Pead sparks Baby Boks' march into Final against NZ
PLAY-OFF WRAP: South Africa will play New Zealand in the Under-20 World Rugby Championship Final at Stadio Mario Battaglini, in Rovigo, on Saturday.
The Baby Blacks knocked out defending champion France 34-26 in the first semifinal, with the Baby Boks dispatching a willing Argentinean team 48-24 in the other semifinal.
South Africa outscored the Los Pumitas by six tries to three, with a 28-point blitz in the first quarter laying the foundation for an emphatic win.
The scoring spree started in the ninth minute, with Pead taking a quick tap and delivering the scoring offload to Albertus Bester. Two minutes later, Pead used his speed to finish a counter-attacking move started by Bathobele Hlekani inside his 22 and saw the Baby Boks race into a 14-0 lead.
The blitz was temporarily halted with a Rafael Benedit penalty, but tries by Jaco Williams and JJ Theron saw the South Africans race into a 28-3 lead by the end of the first quarter.
Los Pumitas eventually found a way back into the game when Baby Bok prop Simphiwe Ngobese was yellow carded for repeated infringement close to their line.
From the subsequent penalty No.8 Agustín Garcia Campos Fiszman went over from a powerful Maul. The Benedit conversion made it 28-10 to South Africa at the break.
The Baby Boks’ increasing error count cost them dearly early in the second half, with wing Timoteo Silva getting their second try and Benedit narrowing the gap to 17-28 with the conversion.
Moyo settled some South African nerves with a couple of penalties, 34-17, before Bester scored his second and the Baby Boks’ fifth after a sloppy Argentinean pass inside the SA half. Moyo added the conversion to make it a 24-point (41-17) game.
The Baby Boks were again reduced to 14 players when replacement Oliver Reid was sin-binned for repeated infringements by his team.
Los Pumitas worked hard and eventually got their reward when replacement Ramon Fernandez Miranda went over. Pascal Senillosa added the conversion to narrow the gap to 24-41.
However, with just five minutes remaining, they were beginning to run out of time.
Cheswill Jooste put the seal on the Baby Bok win with their sixth try. Dominic Malgas made the final score 48-24.
* In the other semifinal, New Zealand has reached the Final for the first time in eight years, after a rousing 34-26 triumph over Six Nations champions France in sweltering heat in Viadana, Italy.
In the 63rd minute, New Zealand was tenuously ahead 27-26 when they were reduced to 13 players with both Frank Vaenuku and Jake Wiseman in the sin bin.
Summoning the spirit of Charles Upham, New Zealand stripped France of possession and, with surgical precision, muscled compactly ahead, one pass from the ruck at a time as the blue wall creaked and shirked.
A metre from the line, scrumhalf Dylan Pledger applied a touch of sorcery, a twisting, nifty pass hit a thundering Aisake Vakasiuola, who crashed over the line. Rico Simpson’s sixth consecutive success established an eight-point buffer, which proved sufficient to stave off the French.
“Don’t worry about the next game, now we’ve got one more game to go,” an exhausted and elated Pledger, or Elgregoe The Magician, said afterwards.
“It was a tough one. The French were going to bring some heat. It’s pretty special, surreal, sure, proud of the boys’ effort.”
A balance of clinical execution and courage was the stew for success. In the opening minute, France shanked a clearance kick which bounced like an errant golf wedge. Stanley Solomon swopped upon the ball, galloping 40 metres unopposed. Rico Simpson converted from the sideline.
All Monday’s scores and scorers …
Ninth-place play-offs:
Georgia 43-12 Spain
The scorers
For Georgia
Tries: Shioshvili 3, Meskhidze, Ardzenadze, Kheladze, Kevkhishvili
Cons: Takaishvili 2, Jashi 2
For Spain
Tries: Zuriarrain, Serrano,
Con: Otamendi
Teams:
Georgia: 15 Luka Takaishvili, 14 Sandro Meskhidze, 13 Data Akhvlediani, 12 Nugzari Kevkhishvili, 11 Luka Keshelava, 10 Giorgi Jashi, 9 Giorgi Spanderashvili, 8 Mikheil Shioshvili, 7 Luka Narsia, 6 Giorgi Ardzenadze, 5 Gagui Margvelashvili, 4 Temur Tshulukidze (captain), 3 Mate Ghurtskaia, 2 Mikheil Khakhubia, 1 Bachuki Baratashvili.
Replacements: 16 Shota Kheladze, 17 Giorgi Turashvili, 18 Giorgi Meskhidze, 19 Davit Baramia, 20 Nika Abesadze, 21 Temuri Dzodzuashvili, 22 Saba Sharvashidze, 23 Sando Sesiashvili.
Spain: 15 Telmo Fisher Obieta, 14 Pablo Mateos, 13 Unax Zuriarrain, 12 Jaime Powys, 11 Pelayo Serrano, 10 Gonzalo Otamendi (captain), 9 Nicolas Infer, 8 Marcal Carreras Cuesta, 7 Victor Ofojetu, 6 Gael Almorin, 5 Joan Ribera, 4 Guardin Gonzalez Ciscar, 3 Emilio Gutierrez, 2 Marcos Perez Adrada, 1 Daniel Chico Ayo.
Replacements: 16 Pau Massoni, 17 Joan Barcenilla D’Onghia, 18 Guido Reyes Rendon, 19 Liam McNamee, 20 Marcos Lopez Camano, 21 Nicolas Gali, 22 Luciano Richardis, 23 Oriol Marsinyac Garcia.
Referee: Morgan White (Hong Kong)
Assistant referees: Ben Breakspear (Wales), Luca Bisetto (Italy)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Ireland 21-22 Scotland
The scorers
For Ireland
Tries: Walke, McLaughlin, Farrell
Cons: Green 3
For Scotland
Tries: Moncrieff, Stephen, Duncan,Shearer
Cons: Urwin
Teams:
Ireland: 15 Daniel Green, 14 Paidi Farrell, 13 Ciarán Mangan, 12 Eoghan Smyth, 11 Gene O’Leary Kareem, 10 Sam Wisniewski, 9 Clark Logan, 8 Oisin Minogue, 7 Bobby Power, 6 Michael Foy, 5 Conor Kennelly, 4 Mahon Ronan, 3 Alex Mullan, 2 Henry Walker (captain), 1 Alex Usanov.
Replacements: 16 Luke McLaughlin, 17 Paddy Moore, 18 Tom McAllister, 19 Billy Corrigan, 20 Eanna McCarthy, 21 Will Wootton, 22 Jonny Scott, 23 Charlie Molony.
Scotland: 15 Jack Brown, 14 Nairn Moncrieff, 13 Johnny Ventisei (co-captain), 12 Kerr Yule, 11 Fergus Watson, 10 Matthew Urwin, 9 Hector Patterson, 8 Reuben Logan, 7 Freddy Douglas (co-captain), 6 Oliver Duncan, 5 Bart Godsell, 4 Dylan Cockburn, 3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 2 Seb Stephen, 1 Oliver McKenna.
Replacements: 16 Joe Roberts, 17 Ben White, 18 Jake Shearer, 19 Charlie Moss, 20 Mark Fyffe, 21 Noah Cowan, 22 Jack Hocking, 23 Jed Findlay.
Referee: Filippo Russo (Italy)
Assistant referees: Marcus Playle (New Zealand), Alex Frasson (Italy)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)
Fifth-place play-offs:
England 51-13 Wales
Scorers
For England
Tries: Ridl, McParland 2, Bellamy, Bracken, Lilley, Penalty try
Cons: Coen 4, penalty try does not reaquire a conversion
Pens: Coen 2
For Wales
Try: Davies
Con: Wilde
Pens: Wilde 2
Teams:
England: 15 Josh Bellamy, 14 Jack Bracken, 13 Nick Lilley, 12 Will Knight, 11 Campbell Ridl, 10 Ben Coen, 9 Archie McParland, 8 Connor Treacey, 7 Sam Williams, 6 Seb Kelly, 5 Tom Burrow (captain), 4 Olamide Sodeke, 3 Ollie Streeter, 2 Kepu Tuipulotu, 1 Ralph McEachran.
Replacements: 16 Louie Gulley, 17 Oli Scola, 18 Vilikesa Sela, 19 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, 20 Kane James, 21 Jonny Weimann, 22 Nic Allison, 23 Noah Caluori.
Wales: 15 Jack Woods, 14 Elijah Evans, 13 Osian Roberts, 12 Steffan Emanuel, 11 Aidan Boshoff, 10 Harri Wilde, 9 Sion Davies, 8 Harry Beddall (captain), 7 Caio James, 6 Dan Gemine, 5 Nick Thomas, 4 Kenzie Jenkins, 3 Sam Scott, 2 Evan Wood, 1 Ioan Emanuel.
Replacements: 16 Jake Bowen, 17 Owain James, 18 Jac Pritchard, 19 Tom Cottle, 20 Ryan Jones, 21 Ellis Lewis, 22 Harri Ford, 23 Tom Bowen.
Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (South Africa), Alberto Favaro (Italy)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)
Italy 21-44 Australia
Scorers
For Italy
Tries: Caiolo-Serra, Mistrulli, Todaro
Cons: Braga 3
For Australia
Tries: Ekanayake, Wilcox, Enasio, Doyle, Fowler, Langi
Cons: Fowler 4
Pens: Fowler 2
Yellow card: Matteo Bellotto (Italy, 37)
Teams:
Italy: 15 Roberto Fasti, 14 Riccardo Ioannucci, 13 Federico Zanandrea (co-captain), 12 Edoardo Todaro, 11 Jules Ducros, 10 Francesco Braga, 9 Matteo Bellotto, 8 Nelson Casartelli (co-captain), 7 Carlo Antonio Bianchi, 6 Piero Gritti, 5 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, 4 Tommaso Redondi, 3 Bruno Vallesi, 2 Alessio Caiolo-Serra, 1 Sergio Pelliccioli.
Replacements: 16 Sascha Mistrulli, 17 Christian Brasini, 18 Luca Trevisan, 19 Simone Fardin, 20 Giacomo Milano, 21 Damian Mori, 22 Luca Rossi, 23 Riccardo Casarin.
Australia: 15 Sid Harvey, 14 Cooper Watters, 13 Dre Pakeho, 12 Malakye Enasio, 11 Shane Wilcox, 10 Joey Fowler, 9 James Martens, 8 Toby Brial, 7 Aden Ekanayake, 6 Eli Langi, 5 Eamon Doyle (captain), 4 Joe Mangelsdorf, 3 Edwin Langi, 2 Ollie Barrett, 1 Nathaniel Tiitii.
Replacements: 16 Lipina Ata, 17 Lotu Vunipola, 18 Trevor King, 19 Ollie Aylmer, 20 Beau Morrison, 21 Hwi Sharples, 22 Joe Dillon, 23 Xavier Rubens.
Referee: Tomas Bertazza (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Marcus Playle (New Zealand), Ben Breakspear (Wales)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Cup semifinals:
France 26-34 New Zealand
Scorers
For France
Tries: Gourgues, Britz, Brau-Boirie, Echegaray
Cons: Keletaona 2, Jurd
For New Zealand
Tries: Solomon, Bason, Wiseman, Vakasiuola
Cons: Simpson 4
Pens: Simpson 2
Teams:
France: 15 Jon Echegaray, 14 Tom Leveque, 13 Fabien Brau Boirie, 12 Kalvin Gourgues, 11 Xan Mousques, 10 Luka Keletaona, 9 Simon Daroque, 8 Elyjah Ibsaiene, 7 Baptiste Britz, 6 Antoine Deliance, 5 Corentin Mezou (captain), 4 Charles Kante Samba, 3 Mohamed Megherbi, 2 Lyam Akrab, 1 Samuel Jean-Christophe.
Replacements: 16 Gabin Garault, 17 Edouard-Junior Jabea Njocke, 18 Lenny Alifanety, 19 Remy Lanen, 20 Bobby Bissu, 21 Baptiste Tilloles, 22 Diego Jurd, 23 Simeli Daunivucu.
New Zealand: 15 Stanley Solomon, 14 Frank Vaenuku, 13 Cooper Roberts, 12 Jack Wiseman, 11 Maloni Kunawave, 10 Rico Simpson, 9 Dylan Pledger, 8 Mosese Bason, 7 Caleb Woodley, 6 Finn McLeod, 5 Jayden Sa, 4 Xavier Treacy, 3 Robson Faleafā, 2 Manumaua Letiu (captain), 1 Sika Pole.
Replacements: 16 Eli Oudenryn, 17 Israel Time, 18 Dane Johnston, 19 Aisake Vakasiuola, 20 Micah Fale, 21 Jai Tamati, 22 Tayne Harvey, 23 Harlyn Saunoa.
Referee: Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (South Africa), Lex Weiner (United States)
TMO: Dan Jones (England)
South Africa 48-24 Argentina
Scorers
For South Africa
Tries: Bester 2, Pead, Williams, Theron, Jooste
Cons: Moyo 5, Malgas
Pens: Moyo 2
For Argentina
Tries: Campos Fiszman, Silva, Miranda
Cons: Benedit 2, Senillosa
Pen: Benedit
Yellow cards: Simphiwe Ngobese (South Africa, 37 – repeated infringement, maul offence), Oliver Reid (South Africa, 66 – repeated infringements, offside)
Teams:
South Africa: 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 Albie Bester, 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Bathobele Hlekani, 6 Xola Nyali, 5 JJ Theron, 4 Riley Norton (captain), 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Simphiwe Ngobese.
Replacements: 16 Jaundré Schoeman, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Jaco Grobbelaar, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Dominic Malgas, 23 Stephanus Linde.
Argentina: 15 Pascal Senillosa, 14 Timoteo Silva, 13 Pedro Coll, 12 Felipe Ledesma (captain), 11 Bautista Lescano, 10 Rafael Benedit, 9 Felix Corletto, 8 Agustin Garcia Campos Fiszman, 7 Santiago Neyra, 6 Tomas Dande, 5 Alvaro Garcia Iandolino, 4 Tomas Duclos, 3 Tomas Rapetti, 2 Tadeo Ledesma Arocena, 1 Diego Correa.
Replacements: 16 Jeronimo Otano, 17 Juan Rodriguez, 18 Gael Galvan, 19 Valentino Freiria, 20 Pampa Storey, 21 Valentino Reggiardo, 22 Ramon Fernandez Miranda, 23 Aquiles Vieyra.
Referee: Jérémy Rozier (France)
Assistant referees: Lex Weiner (United States), Franco Rosella (Italy)
TMO: Graham Cooper (Australia)
