Georgia push Junior Boks all the way

UNDER-20 CHAMPIONSHIP, DAY ONE WRAP: Apart from the New Zealand match, there were close encounters on the opening day of World Rugby’s Under-20 Championship being played in southwestern France.

In fact, in five other matches, the points’ difference between winners and losers was 35 points, an average of seven per match.

The very first match of the 2018 Championship was a stern, close-run affair in Perpignan and the second match of the day on at Stade Aime-Giral was even closer as France came back to beat Ireland, greatly helped by a yellow card.

Meanwhile, Georgia pushed the Junior Springboks all the way at the Stade Aime Giral in Perpignan with the result in the balance until the closing stages. The Junior Boks eventually winning 33-27.

Results, Day 1

Pool A
New Zealand vs Japan, 67-0
Wales vs Australia 26-21

Pool B
England vs Argentina, 29-18
Italy vs Scotland, 27-26

Pool C
South Africa vs Georgia, 33-27
France vs Ireland, 26-25

South Africa 33-27 Georgia

These were two teams well acquainted with each other for they had met earlier in the year in Stellenbosch. South Africa won both of those matches comfortably, 55-14 and 43-28. This one was different.

South Africa enjoyed a bonus-point victory on this sunny afternoon but there was nothing comfortable about it. In fact, the determined Georgians led 17-12 at half-time. Georgia were a well-organised side that had the better of the scrums until bulky Asenathi Ntlabakanye took over at tighthead.

The Georgians handled much better than the South Africans did and took their chances better. But they had little answer to the South African mauling.

Early on it looked as if victory was going to be plain sailing for South Africa. Gianni Lombard set the attack going and South Africa had five-metre line-out but they knocked on and then were penalised.

The first try seemed to be setting the tone when from a scrum right and then left and out to Sihle Njezula who popped a pass inside go Wandisile Simelane who scored. 5-0.

The lead lasted three minutes as a break by outside centre Sandro Svanidze set the Lelos bashing at the South African line and then the sweetest of grubbers into in-goal by flyhalf Tedo Abzhandadze set up a try for Lasha Lomidze, which their talented scrumhalf Gela Aprasidze converted. He then kicked a penalty goal as the Georgians looked livelier than the South Africans.

Muller Uys scored from a maul and gave South Africa a 12-10 lead but, with the South Africans fumbling and stumbling, Deme Tapladze intercepted a pass by Rikus Pretorius and ran half the length of the field to score at the posts for a 17-123 half-time score.

South Africa got the lead back early in the second half when Tyrone Green chased a kick, charged down an attempted clearing kick and scored under the posts.

Dian Schoonees was held up over the line and then a dummy by Jan Burger was bought by the Georgians and the scrumhalf scored. South Africa had scored 14 points in the first nine minutes of the second half.

Aprasidze kicked a penalty and then, despite being confined, Green got to the line and Uys scored his second try. 33-20/

South Africa had two tries turned down, one by Dan Jooste for a “double movement” and won by Damian Willemse because of an earlier obstruction.

After Ntlabakanye was yellow-carded Luka Dvalishvili scored a try which Abzhandadze converted.

The South Africans have tidied up to do while the Georgians are probably heartened.

Scorers

For South Africa:
Tries: Simelane, Uys 2, Green, Burger
Cons: Willemse 4

For Georgia:
Tries: Lomidze, Tapladze, Dvalishvili
Cons: Aprasidze 2, Abzhandadze
Pens: Aprasidze 2

Teams

Georgia: 15 Beka Mamukashvili, 14 Deme Tapladze, 13 Sandro Svanidze, 12 Lasha Lomidze, 11 Otar Dzagnidze, 10 Tedo Abzhandadze, 9 Gela Aprasidze, 8 Arsen Machaladze, 7 Tengiz Gigolashvili, 6 Tornike Jalaghonia, 5 Lasha Jaiani, 4 Beka Saghinadze (captain), 3 Luka Japaridze, 2 Levan Papidze, 1 Guram Gogichashvili
Replacements: 16 Tengiz Zamtaradze, 17 Giorgi Nutsubidze, 18 Gia Kharaishvili, 19 Luka Gelashvili, 20 Archil Abesadze, 21 Luka Dvalishvili, 22 Temur Tchitchinadze, 23 Mikheil Alania

South Africa: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Tyrone Green, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Sihle Njezula, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Muller Uys, 7 PJ Steenkamp, 6 Dian Schoonees, 5 Ruan Nortjé, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Daniel Jooste, 1 Nathan McBeth,
Replacements: 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Ruan Vermaak, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Lubabalo Dobela, 23 Lyle Hendricks

Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)

France 26-24 Ireland

There was a much bigger crowd for this match, flags were waving and a band played.

A yellow card proved costly for the Irish. They were leading 10-5 when Tom Roche intercepted and raced away for a try, which was disallowed because Jack Augier had tackled round the neck. He went off to the sin bin and, though Ireland opened the scoring with a try by Hugh O’Sullivan at the start of the second half to make the score 17-5, France then scored 14 points through tries by captain Arthur Coville and Romaine N’Tamack when he grubbered into in-goal with perfect judgement and fell on the ball for the try.

A second try by Maxime Marty made the score 26-17 with half an hour to play but with nine minutes to play Harry Byrne came at full speed onto a pass by O’Sullivan to score and put Ireland just two points behind. But the French, the Six Nations champions, held out.

It was a match that early on seemed bedevilled by penalties, eventually got going with the score to keep it exciting. And then there was some superb running buy the French fullback Clément Laporte and the thrilling try that wasn’t. between his two tries Marty raced a long way down the left touchline as substitute Sean O’Brien came racing across for the left win. He hurled himself at Marty who still managed to ground the ball in the left corner but the TMO found that his left foot had made contact with the base of the cornerpost and so the try was disallowed.

Scorers

For France:
Tries: Marty 2, Coville, N’Tamack
Cons: N’Tamack 3

For Ireland:
Tries: Dunleavy, O’Sullivan, Byrne
Cons: Byrne 3
Pens: Byrne

France: 15 Clément Laporte, 14 Lucas Tauzin, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Adrien Seguret, 11 Maxime Marty, 10 Romain N’Tamack, 9 Arthur Coville, 8 Charlie Francoz, 7 Cameron Woki, 6 Sacha Zegueur, 5 Kilian Geraci, 4 Thomas Lavault, 3 Daniel Brennan (captain), 2 Maxime Lamothe, 1 Hassane Kolingar
Replacements: 16 Guillaume Marchand, 17 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18 Demba Bamba, 19 Pierre-Henri Azagoh, 20 Jordan Joseph, 21 Jules Gimbert, 22 Louis Carbonel, 23 Matthis Lebel

Ireland: 15 Michael Silvester, 14 Tom Roche, 13 Tommy O’Brien, 12 Peter Sylvester, 11 Dan Hurley, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Hugh O’Sullivan, 8 Caelan Doris (captain), 7 Matthew Agnew, 6 Joe Dunleavy, 5 Jack Dunne, 4 Matthew Dalton, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 James French
Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Joe Byrne, 19 Cormac Daly, 20 Aaron Hall, 21 Jonny Stewart, 22 Conor Dean, 23 Sean O’Brien

Referee: Karl Dickson (England)

New Zealand 67-0 Japan

At half-time New Zealand led 38-0 against Japan – a match in which last year’s winners played this year’s newboys.

The six-time champions were relentless from the outset with Will Tucker racing over with only 50 seconds on the clock and he was followed over the line by Leicester Faingaanuku, who grabbed a brace either side of All Blacks Sevens star Vilimoni Koroi’s effort to wrap up the bonus point inside 18 minutes.

Centre Bailyn Sullivan showed off his pace with a 75-metre scamper to score a try from a kickoff shortly after.

Captain Tom Christie had the final say of the first half as he managed to ground the ball despite a desperate tackle by the Japanese to send his side in 38-0 at half-time.

Winger Jamie Spowart, who had had a try disallowed in the first half, went on to score a hat-trick in the second as New Zealand sent out a powerful message to their competition.

Scorers

For New Zealand:
Tries: Christie, Akauola-Laula, Tucker, Faingaanuku 2, Sullivan, Koroi, Spowart 3, Roe
Cons: Trask 6

Teams

New Zealand: 15 Vilimoni Koroi, 14 Jamie Spowart, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Billy Proctor, 11 Leicester Faingaanuku, 10 Kaleb Trask, 9 Xavier Roe, 8 Hoskins Sotutu,7 Tom Christie (captain), 6 Tom Florence, 5 Will Tucker, 4 John Akau’ola-Laula, 3 Tevita Mafileo, 2 Flynn Thomas, 1 Xavier Numia,
Replacements: 16 Ricky Jackson, 17 Sione Asi, 18 Rob Cobb, 19 Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, 20 Will Tremain, 21 Jay Renton, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Scott Gregory

Japan: 15 Kyohei Yamasawa, 14 Halatoa Vailea, 13 Siosaia Fifita, 12 Yuto Mori, 11 Koga Nezuka, 10 Hiroto Mamada, 9 Shinobu Fujiwara, 8 Asipeli Moala, 7 Hisanobu Okayama (captain), 6 Kai Yamamoto, 5 Ryuga Hashimoto, 4 Kanji Shimokawa, 3 Gakuto Ishida, 2 Miyu Arai, 1 Yusuke Yamada
Replacements: 16 Yuichiro Taniguchi, 17 Ryunosuke Momoji, 18 Rento Tsukayama, 19 Kaito Aibe, 20 Shota Fukui, 21 Atora Hondo, 22 Yu Saruta, 23 Yoshiyuki Koga

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)

Wales 26-21 Australia

Two tries each but Cai Evans won the kicking 16-11.

At half-time Wales led 20-11. Australia’s second try, scored by substitute Tate McDermott, was scored and converted with three minutes to go. Australia probably had the better of the second half but Evans’s boot was enough to keep Wales ahead.

Australia’s first try was an excellent execution of an New Zealand invention which has become standard practice. The Junior Wallabies were attacking and the referee was playing advantage. Flyhalf Bayley Kuenzle kicked across to his right where wing James Ramm leapt high and batted the ball down to fullback Mack Hansen, who scored the try.

Scorers

For Wales:
Tries: Nicholas Jones, Baldwin
Cons: Evans 2
Pens: Evans 4

For Australia:
Tries: Hansen, McDermott
Con: Lucas
Pens: Lonergan 3

Teams

Australia: 15 Mack Hansen, 14 James Ramm, 13 Semisi Tupou, 12 Isaac Lucas, 11 Matt McTaggert, 10 Bayley Kuenzle, 9 Ryan Lonergan, (captain), 8 Josh Kemeny, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Esei Haangana, 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Trevor Hosea, 3 Tom Ross, 2 Efi Maafu, 1 Harry Hoopert,
Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 George Francis, 18 Lawrence Tominiko, 19 Michael Wood, 19 Patrick Tafa, 20 Tate McDermott, 21 Will Harrison, 22 Isiah Latu,

Wales: 15 Cai Evans, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Corey Baldwin, 12 Ioan Nicholas, 11 Ryan Conbeer, 10 Ben Jones, 9 Dane Blacker, 8 Taine Basham, 7 Dan Davis, 6 Tommy Reffell (captain), 5 Max Williams, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Rhys Henry, 2 Iestyn Harris, 1 Rhys Carre,
Replacements: 16 Dewi Lake, 17 Rhys Davies, 18 Will Davies-King, 19 Lewis Ellis-Jones, 20 Lennon Greggains, 21 Harri Morgan, 22 Ben Thomas, 23 Joe Goodchild, 15 Cai Evans,

Referee: Egon Seconds (South Africa)

Italy 27-26 Scotland

In the Six Nations, Italy beat Scotland, vanquishers of England, 45-31. This one was closer, in fact could not have been closer.

Scotland led 13-7 at half time and then 26-17 in the last quarter of the match, but Italy then scored two unconverted tries to win the match. Substitute hooker, Niccolò Taddia scored the second try to win the match three minutes into injury time.

Scorers

For Italy:
Tries: penalty try (7 points), Onofrio, Forcucci, Taddia
Con: Di Marco
Pen: Rizzi

For Scotland:
Tries: Dunbar, Chapman, Dewhirst
Con: Chapman
Pens: Chapman 3

Teams

Italy: 15 Michelangelo Biondelli, 14 Alessandro Forcucci, 13 Andrea De Masi, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Giovanni D’Onofrio, 10 Antonio Rizzi, 9 Nicolò Casilio, 8 Lodovico Manni, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Jacopo Bianchi, 5 Edoardo Iachizzi, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Michele Mancini Parri, 2 Matteo Luccardi, 1 Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16 Niccolò Taddia, 17 Guido Romano, 18 Matteo Nocera, 19 Matteo Canali, 20 Antoine Koffi, 21 Luca Crosato, 22 Filippo Di Marco, 23 Tommaso Coppo

Scotland: 15 Paddy Dewhirst, 14 Logan Trotter, 13 Cameron Hutchison, 12 Stafford McDowall (captain), 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Charlie Chapman,8 Devante Onojaife, 7 Rory Darge, 5 Jamie Hodgson, 4 Ewan Johnson,3 Finlay Richardson, 6 Martin Hughes), 2 Finlay Scott, 1 Ross Dunbar
Replacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Sam Grahamslaw, 18 Murphy Walker, 19 Charlie Jupp), 20 Guy Graham, 21 Charlie Gowling, 22 Callum McLelland, 23 Fraser Strachan

Referee: Pali Deluca (Argentina)

England 39-18 Argentina

England led 19-15 at half-time through two Jordan Olowofela tries, a try for Henry Walker and two James Grayson conversions.

Argentina had responded with tries via Santiago Chocolates and Bautista Piedmont as well as five points from the boot of Juan Bautista Daireaux.

England won the second half 19-3 with three tries and two conversions to a lone penalty for the Pumitas.

England:
Tries: Olowofela 2, Walker 2, Smith
Cons: Grayson 3, Hardwick
Pens: Grayson, Hardwick

Argentina:
Tries: Chocobares, Pedemonte
Cons: Daireaux
Pens: Daireaux, Mendía

Teams

Argentina: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Pablo Avellaneda, 13 Juan Pablo Castro, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Juan Bautista Daireaux, 9 Manuel Nogués, 8 Bautista Pedemonte, 7 Santiago Ruiz, 6 Joaquín de la Vega (captain), 5 Lucas Paulos,4 Salvador Ochoa, 3 Mayco Vivas, 2 Leonel Oviedo, 1 Rodrigo Martínez
Replacements : 16 Agustín Milet, 17 Gonzalo Hughes, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Federico Lavanini, 20 Juan Ignacio Molina, 21 Gonzalo García, 22 Joaquín de la Vega Mendía, 23 Leopoldo Herrera

England: 15 Tom Parton, 14 Ali Crossdale, 13 Fraser Dingwall, 12 Tom Hardwick, 11 Jordan Olowofela, 10 James Grayson, 9 Ben White, 8 Josh Basham, 7 Ben Curry (captain), 6 Ted Hill, 5 James Scott, 4 Joel Kpoku, 3 Ehren Painter, 2 Henry Walker, 1 Toby Trinder,
Replacements: 16 Beck Cutting, 17 Alex Seville, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Sam Lewis, 20 Tom Willis, 21 Rory Brand, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Gabriel Ibitoye

Fixtures Day 2 – 3 June 2018

Scotland vs Argentina at Stade Aime-Giral, Perpignan
France vs Georgia at Stade de la Méditérranée, Béziers
Australia vs Japan at Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitié, Narbonne
England vs Italy at Stade Aime-Giral, Perpignan
New Zealand vs Wales at Stade de la Méditérranée, Béziers
South Africa vs Ireland at Stade d’Honneur du Parc des Sports et de l’Amitié, Narbonne

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