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U20 CHAMPIONSHIP Georgia 2017

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Under-20s triumph in record win over England 19 JUN 2017 New Zealand’s Under-20s reclaimed the junior world championship with a powerful dissembling of England in a one-sided final which resulted in a record 64-17 score, and a sixth world title, in Tbilisi, Georgia on Monday morning (NZT).

The 10 tries to three win was redemption for the side which was eliminated in pool play last year and a triumph for captain and flanker Luke Jacobson while hooker Asafo Aumua capped a superb tournament with a hat-trick of tries before injury forced him from the field.

But it was a team effort with outstanding contributions across a team which stamped its authority almost from the kick-off to start the game.

Jacobson said the side had put in a lot of work since November and he was ‘stoked’ to win the tournament. There had been a lot of chat after they had eased up in the second half of the semi-final against France so they were determined to put their foot on England’s throat in the final.

He followed his brother Mitchell onto the winners’ rostrum from two years ago and said looking at his brother’s medal had been an inspiration for him. The side suffered no loss of momentum with the enforced replacement of concussed first five-eighths Tiaan Falcon after the French semi-final. Stephen Perofeta was flown in from New Zealand where he was part of the Blues team who beat the British & Irish Lions and had his own reward having said at the start of the season that he had some unfinished business at the Under-20 tournament after last year’s disappointment. It was his final conversion of seven that broke the highest score of 62 points scored by New Zealand against Australia in 2010. England went into the game with the reputation for its forward pack but twice in the first five minutes it was the New Zealand forwards who showed they were ready for the challenge. From a tighthead out from England’s 22m area, halfback Ereatara Enari ran the ball blind and the ball moved through four phases before flanker Dalton Papali’i picked up the ball and dived over the ruck for the first try.

From the re-start Perofeta broke from his own 22m line and raced 70m downfield. His decision to continue alone saw the ball lost in the tackle but while England won the scrum, the ball was turned over and lock Isaia Walker-Leawere charged ahead. Moving the ball left, wing Caleb Clarke made a strong run before feeding inside to Aumua. From the ruck prop Pouri Rakete-Stones picked up the ball at speed and pushed through a gap for a ninth-minute try. New Zealand mistakes, and penalties, failed them and allowed England back into the game after flanker Ben Earls, who was one of the best of his side, made a strong run infield into the New Zealand 22m area. Several rucks followed before first five-eighths Max Malins, who had missed a penalty goal attempt from straight in front, held the ball up before releasing it to Earls who ploughed into a gap and straight ahead for a try. England had a lucky break after an Enari blindside break allowed wing Tima Faingaanuku a run down the line but just short of the goal-line the ball was ripped from his grasp. Conceding a penalty from the scrum, New Zealand then held England halfback Harry Randall up in a maul to win a turnover.

Moving the ball from the scrum, New Zealand fullback Will Jordan ran into the line and through a gap to pass the ball to hooker Asafo Aumua who barged through the defence to score in the 25th minute. Just after the re-start England kicked downfield to Jordan who took the ball unchallenged, straightened the play and set off downfield where Aumua

was there in support. Papali’i was on hand to carry play to the line and it was Walker-Leawere who crossed in the 28th minute. A lengthy break while and England hooker Joe Mullis was taken from the ground did not stop the New Zealanders who finished the half with two tries in three minutes, both of them involving bullocking runs by Clarke on the left. From the first it was Auvua who scored a second try and then after Clarke claimed a downfield kick by second five-eighths Orbyn Leger he almost reached the goal-line before he was halted, but not before feeding captain and flanker Luke Jacobson over as New Zealand completed the half with 40 points in 40 minutes. In scoring the try, Clarke looked to take a blow to his head and he was replaced at half-time by Josh McKay who celebrated by making full use of another Aumua break to score the opening try of the second half. New Zealand lost shape and the sin-binning of prop Ezekiel Lindenmuth for an unnecessary late and high shot on prop Ralph Adams-Hale and England responded with a try to replacement halfback Alex Mitchell. But when restored to full strength Aumua, in his final act of his game, capitalised on a turnover worked by Jordan off an England midfield play. Taking the ball up high 15m out from England’s line, Aumua beat four defenders and then corkscrewed his way over the line to complete his hat-trick of tries. There was more to come with turnovers which saw replacement flanker Tom Christie and Jacobson score before the end. Scorers: New Zealand Under-20s 64 (Dalton Papali’i, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Asafo Aumua 3, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Luke Jacobson 2, Josh McKay, Tom Christie tries; Stephen Perofeta 7 con)

NZ make Under-20s final in Georgia

14 JUN 2017 New Zealand’s Under-20s qualified to play England in the final of the World Under-20s championship in Georgia, but only after surviving a rampant French second half effort to claim a 39-26 win on Wednesday (NZT). Up 29-0 at half-time by dominating the big French pack, New Zealand were not able to maintain the consistency of play as France unleashed some outstanding running play in the second half to put the pressure on with some determined and traditional French running flair.

However, the first points buffer proved sufficient to hold on for the win but the New Zealanders were given plenty to think about ahead of the final where England qualified to defend their title with a 24-22 win over South Africa. The final will be played at 2am on Monday (NZT).

The scene for the contest was set with France’s response to the haka, the sides having to be told to break up and prepare by referee Mike Adamson after they each refused to move after the haka. As the French attempted their first lineout drive with their heavier pack, the New Zealanders countered them and won the scrum feed from which the French were penalised for collapsing. Moving the ball from the resulting lineout, they broke through when the referee didn’t call a forward pass from prop Pouri Rakete-Stones to captain and flanker Luke Jacobson, who had a fine game leading the side. He raced into space to link with wing Tima Faingaanuku who found fullback Will Jordan in support to score.

Hooker Asafo Aumua made a turnover at the re-start and the ball was kicked downfield and run out by France. New Zealand ran the ball from the lineout and it was first five-eighths Tiaan Falcon who stepped over for the second try.

French indiscipline and frustration at the New Zealanders being able to

upset their third lineout drive saw French flanker Baptiste Pesenti-Compagnoni sin-binned for kicking lock Sam Slade in a maul. New Zealand also protested that prop Ezekiel Lindenmuth was head-butted in the same incident. He was forced to leave the field to have the resulting facial cut treated. Kicking out from the penalty got New Zealand in the position to charge ahead with left wing Caleb Clarke racing in to secure an uncontrolled pass and link with second five-eighths Orbyn Leger.

When Leger was tackled, flanker Dalton Papali’i arrived to pick up the ball, step into space and stretch his arm out to score in the 23rd minute.

Even when a rare New Zealand midfield mistake was made conceding the ball, the French were unable to use it. They kicked downfield and New Zealand ran it back with hooker Asafo Aumua unleashing a stunning burst of speed down the sideline to outflank all but the last defender. But as the ball was released, a brilliant behind-the-back pass by Falcon found No.8 Marino Mikaele-Tuu and he put Clarke over for the fourth try with ease. France had their best chance to score in the half right at the end but New Zealand defence held the ball up over the line.

Just before the break Lindenmuth completed a strong tackle on replacement back Theo Millet but then used a swinging arm and was lucky to concede only a penalty. Aumua opened the scoring five minutes into the second half after the lineout drive had taken play to the French line.

Standing off the ruck on the blindside he hit halfback Ereatara Enari’s pass at a superb angle to get under the defence to achieve what proved to be a vital try. The French mounted their response from a lineout on the New Zealand line. Halfback Baptiste Couilloud ran off a fine take by No.8 Alexandre Roumat to score around the end of the lineout. Then from the re-start, a turnover on the French line by Millet resulted in a breakout which saw Pesenti-Compagnoni finish off the length-of-thefield play with the try. France brought on their substitutes and used the maul to better effect with replacement hooker Peato Mauvaka crossing for a 63rd minute try. They were at it again in the 69th minute from a scrum on their own line when Pesenti Campagnoni again drove the ball forward. Then on the blindside, centre Pablo Uberti ran onto a short pass and kicked ahead. The ball was kicked infield by replacement wing Romain Buros and wing Lucas Tauzin picked up the ball and dived over for a remarkable try. Scorers: New Zealand Under-20s 39 (Will Jordan, Tiaan Falcon, Dalton Papali’i, Caleb Clarke, Asafo Aumua tries; Falcon 4 con, 2 pen)

NZ U-20 take no prisoners against Ireland

New Zealand’s Under-20 side took revenge on Ireland who beat them a year ago at the World Rugby junior world championship by beating them 69-3 in Georgia. Scoring 11 tries without answer, including hattricks to Caleb Clark and William Jordan, the New Zealanders finishing top of their pool to qualify for the semi-finals.

It was an emphatic display, as much for the effort on defence, which saw the New Zealanders have to make more than 160 tackles at a rate three times greater than the Irish who did have some long periods of play in the NZ 22m area without being able to get the ball over the line.

Ireland made a powerful start, cashing in on NZ second five-eighths Orbyn Leger’s dropping of the kick to start the game. A superb Irish scrum put the pressure on New Zealand and it took some desperate defence to hold Ireland out and they were luck to concede only a pen-

alty goal. In the 10th minute the New Zealanders replied when from a lineout, blindside wing Clarke burst in to take the ball on the move at first receiver. He ran around the back of the lineout and then headed back towards the sideline to run round the Irish defender to score a superb solo try. Some untidy play and lack of control from both sides preceded New Zealand’s second try when from a ruck first five-eighths Tiaan Falcon sent a long pass to his centre Braydon Ennor who took an outside gap at speed, to feed fullback William Jordan in for the try.

Ennor had his reward in the 21st minute when halfback Ereatara Enari ran the blindside and fed Leger who ran down the right wing and drew the defence before feeding Ennor who had a clear run to the line.

Two minutes later, building on a strong midfield drive by powerful hooker Asafo Aumua, the ball was released to the backs. Falcon fed on the inside to Leger, who passed over the top to Ennor who got the ball to Jordan who out-paced the defence on a 35m run to the line.

There was no relief for Ireland after the break as after only two minutes flanker Tom Christie peeled off the back of a lineout maul to score then almost from the restart, Auvua charged down the middle of the field in a powerful surge before slipping the ball to Enari for the try.

But the tackling toll as Ireland mounted long periods either side of halftime in the New Zealand 22m, at one stage New Zealand were making tackles at a ratio of 3:1. Then the referee lost patience with the New Zealanders and in the 53rd minute he sin-binned lock Isaia Walker-Leawere for entering a maul on the side, then four minutes later after a warning his locking partner Sam Caird joined him in the sin-bin.

Being reduced to 13 men didn’t halt the flow of tries, however, as some more smart passing created a chance which Clarke took advantage of to score his third try in the 60th minute. It became a rout as replacement wing Josh McKay came on and at his first chance he scored before first five-eighths Tiaan Falcon stepped through the defence to score a try. He wasn’t as successful with his goal-kicking in landing only five conversions. New Zealand will now face France in a semifinal at 4.30am (NZT) on Wednesday 14 June while England and South Africa will contest the other semifinal at 2am (NZT) on Wednesday 14 June.

Scorers: New Zealand Under-20 69 (Caleb Clarke 3, William Jordan 2, Braydon Ennor, Tom Christie, Ereatara Enari, Josh McKay, Tiaan Falcon tries; Tiaan Falcon 5 con)

Another triumph for NZ U-20s in Georgia

New Zealand’s Under-20 side may have been playing in temperatures in the mid-30s in Georgia on Sunday but it was Italy that felt the heat in going down 26-68.

Once containing an energetic and robust Italian pack, the New Zealanders delivered a warning to fellow contenders that they were in Georgia on a distinct mission in a nine–try blitz. The superior skills of the New Zealanders made light of the Italian forward effort and it was a demonstration of the depth of skills available to them when substitute back Tamati Tua received the ball at first five-eighths on his own 22m line only to weave his way through and around the Italian defence on a startling run in the 69th minute which resulted in a stunning individual try. It was the most graphic example of the skill but it wasn’t the only one. Along the way, the penalty goal landed by first five-eighths Tiaan Falcon, his third en route to scoring 19 points in the game, saw New

Zealand become the first side to pass 2000 points in the competition.

Italy rocked the New Zealanders with an intercept try to fullback Simone Cornelli who out-stripped the defence on an 80m run to the line in the first minute of play. Initially, the New Zealand side replied with two penalty goals landed by Falcon in the first eight minutes. When fullback Will Jordan took an Italian speculator and ran the ball back, he chipped the ball over the defence, regathered the ball in Beauden Barrett fashion, and out-paced the Italian defence to score. The Italians came back, via their lineout maul which was used to good effect by their athletic pack for lock Niccoli Cannone to ground the ball at the base of the goalposts which with deadeye dick goal-kicker landing another conversion, they were back within a point. The New Zealand response was immediate when left wing Caleb Clarke burst through in the midfield to link with centre Braydon Ennor. He then fed second five-eighths Orbyn Leger, who was able to run down the left-hand touchline to score New Zealand’s second. A lovely piece of ball control by Clarke in taking an Italian clearance on the sideline before sending a long pass to Jordan who then gave right wing Jona Nareki a dream run in to the corner to score four minutes later. Cannone lost the ball in a tackle 32 minutes into the game and Ennor was able to grab the ball and have enough pace to run in New Zealand’s fifth try. Just before the half-time break the Italian maul was in action again and it was flanker Michele Lamaro who scored Italy’s third try. Down 21-39 the Italians started the second half strongly on attack but the ball was turned over by flanker Adrian Choat and halfback Kemara Hauiti-Parapara took advantage to make a strong run towards the distant left-hand corner. When it seemed the cover had him in their sights, he reverse passed to Clarke who stormed over for his second. Italy reverted to their lineout drive to apply pressure and in the bid to contain it New Zealand were warned about taking the maul down, and when it happened again it was captain Luke Jacobson who wore the wrath of the referee and was sin-binned. That resulted in an inevitable try from the penalty with hooker Alberto Rollero scoring the side’s bonus point try. Ringing the changes with around 30 minutes remaining, New Zealand had to settle but when Jordan fielded another long Italian kick he linked with Nareki who fed Ennor. The centre took a superb outside gap then passed inside to prop Pouri Rakete-Stones who ran in a fine try. With only Ireland to face in pool play, New Zealand are well-placed to make a strong bid to regain the world title. Scorers: New Zealand Under-20 68 (Will Jordan, Orbyn Leger, Caleb Clarke 2, Jona Nareki, Braydon Ennor, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Tamati Tua, Adrian Chote tries; Tiann Falcon 5 con, 3 pen; Leger 2 con)

Bonus point start for NZ Under-20s 31 MAY 2017 Rustiness in the New Zealand Under-20 performance wasn’t enough to deny them a 42-20 win over Scotland Under-20 in their opening game of the 2017 World tournament in Georgia on Wednesday.

Drizzle affected the handling skills of both sides but New Zealand made the most of a strong showing through the middle stages of the game to secure their winning advantage. Wing Lotima Faingaanuku used his power and speed to score a hat-trick of tries – the first two minutes into the game and the third on full-time. They battled with their lineout control but were powerful in the scrum. However, coach Craig Philpott would have been disappointed with the lack of control at re-starts where

several times New Zealand failed to secure ball kicked to them.

Captain Luke Jacobson said the side were pleased to come out with a bonus point win but their discipline had let them down and they had conceded too many penalties. They would also need to do some work on their defence of the lineout drive before their next game, on Sunday (NZT) against Italy. New Zealand made an electric start when from broken play first five-eighths Tiaan Falcon threw a long pass to Faingaanuku who put his powerful fend into effect to move down the sideline to open the scoring. But Scotland used the power of their lineout, where they brought in giant-sized second five-eighths Stafford McDowall to secure ball which they were quick to rumble towards the line. It took three attempts with New Zealand conceding penalties before Scotland finally put the maul to their advantage with hooker Fraser Renwick scoring. New Zealand’s response was immediate after hooker Asafo Aumua made a strong run down the sideline before the ball was moved back infield. No.8 Luke Jacobson made a strong break from the ruck and the ball was transferred back to the right with a long pass from centre Tamati Tua finding Aumua still patrolling and he scored in the 13th minute. Scotland unleashed their lineout drive again in the 19th minute and hooker Fraser Renwick crossed on the back of the maul. However, New Zealand started to take control of possession and from a lineout drive of their own they went close, but it was when they unleashed their scrum power to destroy the Scottish scrum on their line and lock Isaia Walker-Leawere went close to scoring, only to have the TMO find the ball, after an earlier Scotland knock-on, had gone forward off New Zealand flanker Dalton Papali’i’s elbow. It was only a temporary setback as from the resulting scrum, halfback Ereatara Enari ran from the base then fed Faingaanuku, who had come off his blindside wing, for his second try. Penalty goals were exchanged in the moments after half-time, but the poor takes from the re-starts by New Zealand were finally sorted when a Scottish restart fell short of the 10m line and was taken by Walker-Leawere who set up a ruck. Enari put a clever kick over the maul and good chasing pinned Scotland with the ball and a maul was ruled. Faingaanuku and Falcon each took the ball over the advantage line and when Falcon was held, he slipped the ball to flanker Papali’i scored New Zealand’s fourth try. Scotland tried to run the ball from their own 22m line but a poor pass from Eastgate rebounded off a team-mate to Falcon and he ran back on the angle into space and passed to second five-eighths Orbyn Leger for a 50th minute try. Scotland showed what they were capable of in the 65th minute when left wing Ross McCann put his speed to effect down the sideline and it looked a try was certain but New Zealand’s defence scrambled and turned the play back downfield. New Zealand were down to 14 with Dalton Papali’i in the sin-bin and Scotland made use of the extra space.

However, Scotland came back when fullback Blair Kinghorn made up for a disappointing display when making a powerful break down the left flank, stretching New Zealand and setting up a chance for replacement wing Josh Henderson who dived in at the corner. It was a rare showing of something offensive from Scotland other than their over-reliance on the lineout drive. But New Zealand had the final say with a Falcon cross-kick finding Faingaanuku unmarked and able to take the ball and complete the scoring. Scorers: NZ Under-20 42 (Lotima Faingaanuku 3, Asafo Aumua, Dalton Papali’i , Orbyn Leger tries; Tiaan Falcon 3 con, 2 pen)

New Zealand under-20s win World Rugby Championship in style 19 Jun NZ Herald

Asafo Aumua of New Zealand scores his first try during the World Rugby U20 Championship Final.

New Zealand 64 England17

New Zealand are back on top of the world.

They have reclaimed the World Rugby Under 20 Championship in Georgia, defeating England 64-17 in the final in devastating fashion, scoring 10 tries to three.

It is their sixth crown in the 10-year history of the tournament and was a record score in the decider, eclipsing the 62-17 win over Australia in 2010, when Tyler Bleyendaal was captain and Dave Rennie the coach.

The damage was done in the first spell, as New Zealand raced to a 40-7 lead with a compelling mix of high speed rugby and support play. It was high risk, high reward and it paid off in spades.

Flanker Dalton Papali’i opened the account, diving over the top of the ruck. Wing Caleb Clarke was a constant menace on the left flanks, while fullback Will Jordan set up two tries with long breaks. Halfback Ere Enari and captain Luke Jacobson operated with quiet efficiency, and then the latter uncorked two tries to cap a fine tournament. The individual star of the final, however, was Wellington hooker Asafo Aumua, who scored a hat-trick, including one solo try in which he beat no less than six

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defenders before being subbed at around 65 minutes with what looked to be rib injury.

New Zealand were clinical off turnovers and stretched and then broke the England defence. Even when prop Ezekiel Lindinmuth was binned for a late and high tackle, they did not lose their structures.

Stephen Perofeta played well at first five. His goalkicking was up and down, with seven from 12, but he did just fly in three days before the final.

England captain Zach Mercer summed up New Zealand’s dominance.

“I’ve never witnessed a team that just keeps coming like that with that spirit.”

New Zealand head coach Craig Philpott was rapt.

England 17 New Zealand 64: Baby Blacks seal Under 20 World Cup with emphatic victory.

English Telagraph 19th June

Reigning champions England crashed to a heavy defeat by the Baby Blacks in the final of the under-20 world championships in Tbilisi. Ian Vass’s side, who were hoping to emulate their footballing counterparts by winning the world title, were stunned by a stunning 10-try performance from New Zealand in the Georgian capital.

England have a formidable record at this level – this was their fifth consecutive final – but were missing several players to injury and others who would have been eligible had they not been called up to the senior squad’s tour of Argentina. That list included Sale back row twins Tom and Ben Curry, hooker Jack Singleton, lock Nick Isiekwe, scrum-half Jack Maunder and wing Joe Cokanasiga. England, who have now played the Baby Blacks five times in the final of this tournament and are yet to record a win, were behind 40-7 at the break, having conceded six tries.

Openside flanker Dalton Papali’I, tighthead prop Pouri Rakete-Stones, lock Isaia Walker-Leawere and captain and blindside Luke Jacobson all touched down within the opening 40 minutes, while the dynamic hooker Asafo Aumua claimed a brace.

Fly-half Stephen Perofeta, who played for the Auckland Blues against the British and Irish Lions less than two weeks ago, contributed 10 first-half points.

England’s sole first half try came from Saracens openside Ben Earl, which his club-mate Max Malins converted.

New Zealand played at a breathless pace, with their first try coming after just four minutes when Papali’i crashed over the line. There were suspicions of a knock-on and referee Nic Berry, formerly a scrum-half for Queensland Reds, Wasps and Racing Metro, consulted with the TMO and the try was duly awarded.

Rakete-Stones powered over England’s line after nine minutes. Malins and Perofeta both missed with errant penalty kicks before England had their first try of the game via Earl on 18 minutes. A patient build-up through a number of phases led to the score.

Gloucester scrum-half Harry Randall put in some great work to scupper what looked like certain try in the corner, from wing Tima Faingaanuku, forcing the Tasman player to knock on. However, England could barely draw breath before Aumua ploughed through English defenders.

The young New Zealanders scored their fourth try after Walker-Leawere finished off a sublime break by full-back Will Jordan. Aumua was proving himself to be a nuisance for the English and drove over the line. On half-time, Jacobson scored in the corner, with Perofeta adding the extras.

Baby Black replacement back Josh McKay and England’s replacement scrum-half Northampton’s Alex Mitchell scored tries in quick succession after the break before New Zealand dialed up the pace again to further through a third try from Aumua and another from replacement back-row Tom Christie.

Bath’s Josh Bayliss scored England’s third try at 72 minutes. However, the imperious Kiwis had the final say, with Jacobson sealing his brace and scoring the final try of the game with just one minute left on the clock.

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2017 NZ UNDER 20S Asafo Junior AUMUA, Sam Weir CAIRD, Adrian CHOAT, Thomas CHRISTIE, Caleb CLARKE, Ryan COXON, Ereatara ENARI, Braydon ENNOR, Lotima FAINGAANUKU, Tiaan FALCON, Timothy FARRELL, Alex FIDOW, Kemara HAUITI-PARAPARA, Luke JACOBSON, Will JORDAN, Orbyn LEGER, Ezekiel LINDENMUTH, Josh MCKAY, Marino MIKAELE TU’U, Jona NAREKI, Dalton PAPALI’I, Jacob PIERCE, Pouri RAKETE-STONES, Samuel SLADE, Tamati TUA, Thomas UMAGA, Isaia WALKER-LEAWERE, John SAUNI gpfoto my photos, your story gerry@gpfoto.ie +353 (087) 2424123 © All rights reserved