-time, England were already far ahead at 42-12.They scored eight tries on the day.

Red cards are on the way to becoming a feature at this World Under-20 Championship. Australia got theirs inside three minutes when No.8 Pat Tafa was sent off for a high tackle. Australia played virtually the whole match with 14 men, a handicap of their own making.

After the match, England’s coach Steve Bates said: “I feel a lot of sympathy for Australia because we suffered two yellow and a red in our first match against Ireland and that affected the result and it was similar here.”

It is interesting that despite this huge victory, England are not in the semifinal, but despite this huge defeat Australia are in the semifinals.

Scorers

For England:
Tries: Hill 2, Willis, Dingwall, Hinkley, De Glanville, Sleightholme, Vunipola
Cons: Hodge 8

For Australia:
Tries: Lucas, McReight, Harris, Lolesio, Tizzano
Cons: Harrison 2, Donaldson 2

Teams

Australia: 15 Isaac Lucas, 14 Triston Reilly, 13 Joey Walton, 12 Noah Lolesio, 11 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 10 Will Harrison, 9 Henry Robertson, 8 Pat Tafa, 7 Fraser McReight (captain), 6 Harry Wilson, 5 Trevor Hosea, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Josh Nasser, 2 Joe Cotton, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Bo Abra, 17 Lachlas Lonergan, 18 Darcy Breen, 19 Esei Ha’angana, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Michael Wood, 22 Will Harris, 23 Rhys Van Nek, 24 Michael McDonald, 25 Ben Donaldson, 26 Kye Oates, 27 Semisi Tupou, 28 Sione Tui

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 Rusiate Tuima, 7 Aaron Hinkley, 6 Ted Hill, 5 Richard Capstick, 4 Joel Kpoku, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Will Capon, 1 James Kenny
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Olly Adkins, 18 Alfie Petch, 19 Kai Owen, 20 Alex Coles, 21 Tom Willis, 22 Ollie Fox, 23 Connor Doherty, 24 Luke James, 25 Tom Seabrook

Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Martín Cordoba (Argentina)
Television match official: Santiago Borsani (Argentina)

South Africa 25-17 New Zealand at Hipódromo, Rosario

It was intense, as ever it is that New Zealand and South African teams meet. It does not matter what level it’s at – at schools, in the Western Desert, in a World Cup Final – it is always intense. And this time it seems it was the South African Under-20 that used the tension better to make for greater speed, harder defence and the use of scoring chances.

In the first half especially, they were noticeably playing the game at a higher tempo than the New Zealanders and with more aggression, the haka notwithstanding. They achieved what they did, despite their continuing ill-discipline.. Three yellow cards in this match had the potential for disaster.

For the South Africans, the determined effort paid off; for the New Zealanders there was the bitter disappointment of losing out on a semifinal spot – not the sport of outcome they are used to.

Each side scored two tries, but the boot was enough to beat the Kiwis and knock them down to the also rans, as France beat them to the best of the next-bests and so the fourth place in the semifinals.

After 19 minutes, South Africa led 13-0. Their first points came from a try as they attacked down the right. Big Rikus Pretorius broke and got an underarm offload away to fullback Vaughen Isaacs, who scored. Scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse converted and added a penalty goal for an 8-0 lead.

Then came the second great tight forward try of the day. New Zeakland threw into a lineout on the half-way line and knocked the ball back at an angle to their side. Huge lock JJ van der Mescht intercepted the tap-back and pounded the 50 metres for a try far out on the left. 13-0.

This happened while Dylan Richardson was in the sin bin, found guilty of a deliberate knock-on.

Richardson was back but hg is flank-mate, Sibusiso Sangweni, was off to the sin bin for a “grass cutter” tackle, an infringement which got the Junior All Blacks their penalty goal. Hendrikse kicked two more before half-time and before Sangweni was back from captivity.

The half-time score was 19-3 in South Africa’s favour.

The second half was just under way when the Kiwis were footing ahead into the South African in-goal and the South African flyhalf James Mollentze grabbed Kaylum Boshier from behind. The TMO was again consulted and the upshot was a penalty try and a yellow card for Mollentze. 19-10.

Sanele Nohamba replaced Hendrikse and took over the kicking. He kicked the two penalties in the half that gave South Africa 25 points. In between the penalties, New Zealand scored a try on the right when sturdy Lalomilo Lalomilo scored far out on the right and flyhalf Fergus Burke converted.

Nohamba’s second penalty was a bitter blow for New Zealand. It took them out on bonus-point range and out of the semifinals.

Teams

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

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, 27David Coetzer, 28 David Kriel

Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ben Blain (Scotland), Nehuén Jauri Rivero (Argentina)
Television match official: Ian Smith (Australia)