Baby Blacks win World Champs
New Zealand are the Under-20 champions of the world after beating England 33-22 in the final of the 2011 IRB Junior World Championships in Stadio Plebiscito in Padua on Sunday. England gave them a good run for their money.
It was a great match which England could well have won. They had more and better chances to score points. The difference was that New Zealand took their chances.
Australia reversed their earlier defeat by France, winning a slightly flattering 30-17.
The strangest result was in the fifth-placed play off when South Africa beat Fiji 104-17, suggesting that they were misplaced in their final position.
For Italy there match was important as the victory means that they stay in the Junior World Championships while Tonga go to the Junior World Trophy, their place in the Championships taken by Samoa.
Final Day Results
11th Place Play-Off: Italy vs Tonga 34-22
9th Place Play-Off: Argentina vs Scotland, 15-14
7th Place Play-Off: Wales vs Ireland, 38-24
5th Place Play-Off: South Africa vs Fiji, 104-17
3rd Place Play-Off: Australia vs France, 30-17
Final: New Zealand vs England, 33-22
All Results
Argentina vs Italy, 27-3
Australia vs France, 30-17
Australia vs Tonga, 54-7
Argentina vs Scotland, 15-14
Australia vs Fiji, 50-25
England vs South Africa, 26-20
England vs Ireland, 33-25
England vs Scotland, 39-18
Fiji vs Tonga 36-18
France vs Fiji, 24-12
France vs Tonga 27-14
France vs Australia, 31-25
Ireland vs Scotland, 30-13
Italy vs Tonga 34-22
New Zealand vs Wales, 92-0
New Zealand vs Italy, 64-7
New Zealand vs Argentina, 48-15
New Zealand vs England, 33-22
South Africa vs Scotland, 33-0
South Africa vs Fiji, 104-17
South Africa vs Ireland, 42-26
Wales vs Italy, 56-6
Wales vs Argentina, 34-4
Wales vs Ireland, 38-24
Final Standings
1 New Zealand
2 England
3 Ireland
4 France
5 South Africa
6 Fiji
7 Wales
8 Ireland
9 Argentina
10 Scotland
11 Italy
12 Tonga
New Zealand vs England, 33-22
The first half ended with New Zealand looking comfortable at 20-10 which they soon increased to 23-10 but then brave England came back and in the end could well have won this splendid match.
It was not like the usual final with both sides running at every opportunity, showing courage and adventure. It was a splendid Final played in hot Padua before a large crowd.
In the early part of the game and again in the second half England starved New Zealand of the ball. Their scrum was better and their counterrucking was brave. Their weakness was their line-out which was inaccurate or, when better, untidy.
The sides each scored three tries. The difference was the unerring boot of Gareth Anscombe. Teenaged George Ford started well enough for England but missed some crucial one when England were in a position to take the match.
England scored first with a brilliant try by left wing Christian Wade who got a little room which two New Zealanders tried to shut down but with great verve he managed to beat them both on the outside right on the touchline.
New Zealand's try was also a great one. Ford grubbered well into the New Zealand 22 but fullback Beauden Barrett took a quick throw to send hooker Taylor racing away. He gave to Piutau who scored in the corner. Anscombe converted from touch to give his side a lead they did not relinquish.
On the stroke of half-time New Zealand got their second try. A penalty gave them a five-metre line-out which they mauled. then they bashed and then prop Ben Tameifuna of the two-tone hair scored.
When it seemed that New Zealand were well on their way to victory, England scored a brilliant try. They went far left, then far right and then far left again and prop Henry Thomas thundered over. 23-17 after 49 minutes.
England came close when charged at the line and then flank was brought down at the line and stretched for the line. The TMO advised that he had not got the ball down because of the clever intervention of scrumhalf TJ Perenara who got an arm under the ball.
England did get a try when Owen Farrell broke and grubbered. Wade skilfully footed on and managed to ground the ball millimetres in from touch-in-goal. 23-22 with 22 minutes to play.
Under the cosh New Zealand defended with great determination and excellent organisation and managed to get a bit of territory. First Anscombe kicked a penalty and then Lima Sopoaga chipped and Piutau got the ball which was then footed on for Barrett to gather and score.
The match was a great contest. Sadly it ended in a mass squabble at the final whistle.
The scorers:
For England:
Tries: Wade 2, Thomas
Cons: Ford 2
Pen: Ford
For New Zealand:
Tries: Piutau, Tameifuna, Barrett
Cons: Anscombe 3
Pens: Anscombe 4
The teams:
England: 15 Ben Ransom, 14 Andy Short, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Christian Wade, 10 George Ford, 9 Chris Cook, 8 Alex Gray (captain), 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 Sam Jones, 5 Charlie Matthews, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Mikey Haywood, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Rob Buchanan, 17 Will Collier, 18 Sam Twomey, 19 Matt Everard, 20 Dan Robson, 21 Ryan Mills, 22 Marland Yarde.
New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Mitchell Scott, 13 Francis Saili, 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.
Replacements: 16 Sefo Setefano 17 Michael Kainga, 18 Dominic Bird, 19 Carl Axtens, 20 Brad Weber 21 Rhys Llewellyn, 22 Waisake Naholo.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Australia vs France, 30-17
There were times when it seemed that Australia were going to run away with the match but somehow the French kept them within range, partly helped by poor Australian handling at crucial times, and the French had their creative moments.
Withe time running out the French were six points behind and that made the score look more comfortable. They chipped from near their line. Substitute scrumhalf Eddie Bredenhann caught the ball and Simon Morahan scored to make the final score 30-17.
It was a game spoilt by many stoppages in the oppressive heat. France suffered and lost three captains in the first half. But there were also bright moments.
The brightest was Australia's first try as they attacked on the right and then went wide left where Tom Kingston cut inside on s scissors and beat two defenders to score at the posts.
Colby Faingaa broke from a scrum to give Matt Lucas a clear run to the line, but back came the French with a try by Stade Français' Geoffrey Palis.
Penalties took the score to 23-10 and then Yohann Artru threw in quickly from touch to tall Julien Come who stretched in the tackle to score.
The scorers:
For France:
Tries: Palis, Come
Cons: Barraque, Doussain
Pens: Barraque
For Australia:
Tries: Kingston, Lucas, Morahan
Cons: Volavola 2
Pens: Volavola 3
The teams:
France: 15 Geoffrey Palis, 14 Marvin O'Connor, 13 Jean-Pascal Barraque, 12 Thibaut Visensang, 11 Yohann Artru, 10 Jules Plisson, 9 Yann Lesgourgues, 8 Gillian Galan (captain), 7 Pierre Julien, 6 Karl Chateau, 5 Mathias Marie, 4 William Demotte, 3 Victor Delmas, 2 Clement Bourgeois, 1 Florian Fresia.
Replacements: 16 Christophe David, 17 Sebastien Taofifenua, 18 Leonard Vignon, 19 Julien Come, 20 Tom Ecochard, 21 Jean Marc Doussain, 22 Alexandre Mourot.
Australia: 15 Simon Morahan, 14 Chris Nasiganiyavi, 13 Tom Kingston, 12 Bill Meakes, 11 Jacob Woodhouse, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Matt Lucas, 8 Colby Faingaa (captain), 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Ted Postal, 5 Greg Peterson, 4 Blake Enever, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Siliva Siliva, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 JP Pradaud, 17 Tim Metcher 18 Luke Jones, 19 Jarrad Butler, 20 Eddie Bredenhann, 21 Rohan Saifoloi, 22 Damon Anderson.
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
South Africa vs Fiji, 104-17
The Baby Boks scored 16 tries which included a penalty try. Captain Arno Botha ran in a hat-trick of five-pointers while wing Tshotsho Mbovane, centre Jaco Taute and scrumhalf Pieter Rademan each added two tries.
The other try-scorers for the South Africans were flank Nizaam Carr, wing Wandile Mjekevu and centre François Venter, as well as replacements François Kleinhans, Paul Jordaan and Courtnall Skosan.
Eighteen-year-old flyhalf Johan Goosen kicked 12 conversions and ended the tournament with a total of 79 points.
SA U20 coach Dawie Theron said afterwards: "This performance added with the match against Ireland illustrates what this team was capable of doing all along.
"We scored 25 tries from our last two matches, and while there's still disappointment from our side that we failed to at least reach the finals, our recent efforts shows that if it were not for lapses in concentration during periods of this World Champs, we could have gone a lot further."
The scorers:
For South Africa:
Tries: Botha 3, Mbovane 2, Taute 2, Rademan 2, Carr, Mjekevu, Venter, Kleinhans, Jordaan, Skosan, Penalty try
Cons: Goosen 12
For Fiji:
Tries: Sicinilwaw, Radradra
Cons: Lalagavesi 2
Pen: Lalagavesi
The teams:
South Africa: 15 Ulrich Beyers, 14 Tshotsho Mbovane, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Wandile Mjekevu, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Pieter Rademan, 8 Arno Botha (captain), 7 Cornell du Preez, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Eben Etzebeth, 4 Jean Cook, 3 Jon Roy Jenkinson, 2 Bongi Mbonambi,1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Nic Schonert, 18 Carl Wegner, 19 Francois Kleinhans, 20 Lohan Jacobs, 21 Paul Jordaan, 22 Courtnall Skosan.
Fiji: 15 Jone Wai, 14 Josateki Lalagavesi, 13 Metuisela Talebula, 12 Semi Radradra, 11 Atu Masirewa, 10 Teti Tela, 9 Eliki Sicinilawa, 8 Maikeli Mudu, 7 Koli Nalasekata (captain), 6 Simione Sawene, 5 Aminio Nasilimosi, 4 Netani Qicatabua, 3 Tomasi Kolo, 2 Apete Salawaqavuka, 1 Sione Kolo.
Replacements: 16 Joshua Tuqiri, 17 Kirwan Sanday, 18 Sailosi Dawai, 19 Aca Simolo, 20 Kenneth Robertson, 21 Matayavusa Lea, 22 Peter Lee.
Referee: Federico Pastrana (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Carlo Damasco (Italy), Alan Falzone (Italy)
Television match official: Tappe Henning
Argentina vs Scotland, 15-14
The scorers:
For Scotland:
Tries: Kennedy, Hogg
Cons: Weir 2
For Argentina:
Tries: Penalty try, Poet
Cons: Poet
Pens: Poet
The teams:
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Mark Bennett, 13 Sam Atkin, 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 Richard Ferguson, 1 Alex Allan.
Replacements: 16 Michael Liness, 17 George Hunter, 18 Robin Hislop, 19 Jamie Swanson, 20 Jamie Stevenson, 21 Glenn Bryce, 22 Alex Spence.
Argentina: 15 Manuel Montero, 14 Rodrigo Ponce De León, 13 Jerónimo De La Fuente, 12 Matías Orlando, 11 Javier Rojas, 10 Sebastián Poet, 9 Ramiro Baronio, 8 Martín Ignes, 7 Juan Lafontana, 6 Joaquin Camacho, 5 César Fruttero, 4 Juan Cruz Guillemaín, 3 Jonathan Marchetta, 2 Lucas Sartori (captain) , 1 Ignacio Saenz.
Replacements: 16 Diego Fortuny, 17 Nahuel Lobo, 18 Matias Alemanno, 19 Miguel Urtubey, 20 Brian Ormson, 21 Matias Masera, 22 Pablo Kantarovsky.
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle (England). João Mourinha (Portugal)
Wales vs Ireland, 38-24
The scorers:
For Wales:
Tries: Robling, Cook, Liam Williams, Hill, Young
Cons: Shingler, Morgan
Pens: Morgan 3
For Ireland:
Tries: Conway, Boyle, Henderson
Cons: McKinney, Jackson 2
Pen: Jackson
The teams:
Wales: 15 Steve Shingler, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Iolo Evans, 12 Lewis Robling, 11 Ross Jones, 10 Matthew Morgan, 9 Jonathan Evans, 8 Ben Thomas, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Luke Hamilton, 5 Lloyd Peers, 4 Macauley Cook (captain), 3 WillGriff John, 2 Kirby Myhill, 1 Will Taylor.
Replacements: 16 Jamie Sollis, 17 Lewis Smout, 18 Cory Hill, 19 Owen Sheppeard, 20 Lewis Jones, 21 Rheon James, 22 Dale Ford.
Ireland: 15 Andrew Conway, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 Alex Kelly, 12 JJ Hanrahan, 11 Andrew Boyle, 10 James McKinney, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Jordi Murphy (captain), 7 Aaron Conneely, 6 Shane Buckley, 5 Iain Henderson, 4 Daniel Qualter, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 David Doyle, 1 Finlay Bealham.
Replacements: 16 Jonathan Murphy, 17 James Tracy, 18 Michael Kearney, 19 Eoin McKeon, 20 Peter Du Toit, 21 Paddy Jackson, 22 Brendan Macken.
Referee: Jonathon White (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Carlo Damasco (Italy), Alan Falzone (Italy)
Italy vs Tonga, 34-22
Both teams scored four tries each but a better boot saved Italy's bacon.
The scorers:
For Tonga:
Tries: Talakai, Afu 2, Vanisi
Cons: Hala
For Italy:
Tries: Palazzani, Visentin, Penalty try, Castello
Cons: Palazzani 4
Pens: Palazzani 2
The teams:
Tonga: 15 Kali Hala, 14 Siale Talakai, 13 Pita Ahki, 12 Otulea Katoa, 11 Tonga Afu, 10 Mesui Vea (captain), 9 Ma'amaloa Taufa, 8 Sam Finau, 7 Mathew Howling, 6 Ofa Finau, 5 Lose Tukufuka, 4 Loni Toumohuni, 3 Elisi Pulu, 2 Solomone Kioa, 1 Mana Talia'uli.
Replacements: 16 Sefo Sakalia, 17 Lautaimi Fetuani, 18 Nehumi Vanisi, 19 Motekiai Faeamani 20 Sefo Ma'ake, 21 Mona Paraki, 22 Nio Lavemai.
Italy: 15 Augusto Cosulich, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Giovanni Alberghini, 12 Tommaso Castello, 11 Michele Visentin, 10 Michele Campagnaro, 9 Guglielmo Palazzani, 8 Federico Conforti, 7 Edoardo Ghiraldini, 6 Giacomo Brancoli, 5 Alfio Luca Mammana, 4 Jacopo Bocchi, 3 Piermaria Leso (captain) , 2 Andrea Lupetti, 1 Nicola Quaglio.
Replacements: 16 Giovanni Maistri, 17 Riccardo Cagna, 18 Andrea Balsemin, 19 Edoardo Ruffolo, 20 Vittorio Callori Di Vignale, 21 Francesco Menon, 22 Guido Calabrese.
Referee: Greg Garner (England)
Assistant referees: JP Doyle (England), João Mourinha (Portugal)