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
sandal says...
I agree that some of my fellow Kiwis should show a little humility. I know we are used to these kinds of taunts from people who repeatedly lose to us, but there is no reason to emulate them, and it looks pretty ugly in victory.
@bigb69
That IRB report looks interesting. Do you have a link for it?
Posted 03:34 27th June 2011
ABlack says...
The NZ under 20's won the game. No one remembers who came 2nd. We have had to put up with 7 days of the English players and media saying all manner of superlatives to describe how England was positive they could win this game.History and the abilities of both teams clearly said otherwise prior to the game.
When kiwis, Aussies, yarpies come 2nd at something you dont hear the players, coaches, management ,say such things as" the game could have gone either way full credit to both teams" instead they say "we lost the game they were the better team". It is almost like England at Rugby especially( maybe all sport??) ignore what the scoreborad says and go away and justify to themselves and the English public that they didnt actually lose the game in their minds and lets celebrate like we actually won. Is this a national thing or just subjected to Rugby due to the entrenced class system evident in England?
Posted 00:04 27th June 2011
tuffnut says...
@ jmanngod from one kiwi to another... pull your head in mate.
Posted 23:48 26th June 2011
brands says...
@ Nicholas41
quietly confident is all!
Posted 23:44 26th June 2011
Nicholas41 says...
Bigb69 - I was quoting something else, but yes, it will be 'kill the ball fest' daring the ref to give the penalty. To be fair, the top 6, and that includes England are trying to throw the ball about a bit, but entertainment really is way below 'winning' (as MJ has proved with his squad - I am English!) come the WC.
'If by chance you don't win the RWC'. Oh yes, tears will fall, blood will flow, national mourning. There are clearly two different types of Kiwi; the ones I have met and played with, I wouldn't mind a NZ win for them. Some of the sorts on here though, I want photos of if they don't.
Posted 22:50 26th June 2011
kybone says...
That match against France in 07 was there to be won! Sure NZ had some bad luck but their lack of composure when the pressure was on was ultimately to blame i.e Dan Carter turns down kick at goal with a not too long to go and only a couple of points in it then goes for a drop goal from the halfway line about 90 secs later!
Posted 22:44 26th June 2011
kybone says...
Look NZ had some bad luck against France in 07 but they did't do themselves any favours. That match was there to be won and NZ just lost their heads as soon as the pressure was on. One fine example was when Dan Carter turned down a kick at goal from the tea from about 30 yards when only a couple of points behind. He then went on to try a drop goal from near the halfway line about 90 secs later. No composure.
Posted 22:41 26th June 2011
7ton says...
Yes well done young Kiwi's but also a great effort by young England and the game was closer than the score suggests.
Posted 22:36 26th June 2011
staph_glorious says...
Yeah.
Have NZ practiced DGs since?
Posted 22:33 26th June 2011
nabberuk says...
@bigb
What exactly does your moan have to do with this article?
Posted 22:20 26th June 2011
nabberuk says...
haha, ...and some kiwi's have the cheek to call English fans arrogant!!
Posted 21:27 26th June 2011
Nicholas41 says...
'you won't get one like that in the Senior final lol.' True. Probably different teams as well...
Posted 21:09 26th June 2011
Jediboy says...
Great game with good standard of rugby played by both sides. Well done to NZ but also to England. On another day, who knows, maybe it could have been England's day.
On another note, some NZ fans need to be careful. If by chance you don't win the RWC, there will be a hell of a lot of people rubbing your faces in it saying that you choked again.
Posted 21:00 26th June 2011
hayj05 says...
Oh man, show humility fellow NZers. England put up one hell of a fight & it could of gone either way. Congrats to both sides for an exceptional match, you won't get one like that in the Senior final lol.
Posted 20:36 26th June 2011
ABlack says...
Wait till you see the NZ U20s next year..! phew they are good the 18s and 19s out there.
Posted 20:33 26th June 2011
dolgun says...
A great game of rugby between two fairly even sides and I thought the ref did an outstanding job.
It's a shame that England's test side can't produce rugby this exciting to watch.
Well done the Baby Blacks - 20 wins in a row!!!
Posted 20:23 26th June 2011
northampton32 says...
@jmangod except in the upcoming rugby world cup obviously :)
Posted 20:23 26th June 2011
Nicholas41 says...
Good wind up. There was little between those teams. England could quite easily have won it. The 'natural order of things'? That doesn't always work and Kiwis know that more than anybody. Apart from 'brands' evidently..
Anyway, kids, I'm off to chat to some adults about it now....
Posted 20:21 26th June 2011
brands says...
and another to follow in a few months time............
Posted 20:06 26th June 2011