SA youngsters beaten in Italy
On the third day of the IRB Junior World Championships being played in Northern Italy, England Under-20 beat South Africa Under-20 by 26-20 in a close and exciting match.
It was simple tackling that let the Baby Boks down.
England scored first with a long-range penalty and then big centre Elliot Daly got over in the left corner after South Africa lost the ball near their line.
Flank Nizaam Carr got a fortuitous try for South Africa when he ran straight from deep in a line-out to score.
The flyhalves, George Ford of England and Johan Goosen of South Africa, swapped penalties before Goosen got a second to make the score 11-all at half-time.
England's captain and No.8, Alex Gray, finished off a brilliant English movement to give his said e a 16-11 lead early in the second half.
South Africa came close to scoring a try before Goosen kicked his third penalty. Ford and Goosen again swapped penalties to make the score 19-17 with 15 minutes to play.
Tall, speedy wing Christian Wade raced past several South Africans to score at the posts. 26-17 with five minutes to play. South Africa came close to scoring a try but managed just a penalty when prop Mako Vunipola was sin-binned.
The match ended when England secured a line-out five metres from their line as the Baby Boks came attacking again.
Alex Gray, the England captain said afterwards: "It was really tough out there, it was a case of two talented sides giving absolutely everything to make sure they got into the next round, and fortunately we edged it. They really came at us and we had to fight until the death - I lost count of the number of try-saving tackles we made.
"It was definitely one of the hardest matches I've played in, especially those last five minutes - I can't remember being in a game that tense for a long time. It's good to have that experience in the bank though, and hopefully it will stand us in good stead for our semi final against France.
"We started both halves with real intent and I was lucky enough to get on the end of a nice team move to score at the start of the second.
"It was difficult because South Africa were always within touching distance. They're one of the best sides in the world and so it's hard to stop them - they live on momentum. Our objective was to stop that momentum and at times we did, and on other occasions we just had to scramble for our lives."
The scorers:
For England:
Tries: Daly, Gray, Wade
Con: Ford
Pens: Ford 3
For South Africa:
Try: Carr
Pens: Goosen 5
The teams:
England: 15 Ben Ransom, 14 Andy Short, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Marland Yarde, 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 Koree Britton, 17 Ryan Bower, 18 Sam Twomey, 19 Matt Everard, 20 Dan Robson, 21 Guy Armitage, 22 Christian Wade.
South Africa: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Bradley Moolman, 12 François Venter, 11 Wandile Mjekevu, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Pieter Rademan, 8 Arno Botha (captain), 7 Siyamthanda Kolisi, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Eben Etzebeth, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 John Roy Jenkinson, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Nic Schonert, 18 Jean Cook, 19 Cornell du Preez, 20 Lohan Jacobs, 21 John Welthagen, 22 Paul Jordaan.
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (France), Carlo Damasco (Italy)
New Zealand vs Argentina, 48-15
The scorers:
For Argentina:
Tries: Lucas Sartori, Juan Cruz Guillemaín
Con: Brian Ormson
Pen: Ormson
For New Zealand:
Tries: Mitchell Scott, Rhys Llewellyn, Francis Saili, Beauden Barrett, Gregory Pleasants-Tate, Francis Saili, TJ Perenara
Cons: Nathan George 4, Gareth Anscombe
Pen: George
The teams:
Argentina: 15 Matias Masera, 14 Pablo Kantarovsky, 13 Matías Moroni, 12 Javier Rojas, 11 Manuel Montero, 10 Brian Ormson (captain), 9 Marcos Bollini, 8 Juan Lafontana, 7 Miguel Urtubey, 6 Joaquin Camacho, 5 Juan Cruz Guillemaín, 4 Matias Alemanno, 3 Jonathan Marchetta, 2 Lucas Sartori, 1 Ramón Gonzáles.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Saenz, 17 Nahuel Lobo, 18 César Fruttero, 19 Facundo Lagos, 20 Ramiro Baronio, 21 Jerónimo De La Fuente, 22 Rodrigo Ponce De León.
New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Mitchell Scott, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Rhys Llewellyn, 11 Glen Robertson, 10 Nathan George, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Carl Axtens (captain), 7 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Sefo Setefano, 1 Gregory Pleasants-Tate.
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Solomona Sakalia, 18 Steven Luatua, 19 Luke Whitelock, 20 TJ Perenara, 21 Gareth Anscombe, 22 Waisake Naholo.
Referee: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Mathieu Raynal (France), Carlo Damasco (Italy)
France vs Australia, 31-25
The scorers:
For Australia:
Tries: Kimami Sitauti, Eddie Bredenhann, Michael Hooper
Cons: Ben Volavola 2
Pens: Volavola 2
For France:
Tries: Jean Bernard Pujol, Geoffrey Palis, Jean Marcelin Buttin, Jean Pascal Barraque
Cons: Barraque 4
Pen: Barraque
The teams:
Australia: 15 Rohan Saifoloi, 14 Damon Anderson, 13 Tom Kingston, 12 Apo Latunipulu, 11 Kimami Sitauti, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Matt Lucas, 8 Ed Quirk, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Colby Faingaa (captain), 5 Greg Peterson, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Paul Alo-Emile, 2 Siliva Siliva, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements: 16 Hugh Roach 17 Tim Metcher 18 Ted Postal, 19 Jarrad Butler, 20 Eddie Bredenhann, 21 Simon Morahan 22 Bill Meakes.
France: 15 Jean Marcelin Buttin, 14 Jean Bernard Pujol, 13 Jean Pascal Barraque, 12 Pierre Berard, 11 Marvin O'Connor, 10 Jean Marc Doussain (captain), 9 Yann Lesgourgues, 8 Gillian Galan, 7 Julien Come, 6 Pierre Julien, Pierre Gayraud, 4 William Demotte, 3 Walter Desmaison, 2 Clement Bourgeois, 1 Sebastien Taofifenua.
Replacements: 16 Christophe David, 17 Florian Fresia, 18 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 19 Leonard Vignon, 20 Jules Plisson, 21 Thibaut Visensang, 22 Geoffrey Palis.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Federico Pastrana (Argentina), João Mourinha (Portugal)
Wales vs Italy, 56-6
The scorers:
For Italy:
Pen: Marco Gennari
DG: Michele Campagnaro
For Wales:
Tries: Thomas Young, Ross Jones, Luke Hamilton, Eli Walker, Jonathan Evans, Rheon James, Rhodri Jones, Ed Siggery
Cons: Matthew Morgan 5
Pens: Morgan 2
The teams:
Italy: 15 Marco Gennari, 14 Guido Calabrese, 13 Giovanni Alberghini, 12 Tommaso Castello, 11 Alex Morsellino, 10 Michele Campagnaro, 9 Guglielmo Palazzani, 8 Jacopo Bocchi, 7 Edoardo Ruffolo, 6 Edoardo Ghiraldini, 5 Filippo Gerosa, 4 Andrea Balsemin, 3 Piermaria Leso (captain), 2 Giovanni Maistri, 1 Nicola Quaglio.
Replacements: 16 Andrea Lupetti, 17 Riccardo Cagna, 18 Alfio Luca Mammana, 19 Ruben Riccioli, 20 Vittorio Callori Di Vignale, 21 Saverio Bruni, 22 Francesco Menon.
Wales: 15 Ross Jones, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Owen Williams, 12 Rheon James, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Matthew Morgan, 9 Jonathan Evans, 8 Ben Thomas, 7 Thomas Young, 6 Luke Hamilton, 5 Cory Hill, 4 Macauley Cook (captain), 3 Will Taylor, 2 Kirby Myhill, 1 Lewis Smout.
Replacements: 16 Jamie Sollis, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Owen Sheppeard, 19 Ed Siggery, 20 Lewis Jones, 21 Steve Shingler, 22 Iolo Evans.
Referee: Jonathon White (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Federico Pastrana (Argentina), João Mourinha (Portugal)
Fiji vs Tonga, 36-18
The scorers:
For Fiji:
Tries: Semi Radradra 2, Maikeli Mudu, Koli Nalasekata
Cons: Josateki Lalagavesi 2
Pens: Lalagavesi 4
For Tonga:
Tries: Mathew Howling, Nio Lavemai
Con: Pita Ahki
Pens: Mona Paraki 2
The teams:
Fiji: 15 Metuisela Talebula, 14 Josateki Lalagavesi, 13 Semi Radradra, 12 Solomoni Rasolea, 11 Atu Masirewa, 10 Teti Tela, 9 Kenneth Robertson, 8 Uliano Samunaka, 7 Koli Nalasekata (captain), 6 Simione Sawene, 5 Maikeli Mudu, 4 Aminio Nasilimosi, 3 Tomasi Kolo, 2 Joshua Tuqiri, 1 Sione Kolo.
Replacements: 16 Kirwan Sanday, 17 Alifereti Cawanibuka, 18 Netani Qicatabua, 19 Sailosi Dawai, 20 Eliki Sicinilawa, 21 Alipate Raitini, 22 Matayavusa Lea.
Tonga: 15 Kali Hala, 14 Siale Talakai, 13 Pita Ahki (captain), 12 Otulea Katoa, 11 Tonga Afu, 10 Mona Paraki, 9 Ma'amaloa Taufa, 8 Lautaimi Fetuani, 7 Motekiai Faeamani, 6 Sam Finau, 5 Loni Toumohuni, 4 Nehumi Vanisi, 3 Elisi Pulu, 2 Sefo Sakalia, 1 Mana Talia'uli.
Replacements: 16 Sam Niue 17 Sione Koloamatangi, 18 Lose Tukufuka, 19 Mathew Howling, 20 Sefo Ma'ake, 21 Nio Lavemai, 22 Talimasiva Sili.
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant referees: Leighton Hodges (Wales), Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Ireland vs Scotland, 30-13
The scorers:
For Ireland:
Tries: Andrew Conway, Luke Marshall, Niall Annett
Cons: Paddy Jackson, James McKinney 2
Pens: Jackson 3
For Scotland:
Try: Danny Gilmour
Con: Stuart Edwards
Pens: Duncan Weir 3
The teams:
Ireland: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Brendan Macken, 12 Luke Marshall, 11 Andrew Boyle, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Jordi Murphy, 7 Dominic Gallagher, 6 Eoin McKeon, 5 Iain Henderson, 4 Michael Kearney, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Niall Annett (captain), 1 James Tracy.
Replacements: 16 David Doyle, 17 Conor Carey, 18 Daniel Qualter, 19 Shane Buckley 20 Peter Du Toit, 21 James McKinney, 22 Craig Gilroy.
Scotland: 15 Glenn Bryce, 14 Sam Atkin, 13 Mark Bennett, 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 David Cherry, 1 Alex Allan.
Replacements: 16 Richard Ferguson, 17 George Hunter, 18 Robin Hislop, 19 Jamie Swanson, 20 Jamie Stevenson, 21 Stuart Edwards, 22 Alex Spence.
Referee: Greg Garner (England)
Assistant referees: Hodges (Wales), Marius Mitrea (Italy)