New Zealand U20 defended their crown of the SANZAAR U20 Rugby Championship, beating the Junior Springboks 48-45 in a match where 93 points were scored and defence was seemingly left on the bus.
New Zealand U20 made a mistake from the kick-off, which allowed the Junior Boks to set up camp in the New Zealand U20's red zone. They bashed at the New Zealand defence until Albie Bester bulldozed his way over the tryline.
The Junior Boks scored their second try when Simphiwe Ngobese crashed over after seven minutes of play in the first half. Vusi Moyo converted to extend the Junior Boks' lead to 12-00.
The Junior Boks continued to apply the pressure and after twelve minutes of play hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele scored of the back of a five-meter lineout-maul to extend the Junior Boks lead to 19-00.
Seven minutes later, New Zealand started to get rhythm in the attack, and it ended with Harlyn Saunoa scoring a brilliant try in the corner, reducing the Junior Boks' lead to 19-05.
With the momentum completely with New Zealand, they patiently built their attack, and at the end Harlyn Saunoa strolled over out wide for his second try. Will Cole converted to make it a seven-point game.
However, the Junior Boks struck back off the kickoff and Gino Cupido scored, to extend their lead to 26-12 following Vusi Moyo's third conversion.
New Zealand's captain Manumaua Letiu broke away from a dominant maul and scored their third try, maintaining their momentum. Just before time was up in the first half. However, the black wave became bigger and bigger, and Harlyn Saunoa scored his third try to trail 24-26 at the halftime break.
New Zealand continued where they finished in the first half, and tries scored by Maloni Kunawave and Sika Pule extended their lead to 38-26 after just seven minutes of play.
Two minutes later, Wandile Mlaba intercepted a loose pass by New Zealand to cut the lead of New Zealand to 31-38.
New Zealand fullback Stanley Solomon added his name to the score sheet, whereafter, Wandile Mlaba added his second try for the Junior Boks. Thereafter, Maloni Kunawave scored his second try. A penalty try was awarded to the Junior Boks with four minutes to play, reducing New Zealand's lead to 48-45, which was also the final score.
Scorers:
Junior Springboks: Tries: Albie Bester, Simphiwe Ngobese, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Gino Cupido, Wandile Mlaba (2), Penalty try. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (4).
New Zealand U20: Try: Harlyn Saunoa (3), Maloni Kunawave (2), Manumaua Letiu, Sika Pule, Stanley Solomon. Conversions: Will Cole (4).
Teams:
Junior Springboks: 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 Albie Bester, 11 Gino Cupido, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Matt Romao, 6 Thando Biyela, 5 JJ Theron, 4 Riley Norton (c), 3 Jean Erasmus, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Simphiwe Ngobese. Replacements: 16 Juandre Schoeman, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Herman Lubbe, 19 Morne Venter, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Kyle Smith, 23 JC Mars.
New Zealand: 15 Stanley Solomon, 14 Maloni Kunawave, 13 Jake Wiseman, 12 Harlyn Saunoa, 11 David Lewai, 10 Will Cole, 9 Dylan Pledger, 8 Mosese Bason, 7 Caleb Woodley, 6 Finn McLeod, 5 Josh Tengblad, 4 Xavier Treacy, 3 Robson Faleafā, 2 Manumaua Letiu (c), 1 Sika Pole. Replacements: 16 Eli Odenryn, 17 Tamiano Ahloo, 18 Dane Johnston, 19 Randall Baker, 20 Micah Fale, 21 Charlie Sinton, 22 Rico Simpson, 23 Tayne Harvey.