NZ break Junior Bok hearts to defend U20 title

New Zealand held on to beat the Junior Springboks 48-45 in front of 14 835 spectators at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Sunday to retain the U20 Rugby Championship in dramatic fashion.

Having to play with 13 players in the final minutes, the NZ team just managed to hold on as they overturned a fast Junior Springbok start to the match, with the home side scoring 19 unanswered points in the opening 15 minutes and leading 26-24 at the break.

Fifteen tries – which includes a penalty try – resulted in a high scoring match that were dominated by the home side in the first 20 minutes, before the defending champions took control, only to have their effort almost derailed with ill-discipline in the final 10 minutes.

The South Africans will look back at this match as another one of missed opportunities and some weak defence in their outside channels being exploited by their opponents.

The Junior Boks played with a strong wind in the first half and enjoyed a great start. The Kiwis tries to run the deep kick off back to their opponents but were forced into touch 20m out.

The SA U20s mauled well from the resulting line-out and then kept excellent exposure. Their attacks around the rucks sucked in defenders and after four minutes centre Albie Bester scored in the corner for the first points of the game. The conversion was wide, but the home side had their tails up early.

Their second try, three minutes later, was even more impressive. A strong burst by Bester started some good momentum and a long-range attack from the Junior Boks. It was loosehead prop Simphiwe Ngobese who finally crashed over near the posts after some brilliant support play and good option taking by various ball carriers. Vusi Moyo converted for a 12-0 lead.

Ten minutes into the game, the NZ side already were forced to 37 tackles. Some ill-discipline around the breakdown seemed inevitable and twice New Zealand were pinged for such offences.

The Junior Boks went for the driving maul twice and after the first one was dragged down illegally, the second was a thing of beauty with hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele at the back of the pack scoring their third try. Moyo's conversion was good and the lead 19-0 with barely 15 minutes of the match played.

Credit to New Zealand though who recovered well to score a well-taken try of their own from the next restart. They forced the Junior Boks into conceding some penalties and also twice mauled for the line but the South Africans kept them out.

Keeping the ball alive through a number of phases, their patience was rewarded with a try by Harlyn Saunoa. The left wing's acrobatic finish despite two SA defenders trying to get him away from the corner flag had the spectators in black on their feet. The conversion was wide and the SA lead of 19-5 still well-deserved.

Saunoa scored his second 26 minutes in, but he needed to fancy footwork for this one. In fact, some ball watching and a failed intercept effort by the Junior Bok outside backs left the winger will acres of real estate and he almost walked over for his try. The conversion by flyhalf Will Cole was a good one and suddenly the lead was only seven points.

Clearly stung by the two conceded tries, the Junior Boks struck back, again with a spectacular team try. Good interplay between backs and forwards and a great timed pass gave Gino Cupido just enough space to work his way to the line for a fourth South African try. Moyo kicked the conversion and the lead was back to 14 points (26-12) after 30 minutes.

New Zealand kept on coming though and found some angles around the SA ruck defence less threatening, winning meters per carry at a time. The Junior Boks conceded a penalty trying to stem the flow and NZ kicked for the corner from where Manumaua Letiu was driven over by his pack. The NZ captain’s try cut the lead to 26-17 with five minutes to go before the break.

Saunoa got his third just before the break and again needed some stepping to score but the Junior Boks will only have themselves to blame for this try. Attacking strongly a long looping pass was intercepted by New Zealand and although South Africa’s scrambling defence kept their opponents at bay, it was just a matter of time before the original mistake would be punished. The conversion was good and suddenly, at the break, the lead was cut to only two.

An early New Zealand try in the second half gave them the lead for the first time. Maloni Kunawave reaped the rewards this time when he ran onto a good kick by centre Jack Wiseman. The conversion was good and suddenly the Junior Boks were trailing by four points.

The Kiwis’ sixth try came from a Wiseman intervention again, going around his opponent and that momentum resulted in a try to Sika Pole (prop). The kick was good and the score jumped to 38-26.

Some luck came the home side's way after the restart though as Wandile Mlaba intercepted a loose pass near their own line, giving his team a lifeline, as they came back to a seven-point deficit (31-38).

That did not last long though. Some around the back play by the NZ backs again shredded the rush defence by their opponent and Stanley Solomon finished a smooth move in the corner. That pushed the lead up 43-31 with 25 minutes to play.

The Junior Boks came back into the game with a second Mlaba try. Some good attacking play of a lineout handed the NZ defence lots of homework and when play was switched to the blind, the SA No 8 proved too powerful for the defenders in black. Moyo converted and 55 minutes in, it was a five-point game again.

Kunawave's second extended New Zealand’s lead again, with the wing emulating Saunoa in the acrobatics stakes to dot down in the corner. Again, the SA defence would look at the replay with dismay as again they rushed a stack attack. The conversion was wide but at 48-38, SA needed to score next to remain in the contest.

That job became a little bit easier when NZ flanker Caleb Woodley was red-carded 11 minutes from time after a head clash with Cheswill Jooste but the home side could not take immediate advantage of the extra player. They did so five minutes from time when Kyle Smith dummied his way past a couple of defenders but the try was disallowed for obstruction.

South Africa had a penalty advantage though and they kicked to the corner. Their maul was pulled down by New Zealand and referee had no option but to hand SA a penalty try, sending Randall Baker to the bin.

New Zealand, now with 13 players, were defending a three-point lead with three minutes to play. They did just had to secure a memorable win and another title.

Score

Junior Springboks 45 (26) – Tries: Albie Bester, Simphiwe Ngobese, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Gino Cupido, Wandile Mlaba (2), Penalty try. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (4).

New Zealand 48 (24) – Tries: Harlyn Saunoa (3), Manumaua Letiu, Maloni Kunawave (2), Sika Pole, Stanley Solomon. Conversions: Will Cole (4).