JUNIOR WALLABIES REMAIN UNBEATEN AT WORLD RUGBY U20s CHAMPIONSHIP

Jun 9 • General News, International, Junior Rugby, World Rugby Junior Championship • 3035 Views • Comments Off on JUNIOR WALLABIES REMAIN UNBEATEN AT WORLD RUGBY U20s CHAMPIONSHIP

The Junior Wallabies have continued on their winning ways, defeating Ireland U20s 45-17 on Saturday night in Santa Fe.

Australia scored six tries to Ireland’s two with flyhalf Will Harrison leading the scoring on 20 points in the team’s bonus point victory over the reigning Six Nations champions.

The Junior Wallabies currently sit at the top of the table in Pool B on 10 points and will next tackle England who defeated Italy 24-23 on Thursday morning.

Junior Wallabies Head Coach Jason Gilmore said: “Ireland played with courage today with 14 men and showed why they are the Six Nations Champions.

“Our boys had to absorb a lot of pressure with our defence and when we finally got some territory, we were able to convert it into points.

“We now have England in our final pool game and the group will be ready for another tough game” Gilmore said.

Junior Wallabies Captain Fraser McReight said: “We knew it was going to be a grind and if we played the sort of footy we knew we could play, we would score some points.

“If we continue to trust our systems, everything else will take care of itself, and it gives us confidence ahead of game three.”

The Australians started on the front foot through an early Will Harrison penalty goal before Sione Tui crossed for the first try of the match, capitalising on Ireland’s red card to Ryan Baird for a high tackle. Harrison added the extras extending the lead 10-0 at the midpoint of the first half.

Despite being a player down for the remainder of the contest, Ireland crossed next with a try to Craig Casey and conversion to Jake Flannery narrowing the margin to 10-7 at halftime.

The Irish then struck first in the second half with a Flannery penalty goal, before a quick-thinking Steward Moore dotted down to give the undermanned Irish their first lead.

It wasn’t until the 60^th minute that the Junior Wallabies levelled back up, when Isaac Lucas found a hole in the Irish defense. The floodgates then opened, as the Aussies poured in two more tries within five minutes through Mark Nawaqanitawase and Nick Frost to make it 31-17.

Harrison crossed next to blow the margin out to 21 points before Nick Frost put the finishing touches on a standout performance when he went over off the back of a line break from Carlo Tizzano. Harrison added the extras allowing the men in Gold to walk off with a convincing 45-17 victory.

Junior Wallabies 45 (Nick Frost 2, Sione Tui, Isaac Lucas, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Will Harrison tries; Will Harrison 6 cons; Will Harrison pens) defeated Ireland 17 (Craig Casey, Stewart Moore tries; Jake Flannery, Ben Healy cons; Jake Flannery pens)