U18 Internationals: Argentina, France and SA Schools Win

In Round 1 of the Under-18 internationals played on the muddy Markötter Field at Paul Roos Gymnasium on 9 August 2019, France Under-18 beat South African Schools A, Argentina Under-18 beat England Under-18 and South African Schools beat Wales Under-18.

The Western Cape has been through a wet, cold snap. There was snow on the nearby mountains and the field was heavy and slippery. To the credit of all four teams they seemed to ignore the conditions to play as quickly and creatively as they could.

The first match was a bit one-sided as the score suggests but the other two were close, stern contests.

Results, Round 1

France Under-18 vs South African Schools A, 43-19

Argentina Under-18 vs England Under-18, 29-19

South African Schools vs Wales Under-18, 23-13

France vs SA Schools A

France and SA Schools A started the series, and from the start France were the masters. By half-time they led 31-14 and ended up 43-19 winners. The French were too quick and too creative for the schools second team.

After just 10 minutes, France had scored two tries through flyhalf Léo Barré and strong outside centre Logan Tabet, both converted by captain Nolann Le Garrec, Then sturdy wing Jessy Maizier thundered for 61 metres down the left touchline for a try in the corner and Ethan Randale scored in the right corner.

The schoolboys fought back with two tries, the second by prop Philip Masango while Barre was in the sinbin for a deliberate knock-on.

The second half was quieter as the Schools found their feet and actually scored the first try when burly hooker Teague Loelly barged over. but in the last three minutes, France scored two more tries,

Scorers

For France:

Tries: Leo Barre, Logan Tabet, Jessy Maizier, Ethan Randale, Éric Boussard, Killian Tixeront, Théo Ntamack-Mayenga

Cons: Nolann Le Garrec 4

For SA Schools A:

Tries: Indiphile Tyeda, Philip Masango, Teague Loelly

Cons: Jordan Hendrikse 2

Teams

SA Schools A: 15 Sibusiso Javu, 14 Joseph Iye, 13 Jacques Rossouw, 12 Sihlalo Benge, 11 Indiphile Tyeda, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Daimon O’Connell, 8 Jarod Cairns (captain), 7 Izan Esterhuizen, 6 Josh van Vreden, 5 Marco van Rhyn, 4 Sisonke Vumazonke, 3 Philip Masango, 2 Jacques-Lois du Toit, 1 Rynhardt Rijnsburger,

Replacements: 16 Teague Loelly, 17 Dimakatso Lebelo, 18 Gerhard van der Merwe, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 Pierich Siebert, 21 Kabelo Mokheti), 22 Nsuku Baloyi, 23 Sonwabo Sokoyi, 24 Cornelus Rahl, 25 Renzo du Plessis

France: 15 Benjamin Descamps, 14 Éric Boussard, 13 Logan Tabet, 12 Ethan Randle, 11 Jessy Maizier, 10 Léo Barré, 9 Nolann Le Garrec (captain), 8 Kilian Tixeront, 7 Maxime Baudonne, 6 Mahamadou Coulibaly, 5 Wesley Lindor, 4 Noah Kanika, 3 Abel Da Cunha, 2 Benjamin Boudou, Thomas Moukoro

Replacements: 16 Pierre-Emmanuel Pacheco, 17 Sacha Idoumi, 18 Victor Montgaillard, 19 Thomas Cretu, 20 Mathéo Desjeux, 21 Louis Descoux, 22 Baptiste Prcanovic, 23 Théo Ntamack, 24 Paul Jambon, Louis Foursans Bourdette, 25 Philippe Savelu, 26 Enzo Lanzutti, 27 Mathéo Garcia

Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)

Argentina vs England

England got off to a horrible start. After just two minutes of the match, Will Trenholm was sent to the sinbin for tackling Facundo Villarba while he was up in the air. England were penalised and Argentina were well on the attack. A penalty at a maul gave Argentina a five-metre lineout. They attacked but England had the ball and, when scrumhalf Sam Edwards kicked to clear, lock Bautista Grenon charged the kick down, grabbed the bouncing ball and went over to score far out. Julián Hernández converted and Argentina led 7-0, which became 10-0 with an Hernández penalty goal.

The penalty was a harsh reversal of fortunes. England went wide left inside their own half. Strong Alex Harmes ran down the left and then passed inside to fullback Oliver Melville who sped away and over for what England thought was a try. Orlando Bailey was lining up the kick when the referee stopped him and took advice from the TMO, which ended with England penalised for obstruction on their 10-metre line when their man ran ahead of a passing movement and into an opponent who may well have been able to get to the ball-carrier. That was the penalty that Hernandez goaled.

The rest of the match was pretty even but England could not make up those 10 points.

At half-time Argentina led 17-7. England got the lead down to 17-14 early in the second half when Matthew Ward scored. But when powerful hooker Bautista Bernasconi plunged over for a try and then with a minute to play Justo Piccardo made it 29-14. The clock was in the red when substitute Sam Bryan scored.

Scorers

For Argentina:

Tries: Bautista Grenon, Facundo Villarba, Bautista Bernasconi, Justo Piccardo

Cons: Julian Hernandez 3

Penalty: Julian Hernandez.

For England:

Tries: Louis-Hillman Cooper, Matthew Ward, Sam Bryan

Cons: Orlando Bailey 2

Teams

Argentina: 15 Lautaro Sánchez Rubio, 14 Felix Ceñal, 13 Justo Piccardo, 12 Mariano García Ascárate, 11 Valentín Dangelo, 10 Julián Hernández, 9 Facundo Villarba, 8 Joaquín Oviedo, 7 Ignacio Ruiz, 6 Jerónimo Gómez Vara, 5 Bautista Grenon, 4 Elías Abraham, 3 Nicolás Ciancio, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Nicolás Toth

Replacements used: 17 Martín Vaca, 18 Franciso Moreno, 19 Álvaro Llaver, 23 Tomás Oria, 24 Ramiro Waisberg, 25 Mateo Camerlinckx

England Under-18: 15 Oliver Melville, 14 Matthew Ward, 13 Louis Hillman-Cooper, 12 Ethan Grayson, 11 Alex Harmes, 10 Orlando Bailey, 9 Sam Edwards, 8 Will Trenholm, 7 Daniel Eckersley, 6 Kit Smith, 5 Emeka Ilione, 4 Ewan Richards, 3 Fin Baxter (captain), 2 Archie Vanes, 1 Phil Brantingham

Replacements: 16 John Stewart, 17 Tarek Haffar, 18 Joe Keohane, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Harry Taylor, 21 Sam Bryan, 22 Charlie Atkinson, 23 Will Joseph, 24 Oscar Beard, 25 Michael Dykes

Referee: Divan Uys (South Africa)

SA Schools vs Wales Under-18

Wales, who had run SA Schools so close in 2018, led 10-6 at half-time as they again gave SA Schools a hard time.

Wales scored a try and SA Schools thought they had done so.

Like England in the previous match, SA Schools thought that they had scored when fullback Zeilinga Strydom went on a long run to the posts, only for the try to be disallowed for a dangerous tackle in the Schools 22, which Thomas Matthews goaled for a 10-point turnaround.

The Schools were reduced to 14 men when flank Jarrod Taylor was sent to the sinbin for repeatedly infringing - three times in less than a minute culminating in a high tackle.

From a penalty Wales mauled and were stopped right on the Schools line. The defence held but then, from a scrum on the Schools 22, inside centre Joe Hawkins took the pass from scrumhalf Ethan Lloyd and simply cut clean through the defence for the try which gave Wales a 10-53 lead after 24 minutes.

South Africa also lost a try to TMO intervention. The Schools were on the Welsh line, but Wales got possession and passed back to Matthews in his in-goal. Mathews fumbled and in a flash Henco van Wyk was there to ground the ball. The referee awarded a try but then the TMO reported that Van Wyk had knocked on in grounding the ball. But Mathews had knocked on first and to the Schools had a five-metre scrum. Eighthman George Cronjé played to scrumhalf Jurich Claasens whose strength and footwork took him over for the try at the posts. The schools had a 13-10 lead three minutes into the second half.

Four minutes later they increased the lead, thanks to lots of forward skill. Tighthead prop Blaine Golden got hold of a loose ball and gave it to lock Simon Miller who gave to eighthman Cronjé. Cronjé passed to huge loosehead Jan-Hendrik Wessels who ran down the left wing, handing off three defenders to score in the corner. 18-10.

Mathews kicked a penalty goal and it was 18-13 with 25 minutes to play.

Wales came close to scoring when centre Mason Grady got to the ball bouncing along in the Schools in-goal but grounded it on the dead-ball line for a drop-out.

Wales were penalised. The schools bashed at the line from a lineout and flank Taylor scored.

That made the final score 23-13. It was not an easy victory.

Scorers

For SA Schools:

Tries: Jurich Claasens, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Jarrod Taylor

Con: Kian Meadon.

Pens: Kian Meadon 2

For Wales Unmder-18:

Try: Mason Grady.

Con: Thomas Mathews

Pens: Thomas Mathews 2

SA Schools: 15 Zeilinga Strydom, 14 Keane Galant, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Tyler Bocks, 11 Tharquinn Manuel , 10 Kian Meadon, 9 Jurich Claasens, 8 George Cronjé, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 6 Keketso Morabe, 5 Dylan de Leeuw , 4 Simon Miller, 3 Blaine Golden, 2 Jacques Goosen (captain), 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels

Replacements: 16 André Venter, 17 Okuhle Siyeni, 18 Sibusiso Shongwe), 19 Wandile Hlope, 20 Siyemukela Ndlovu, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 Boldwin Hansen, 23 Mntungwa Mapantsela, 24 Quan Horn, 25 Gideon van Wyk, 26 Connor Evans

Wales: 15 Dan John, 14 Carrick McDonough, 13 Mason Grady, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Morgan Richards, 10 Tom Mathews, 9 Ethan Lloyd, 8 Alex Mann, 7 Ollie Howard, 6 Rhys Thomas, 5 James Fender, 4 Christ Tshiunza, 3 Archie Griffin, 2 Oliver Burrows (captain), 1 Theo Bevacqua

Replacements: 16 Rhodri King, 17 Lewys Jones, 18 Kieran Stevens, 19 Peter Vickers, 20 Travis Huntley, 21 Ben Carter, 22 Bradley Roderick, 23 Luke Davies, 24 Ben Burnell, 25 Jake Morgan, 26 Jake Thomas

Referee: Pali Deluca (Argentina)