Yesterday the Waratahs’ Gen Blue Under 20s had their final hit-out before the new Super Rugby Under 20 competition starts next week.
In the process they lost their third flyhalf for the year and his back-up was looking very dusty also after his shift at fullback.
The Sydney University side they played had a mixture of Grade and Colts players such as ex-Rebel Angus Roberts, 2015 Aussie U20 hooker Folau Fainga’a and even fellows who played for the NSW Under 20s last week, Will McDonnell and Tim Clements.
First half
University played a narrow game in the Juniors’ 22 and Harry Williams scored after five minutes following several pick and goes, for his team to lead 7-0
At 15 minutes flyhalf Connor O’Shea fell to the ground after making a break. At first it looked like he tripped but soon it turned out to be a hamstring injury.
Before drinks 13 Ned Yeomans found himself in space and centre Sione Afu was the beneficiary to bring the score back to 5-7.
Uni had spoiled some chances by poor ball work and being pinged, but the Juniors were having all kinds of problems with their lineout.
Under 20s fullback Jack Maddocks launched some booming punts to make huge gains and firebrand University no. 8 Lincoln Whiteley was causing havoc with his in-your-face style of play.
The Juniors nearly went in after some excellent ballwork but the ball was lost before grounding it. Despite a yellow card to flanker Max Girdler for following the ball through “deliberately too early” according to Hoyle, the Under 20s scored next when Maddocks did a nice dummy and step to score.
Most of the play had been in the Uni half in the second quarter but Whiteley caught the U20s napping with a powerful charge to score before half-time, for Sydney University to lead 14-12 at the break.
Second half
Uni had the better of play in the 3rd quarter. The Juniors were missing a specialist flyhalf and some of the backs were like Brown’s cows knowing where to be to adjust to to the situation. However this problem was also an opportunity to learn to cope with it, and this they did.
There was no scoring in the third quarter and although the Students threatened a few times, the Juniors’ goal-line defence and first-class scrum helped to repel them.
After drinks Afu took the ball up and when play went to the other side winger Sepesa Loga-Tarogi scored for the U20s They took the lead by 17-14 by my rough tally, but University were looking dangerous with Super Rugby player Angus Roberts running the show. After the 20s were out-numbered on one play Whiteley scored.
The final score was 19-17 to Sydney University by my estimate, though I may have missed a try, but as far as I know, “nobody was keeping score” and I wouldn’t put money on it.
The wrap up
The NSW Gen Blue Under 20s have had a decent trial series and this game was the best of them.
They will probably have more Under 19s than in previous years though players like 3. Harry Johnson-Holmes and 6. Max Girdler have been as good as their elders, if not better. Also they don’t have as many outright stars as they have had in the past.
But they are a fit side who are mostly good at the breakdown, and their scrum was excellent yesterday.
When asked about it after the game Tim Rapp said they hadn’t talked a lot a lot about the new Super Rugby Under 20 competition and its structure but would during the week.
He was happy about the last trial.
Rapp agreed about the Under 20 scrum being handy:
He was also was impressed with Girdler and Johnson-Holmes – and added:
Rapp said “to be honest everybody did well”; but he was not in denial about the elephant in the room. What needed work?:
The Waratahs Gen Blue Under 20s will play against the Reds Under 20s in a curtain raiser to the Super Rugby match at Allianz Stadium:
Saturday 27 February – Gen Blue U20s v Queensland U20s, Allianz Stadium, Sydney, 5.15pm.
Photos by Lee Grant
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