Number four: The Baby Blacks win again
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New Zealand resisted a gallant comeback from England to win 33-22 and claim a fourth consecutive IRB Junior World Championship title in Padova on Sunday.
England fought back from being 23-10 down to narrow the gap to a single point going into the final quarter before a late try to full-back Beauden Barrett sealed victory for the defending champions.
The result sees the Baby Blacks extend their unbeaten record in the World Championships an incredible 20 matches.
18 points from the boot of Gareth Anscombe separated the sides, who ran in three tries apiece in a pulsating encounter at Stadio Plebiscito.
Wing Christian Wade capped a strong opening period for England with the game's first try in the corner following a powerful run down the touchline after just eight minutes.
New Zealand pulled three points back with penalty from Anscombe before moving ahead on the 25-minute mark thanks to a try from wing Charles Piutau.
Anscombe and England fly-half George Ford exchanged penalties before prop Ben Tameifuna crashed over just before half time to extend the Baby Blacks' lead to 20-10 when the teams headed for the changing rooms.
A third penalty from Anscombe's boot stretched the lead to 13 points but a try from England prop Henry Thomas dragged his side back into contention.
England were denied a chance to take the lead when New Zealand scrum-half TJ Perenara managed to get his arm under the ball as Matt Kvesic dove over under the sticks.
But Wade made sure he got the ball down shortly afterwards for his second try. Ford's conversion attempt sailed just wide leaving New Zealand with a one-point lead.
Anscombe found the mark with his fourth penalty to give the defending champions some breathing room.
With just six minutes left on the clock, Barrett chased down his own toe poke to touch down to the delight of his team-mates and ecstatic New Zealand fans in the crowd.
The scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: Piutau, Tameifuna, Barrett
Cons: Anscombe 3
Pens: Anscombe 4
For England:
Tries: Wade 2, Thomas
Cons: Ford 2
Pen: Ford
England: 15 Ben Ransom, 14 Andy Short, 13 Elliot Daly, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Christian Wade, 10 George Ford, 9 Chris Cook, 8 Alex Gray (capt), 7 Matt Kvesic, 6 Sam Jones, 5 Charlie Matthews, 4 Joe Launchbury, 3 Henry Thomas, 2 Mikey Haywood, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Rob Buchanan, 17 Will Collier, 18 Sam Twomey, 19 Matt Everard, 20 Dan Robson, 21 Ryan Mills, 22 Marland Yarde.
New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Mitchell Scott, 13 Francis Saili, 12 Lima Sopoaga, 11 Charles Piutau, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Luke Whitelock (capt), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Brodie Rettalick, 4 Steven Luatua, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Solomona Sakalia.
Replacements: 16 Sefo Setefano, 17 Michael Kainga, 18 Dominic Bird, 19 Carl Axtens, 20 Brad Weber, 21 Rhys Llewellyn, 22 Waisake Naholo.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Comments
APV1 says...
@ lawynd - Leicester have such strength in depth in every position, they could loose their best 15 and still put out a match-winning 15.
I'm a Bath fan and hoping the new owner and Geech will have a similar effect for us...
Posted 16:42 28th June 2011
lawynd says...
@Danatthecorner - I do think part of Johnson's problem is that there is interference in selection affairs from on high (and if there has to be, Rob Andrew wouldn't have been the man I'd select to do so) and that the EPS agreement limits the number of changes he can make to the squad at any one time. Also, unfortunately, most of the best English players are based at less than half the AP teams (Sale, Newcastle, Bath and London Irish in particular have very little to offer) so, EPS or no, there would be hell to pay if Johnno took Sharples, Simpson-Daniel, Trinder, Burns, Narraway and Morgan from Gloucester for example, or a selection from Twelvetrees, Tuilagi, Allen, Ford, Flood, Young, Youngs, Crane, Waldrom, Croft, Kitchener, Skivington, Parling, Slater, Deacon, Brookes and Cole from Leicester.
Posted 15:01 28th June 2011
Danatthecorner says...
@lawynd I think you may be right there about the Sarries gameplan. But it also must be said that because Ford is so accomplished at 10, Farrell just looks liberated.
Its makes a mockery of the fact that the senior teams midfield is such a mess when at under 20 level we have players of the quality of ford, farrell and tuilagi. I find it very hard to believe that none of farrell, tuilagi, henry trinder or billy twelvetrees can't do a better job than the current bunch of plodders.
Jonno is too conservative, these lads need a chance in the side to grow into the shirt like quade cooper, pocock, warburton and foden have had for their respective sides.
Posted 12:25 28th June 2011
APV1 says...
I was always taught to show humility in victory and graciousness in defeat - something Rugby players and fans generally do. And that stands us apart from other, lesser (IMO) sports.
I was pleased to see England in the final and watched them give a good account of themselves. They were beaten by a better team on the day. Good for the Baby Blacks! Both teams could have played better and made mistakes. But isn't that part of what these tournaments are about - learning from your mistakes and playing against teams and individuals who they are likely to be facing in the years to come? They've all got a lot to learn, but some are already shining through as stars for the future and possibly later this year...
I just hope that those vocally-negative supporters of their national (and club) side show more humility and, where necessary, graciousness in "real life" and save their moronic rants for here where it doesn't really matter. If I were sharing a terrace at a match with some of the people who post on here and they behaved the way they do here, I would be ashamed on behalf of rugby fans everywhere.
Posted 11:21 28th June 2011
tuffnut says...
Congratulations on your victory baby blacks.
@hayj05 - nicely put.
@bigb69 Wade's foot did look like it may have touched the line, but then later in the match Anscombe started to tackle Ford without the ball, slowing Ford down enough for TJ Perenara to get his hand under the ball over the line preventing the try. Arguably a penalty try, so kind of balances things out IMO.
It's great to see the U-20 RWC tournament growing in profile and popularity and I look forward to seeing many of these chaps for their respective countries on the world stage in seasons to come.
Posted 10:56 28th June 2011
lawynd says...
@Danatthecorner - I don't know whether it's solely down to the rigid style that Saracens impose on their game but I though Farrell looked a lot more comfortable at 12 than 10, it gave him more opportunity to assess his options and there was far less kicking from him than I've seen in the AP this season. I thought the 9-10-12 axis (Cook, Ford, Farrell) was superb, one of the best things about England's game. What could be crucial about this in years to come is that the best of these lads (including Launchbury, Wade and Yarde) might actually get into the full England setup early enough to grow in that top environment; particularly at 10, the only real option to Flood currently is Wilkinson and I fully expect the latter to retire from the international game after the RWC.
Posted 10:54 28th June 2011
Danatthecorner says...
It was a great game and I have nothing much to say that hasn't already been said other than that I saw enough from Owen Farrell there, added to what I have seen at Sarries to show he could go to the WC now.
Tactically he's top class and he made all three tries in different ways including: 2 outside breaks, 1 kick through and a brilliant delayed miss pass.
Posted 00:51 28th June 2011
7ton says...
hayj05
Well said and I agree 100%
Posted 23:42 27th June 2011
brands says...
@ Nicholas41
Im sure england will do well, they always do, also they are looking much more exiting this year!
Posted 20:54 27th June 2011
chinstan says...
Sounds like it was a cracking game, will have to try and track it down on line.
Congrats to NZ, I still can't understand how you continually produce so many amasing players from such a small pool!
A little more humility from some fans wouldn't go a miss though
Posted 14:08 27th June 2011
staph_glorious says...
If England were flawless they'd the winning of that game, as they held significant control at times in that match. But few teams have ever put out a flawless performance. Baby Blacks could take any chances that came their way, such is their class. This was the difference.
And Wade was in touch. But that was not a TMO decision going by standard protocol.
The sh*t-talking here is pathetic.
Posted 13:34 27th June 2011
hayj05 says...
I'm one that said it could of gone either way & it was definately not wishful thinking because I'm a kiwi & I can't stand when we lose any match, let alone a final!
There were moments where England could of taken the lead in the second half & they would of grown an extra arm & leg because of it. And at 26-22 late on in the piece, one England try & they could of snatched it. I certainly had that sick feeling in my stomach because they looked threatening all night.
I was just being honest & giving resect to England because they took it to us & showed the Passion that makes the game of Rugby so great.
But Also very proud of the way our boys stood up when the pressure was on :)
Posted 11:29 27th June 2011
gungehammer says...
@ramage - excellent points. Let's focus on the game.
As a Kiwi living in London I enjoyed the game and thought the English team played extremely well, kept possession early on and dominated the scrum. However when the Baby Blacks got the ball they always looked dangerous. Good rugby from both sides, congrats to them both and congrats the Baby Blacks for winning.
Posted 11:07 27th June 2011
artherfish says...
@ Bigb69
You are so right the all blacks have always been the best in the world at all time and we (Ie everyone else in the world but especial us in NH should be justly greatfull that you rugby gods let us mear mortals play your Sacred game ( Invented in that famous NZ school RUGBY school.) Please if your not willing to think with an open mind then don't keep on and on about how mucher better you are. Tink you are. If the world of rugby is as you say it is then we should all just give you the world cup not bother with a tawdry championship to actual find such things out.
Well done england under 21 you did us proud. and well done Baby Blacks they were the better team. Hence they one. If they had lost in the semis they would not have been even if enland had gone on to win without playing them . Its how it works.
Posted 11:05 27th June 2011
Nicholas41 says...
'People saying that the match could have gone either way, are just wishful thinkers'.
I doubt the baby blacks were so sure. Watch the game again - look at the opportunities missed. Of course the game could have gone either way. Super NZ defence, but English impatience helped enormously to the NZ cause.
Posted 10:05 27th June 2011
lawynd says...
It was a cracking game to watch and both teams played well; I'd agree with Ramage's assessment about the greater physical presences and better defence of the Kiwi lads wholeheartedly and add that, individually, their backs were better. The English backs played better as a unit though, as was shown by two of the tries. Congratulations to New Zealand on winning (and winning well), and well done to England for not just making up the numbers.
@bigb69 - I suggest you watch Wade's try again with your glasses on mate - he tiptoed, literally, along the grass. His heels were over the line in two places but never touched the whitewash. Talk about being bitter in victory!
Posted 09:48 27th June 2011
Ramage says...
Amazing television in Australia by Foxtel. To let others know what we have to put up with. Australia vs France was advertised to start at 11.00pm Western time I sat up late to watch the games live. Came 11.00 and the golf which was on before went on and on. Finally after midnight when the golf finished Foxtel crossed to Italy and the time gone on the clock when we got pictures was 52 minutes amazing as this was an Australian game. This is the lack of service Foxtel gives to Rugby.
The NZ England game was a cracker and very enjoyable, made even more so by a very good English team. I enjoyed the play of the English backs and admired the fluid way they ran on to the ball and moved it around. The fact NZ won, I believe, was through excellent defence and, I think, a stronger,physical presence. I did not see the same fluidity in the NZ backs but did see that physical agressiveness. That piece of defence on the goal line to deny England the try was outstanding. If this is the way future England teams play the game then I for one will be much more impressed and less critical of their boring lumbering play that brings their senior counterparts the brickbats they deserve. England can be very proud of these boys and their coaches should be kept in the ring to move on to higher levels. As a kiwi I like to congratulate any team who plays such an attractive brand of rugby, so well done England. Did I really say that! Yes I did because credit where credit is due. Also credit must also be given to the Baby Blacks because if the England side were good then they were better and their defence and physicallity were there for all to see. Im sure they didnt want to be the first NZ team in this competition to go home without winning. So well done Baby Blacks. Lets not try to score points about RWC this is different leave it for another time. Kiwis be good winners not arrogant bores.
Posted 09:35 27th June 2011
DutchWing says...
Brave effort by England, but they were never going to keep up the pace of the first 30mins. Both in the first and second half the Baby Blacks matched their opponents for the first 30mins, then upped the tempo at the last 10 and England had to throw in the towel.
People saying that the match could have gone either way, are just wishful thinkers
Posted 08:58 27th June 2011
Nicholas41 says...
I can understand that confidence, brands; it's obvious why.
I don't have confidence as such, but I am hopeful that England (and friends) will.....'do well'...
Posted 08:41 27th June 2011
hayj05 says...
Has to be said, Italy hosted a brilliant tournament. Good to see them stay up in the Championship in front of their home fans too.
Posted 05:19 27th June 2011