WRAP UP: U20 World Championship - Round Two

WRAP UP: U20 World Championship - Round Two

Round two of the World Rugby U20 Championship saw South Africa face Georgia in Pool C while Australia and Ireland faced off in a crunch Pool B match.

The second round of fixtures saw hosts Argentina face Fiji while there was an all Six Nations match between France and Wales.

The later kickoffs saw England clash with Italy and New Zealand face France.

South Africa 48-18 Georgia


Georgia flexed their scrum dominance over the Junior Springboks but is was not enough as the Junior Boks powered to a well-earned bonus point victory.

Dylan Richardson was the stand out forward for South Africa and took advantage of his first start by scoring a hat trick and being heavily involved in many of their tries.



Sanele Nohamba came off the bench for SA and turned the game in his side's favour with crisp passing and speedy play

Prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye powered his way over the chalk in the 35thminute, hooker Fezokuhle Mbatha followed four minutes later as he touched down against the post, to hand the team a 21-5 lead going into the break.

 

Abzhandadze reduced his team’s deficit two minutes into the first half with a penalty goal but the Junior Springboks struck again soon after with the bonus-point try by vice-captain and centre Rikus Pretorius, who stepped inside and touched down. The Junior Springboks lost lock Emile van Heerden to a yellow card for an illegal tackle in the 52nd minute, and Georgia took advantage immediately with Lashkhi scoring his second try.

 

Angelo Davids and David Coetzer also worked their way onto the scoreboard as they used their pace to score tries in quick succession in the dying minutes, but Georgia fought until the end, with Temur Chichinadze crossing the tryline on the stroke of fulltime.

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Australia 45-17 Ireland 

Australia put themselves in the box seat to top Pool B with another convincing win following their win over Italy earlier this week. Australia opened a 3-0 lead before Irish lock Ryan Baird was red carded for a high tackle, in the 20th minute. It looked as if Australia would take control with a man advantage with Sione Tui scoring soon after the dismissal but Ireland hit back through promising halfback Craig Casey as Australia took a 3 point lead into the break.

Irish centre Stewart Moore scored his second try of the competition, following his brilliant understanding of the laws earlier this week, with a fantastic solo effort.


However, three tries in five minutes put the Aussies well in front before further two in the dying minutes allowed the Junior Wallabies to push to a comprehensive victory in Santa Fe. Second rower Nick Frost was outstanding scoring a brace, including an insane solo effort, while also sending his flyhalf Will Harrison through with a slick offload.

Harrison was key to victory for the Junior Wallabies as he dictated play and racked up 20 points while Craig Casey had another great game for Ireland.

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 France 32-13 Wales

 

France grabbed a crucial bonus from the final play of the game as  Julien Delbouis forced his way over from close-range after hitting a flat pass from impressive No.9 Delord at pace.

The win sees France regained top spot in Pool A ahead of their clash with Argentina in what will be the pool's decider.

Wales made the perfect start when centre Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler's break set up wing Tomi Lewis' opening try. 


 Louis Carbonel was in incredible form as he took over the 10 jersey slotting a penalty, scoring a try and converting to help France a 10-8 half time lead.

Vincent Pinto, Matthis Lebel and Julien Delbouis tries after the break made the score safe for France. Wales did score a consolation try with Lewis crossing again and they finished the match strongly after Cai Evans' penalty kept things close at the interval.

But it was Delbouis try that sealed the bonus point victory.

Argentina 41-14 Fiji

A highly entertaining game played at high pace. Fiji stayed within touching distance of Argentina for the first half training just 10-0 at the break and had two tries disallowed.

The Argentine backs were brilliant with Ignacio Mendy score a superb try in the 15th minute while Fiji's first try of the game a half hour later with Etonia Waqa slicing through the defence thanks to a brilliant show and go.


Los Pumitas flexed their muscles shortly after the hour mark scoring three tries before the 70th minute with Rodrigo Isgro, Ramiro Gurovich and Thomas Gallo all dotting down while Fiji had one last go at cutting the deficit down with Alivereti Loalaoa scoring.



However, the Argentine pack, that dominated most of the encounter had the final say as they were awarded a penalty try. 

Rayne Barka was superb with some outstanding runs and carries and ran a superb line to break and set up a try with a good offload while Donovan Taofifenua showed off his elusive running with a number of defenders beaten and made valuable ground with some good breaks.

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 England 24-23 Italy

 

England U20s defeated Italy in their second match of the competition after failing to beat Ireland beating Italy 24-23. England held a narrow one-point lead at the break through an Alex Coles converted try while Italy sent over two penalties via Giacomo Da Re.

Steve Bates' scored second half tries through Tom Willis and Richard Capstick, with Italy responding via Ange Capuozzo and Paolo Garbisi but Josh Hodge's late penalty won the game.

Italy got the first points through Da Re's boot and went a number of times in the opening half hour.

Alex Coles touched down after a dominant England scrum before Da Re sent over a second penalty for 7-6 just before the break.

Soon after half-time Italy led as Lai was first to a loose ball to dot down. Italy broke through England midfield soon after to set up a two-on-one and Capuozzo dived over for 16-7.



Tom Willis charged over from the back of a driving maul to get England back in the game but Italy came roaring back though with Garbisi searing through before Capstick went over in the corner for a third England try which Hodge again converted.

Hodge then sent over a late penalty for a one-point lead which they held until full time.

 New Zealand 52-33 Scotland

New Zealand posted 50 points as they went two from two in a thrilling encounter against Scotland.

There were a number of outstanding tries scored in this game with New Zealand dotting down 8 times to Scotland's five.

New Zealand came flying out the blocks scoring 4 tries, and secured the bonus point, by the 26th minute. Scotland hit back through Robbie McCallum and Oliver Smith to make it just a 14 point game at half time.

Oliver Smith completed his brace shortly after half time but Baby Blacks' winger Lalomilo Lalomilo hit back some 10 minutes later as New Zealand went 12 points ahead.



Another two quick tries from Tamaiti Williams and Oliver Norris put the game out of Scotland's reach despite two quick tries from Ewan Ashman and Jack Blain. 


The Baby Blacks had the final say as Kaylum Boshier crashed over to claim the 19 point victory.

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