The BMW Australia Under 20s were fortunate to beat Fiji in the second round of the Oceania Under 20 Championship at Bond University yesterday, winning 32-24.
After a jittery first half they were even worse in the second and could have lost the game had Fiji kicked at goal better.
The Fijians improved noticeably from their loss against New Zealand last Saturday, partly because their opposition was easier but also because they played some good rugby.
First half
The Aussies looked shaky from the start. Three of their first four lineouts were botched by poor throwing, being skewed or too long, and a couple were in attacking positions too.
The backs performed poorly and every pass seemed to be a negotiation—and they almost had to slow down to make sure they caught the ball, and often they dropped it anyway.
But there was some good play in the ninth minute from the boys in gold when the forwards ran strongly up the middle and centre Riley weaved through traffic only to drop the ball five metres out when he fended off the last tackler.
However he had got his team in a prime position and the Aussie scrum pushed Fiji back on their feed and no 8. Hewat scored.
Some poor rugby ensued from both teams owing more to their mistakes than good pressure from the other side.
It was almost a relief when scrummie Nucifora slotted a penalty goal to change the scoreboard to read 10-0 near the half hour mark.
The young Aussies were awarded a kickable penalty but they went for touch and on their second attempt lock Swinton took an awkward ball and hooker Ma’afi split from the maul to score.
The conversion and a Fiji penalty were added before the break.
Half-time score: Australia 15 – Fiji 3
Second half
Hopes of Australian improvement were dashed when 13 Tukania scored early from a 22-metre lineout when defenders misread the play.
Then the Aussies dodged a couple of bullets when Fiji missed two penalties that could have been slotted.
Fiji were the dominant team at this point but a yellow card for a high shot by flyhalf Navabale stalled their progress.
Nucifora slotted the penalty to make the score 18-10 at 56 minutes and then the locals dodged their third bullet when 12 Botitu just knocked on an intercept in his own half with nobody in front of him.
It was a key moment because although the Aussies ruined another prime opportunity in the Fiji 22 a poor clearance by Fiji allowed a long driving maul from the Aussies for Ma’afu to score.
When Nucifora converted the Aussies led 25-10 with 15 minutes remaining; the secret was not to give the ball to the backs.
After Fiji had 15 men again, loosehead prop Johnson-Holmes poached the ball 15 metres out from his own line after a dangerous Fiji tap penalty, and later he drove up through traffic to gain ground and momentum.
Then it was Fiji’s turn to stuff up when replacement flyhalf Strang intercepted a fluffed offload and ran 45 metres to score under the crossbar.
Australia led 32-10 with 10 to go but but they had a horrible last four minutes during which replacement scrummie Lonegan was stretchered off and Fiji scored two tries from pick and drives to tighthead prop Tagi and no.8 Bogidrau.
Final score: Australia 32 – Fiji 24
Best players
Fiji
No. 8 Bogidrau ran hard all day and was difficult to drop. THP Lagi was the go-forward leader and they kept him on the park for the whole game.
Inside centre Botitu was always a threat—how would the game have turned had he taken that intercept after reading the play well?
Australia
Flanker Scott-Young had another sterling performance and attracted defenders to him. Strang, usually a halfback, proved his versatility as the replacement flyhalf and thereby may have earned his spot for the Worlds.
But the best Aussie was the inimitable loosehead prop Harry Johnson-Holmes who was one of the few Aussies to play his best, and had several key moments which made a difference.
The wrap-up
Fiji should be well-pleased with their efforts, especially never giving up at the end against opponents who had an extensive training and selection process at state level, and the benefit of the Super Under 20 competition.
Yet Fiji won’t play in the World U20 Championship in Georgia because they didn’t qualify.
One hesitates to criticise young players obviously trying their best but it was one of the worst performances I have seen from an Aussie Under 20 team.
Compared to the young Kiwis in their two matches, the Aussies looked like a Third XV. Their lack of skill in fundamentals and in playing with new team mates was, literally, groaningly poor.
The boys and coaching staff will know that they won’t win a game in the World Under 20 Championships if they don’t improve, and one fondly hopes that it will rev them up for the game against NZ and at the Worlds in Georgia.
Scoring
Australia 32 (E. Ma’afu 2, R. Hewat, T. Strang tries; H. Nucifora 3 cons, 2 pens.) beat Samoa 24 (L. Tagi, A. Botitu, S. Salimoni tries; A. Botitu 2 cons, PLD Vukatavo con, pen. )
New Zealand 80 – Samoa 23
It was a massacre in the early game as the young Kiwis scored twelve tries to two.
The Samoans played well in parts but they couldn’t cope with the high tempo of the young Kiwis who played like their elders.
Nor could they deal with the swift counter-attack by NZ from turnovers, a process that is almost a set piece for any team from over the ditch.
The score was 47-6 at half-time which meant that the second half result for the Islanders was a more respectable 33-17.
Indeed the two tries from the Samoans were crackers.
In the first one fullback Ene kicked from scrum ball, winger Filipo followed through and scragged Kiwi winger Tanielu who tried a pass around his back facing the wrong way. That never works and the chasing reserve Ah See scored.
The second happened after their two locks made ground from a scrum 40 metres out and 13 Paisami chipped delightfully for Filipo to run around and dot down..
The Kiwis looked in ominous form, though missing some Super Rugby players.
Scoring
New Zealand 80 (B. Ennor 2, R. Coxon, C. Price, C. Clarke, T. Umaga-Jensen, S. Slade, A. Aumua, J. Nareki, L. Jacobson, E. Lindinmuth, D. Papali’i tries; C. Matoe 6 cons, T. Falcon 4 cons), beat Samoa 23 (P. Ah See, L. Filipo tries; Ricky Ene 2 cons, 3 pens.)
All photos courtesy of Stephen Tremain – thank you
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