Australia fall to New Zealand in Oceania Rugby U20s Final

May 8 • General News, International • 1691 Views • Comments Off on Australia fall to New Zealand in Oceania Rugby U20s Final

The BMW Australia U20s have fallen to New Zealand 6-43 in the final round of the Oceania Rugby U20s Championship on Saturday night, meaning that New Zealand takes the trophy for the third consecutive year.

Australia started well but was unable to turn early territorial gains into sustained pressure, allowing New Zealand to run away with the match.

With a number of players unavailable for the match due to Super Rugby commitments, the Australia U20s will look to return to a full complement when the squad for the World Rugby U20s Championship is named on Sunday 7 May.

BMW Australia U20s Head Coach, Simon Cron said: “New Zealand was a really good side. Their catch and pass were good, as was their running lines which is probably the area that let us down.

“I thought defensively some of the boys did a lot of work in that forward pack, in the backs we didn’t complete many launch plays. It’s hard to attack when you drop the ball off the first phase.

“We have a lot of work to do on that side of it and you can tell that some of the players need our help in that area.

“I think the loose forwards and second row worked really hard throughout the match and they were tested heavily.

“I am looking forward to some time with the lads at the AIS in Canberra. This camp has been tough on the boys, three games in 10 days and our 1,3,6,8 played almost every minute this tournament and that’s tough.

“However, it will make them more resilient in their ability to play more minutes.”

The BMW Australia U20s squad will reassemble at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra on Wednesday 10 May as final preparation for the World Rugby tournament.

In the opening stages of the match, Australia dominated possession and territory as they starved New Zealand of the ball in the opening exchanges. Harry Nucifora scored the first points of the match for the men in gold as he gave the home side a 3-0 lead.

New Zealand was able to earn possession and score their first points of the match off the back of a dominant scrum within the Australian red zone with Captain Luke Jacobson diving over for the try.

New Zealand continued to test the Australian defence taking their lead to 3-10 through a penalty kick through flyhalf Tiaan Falcon.

New Zealand added to the scoreboard despite an aggressive defensive effort by the Australians as Isaia Walker-Leawere crossed the line after several phases of attack taking the score to 3-17.

Harry Nucifora kept the Australians in touch with a second penalty kick but a try to New Zealand fullback, Will Jordan brought the score to 6-24 in favour of the visitors. New Zealand compiled Australia’s issues with another try through the backs as centre Tamati Ruka Tua scored in the corner to take a 6-29 lead.

A late surge in the first half by New Zealand led to an infringement by Harry Nucifora who was sent to the sin-bin on the cusp of half-time.

New Zealand shot out of the blocks in the second half and continued to ask questions of the Australian defence as tries to Tom Christie and Luke Jacobson extended the lead to 6-43.

Australia fought hard in the final stages to cross the line but was unable to crack the New Zealand defence as the game wore on, leaving the score at 6-43 at full time.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
5 mins: Harry Nucifora pen, AUS 3-0 NZ
10 mins: Luke Jacobson try, Tiaan Falcon con AUS 3-7 NZ
16 mins: Tiaan Falcon pen, AUS 3-10 NZ
20 mins: Isaia Walker-Leawere try Tiaan Falcon con, AUS 3-17 NZ
24 mins: Harry Nucifora pen AUS 6-17 NZ
29 mins: Will Jordan try, Tiaan Falcon con, AUS 6-22 NZ
31 mins: Tamati Ruka Tua try, AUS 6- 29 NZ
HALF TIME
47 mins: Tom Christie try, Tiaan Falcon con AUS 6-36 NZ
57 mins: Luke Jacobson try, Tiaan Falcon con, AUS 6-43 NZ
FULL TIME

New Zealand 43 (Luke Jacobson, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Will Jordan, Tamati Ruka Tua, Tom Christie, Luke Jacobson tries; Tiaan Falcon 5 cons; Tiaan Falcon pens) defeated Australia 6 (Harry Nucifora 2 pens)