NZ Schools beat Australian Schools in nail-biter

NZ Schools beat Gulliver’s Sports Travel Australian Schools at Knox Grammar today in the Macquarie Bank Schools Rugby Tri-Nations Series to avoid a hat-trick of annual wins for the lads in the gold jerseys; but my word: it was a close-run thing.

NZ Schools flyhalf Damian McKenzie calmly slotted a sideline conversion just minutes before the end of the game to win the match

New Zealand Schools  17 — Australian Schools 16

After looking at both sides against different opposition earlier it the week it was clear that these teams would be evenly matched, and so it proved.

First half

Penalty goals were swapped early, but five minutes in big-engined Aussie flanker Brad Wilkin had to retire because of a shoulder injury.

Aus. Schools tried a tricky 22 restart kick but it misfired and they found their opponents in their red zone—never a great outcome when the other side wears a black jersey with a silver fern on it.

After a NZ lineout 10. Damian McKenzie drifted and passed to 12. TJ Faine running straight, and he burst through to score handy. After 16 minutes NZ were ahead 10-3 and looking ominous.

10. Andrew Deegan slotted an excellent penalty goal from near touch at 19 minutes, and after a strong period of play for Australia he slotted an easier one. NZ were still ahead, but by only 10-9 with nine minutes to go in the half.

Five minutes before oranges NZ put on a maul drive near the Australian line.  The Aussies seemed to be too high to keep the Kiwis out  but somehow they defused the maul and they were able to go into the break just one point down, as NZ Schools led 10-9 at half-time.

Second half

NZ exerted pressure from the kick-off and earned a penalty shot at goal after four minutes but McKenzie rattled the upright with his attempt.

The Kiwis had the upper hand but not for long.  Flanker Jack McCalman, now playing on the open side, burst up the field but the ball was lost.  They were out of their danger zone though and Deegan made a signature run up his left-hand touch and dished the ball to 11. Adrian Henley who passed to 12. Tepai Moeroa and thence to 13. Taane Milne who scored, handy.

It was a cracking try and after Deegan converted, Australian Schools lead 16-10 fourteen minutes after the break.

The Kiwis wouldn’t go away and after constant pressure they took up the ball near the Aussie posts—but knocked on.  Soon after the Aussies took a tap kick 15 metres out from their line and ran, which looked suicidal but it turned out OK and Moeroa was able to go on a damaging run not long afterwards.

With 15 minutes to go Australia got a man advantage when when TJ Faine received a yellow card for frequent team infringements, but they could not add to the score in his absence.

There was nail-biting play in the next ten minutes as NZ refused to lose.  After surviving the yellow card NZ made the key incursion of the match when the Aussie were found short on their left-hand side and NZ 8. Dillon Wihongi scored in the corner. The Aussies were still in front by one point with the conversion to come.

McKenzie had missed some easier attempts at goal on the night than a conversion from touch; so home fans thought Australia could keep the lead.  But the young Kiwi held his nerve admirably and slotted the goal.

Australia had a chance in the NZ half before the end of the match but they turned the ball over and the game ended with NZ on attack once more.

The teams

Australian Schools were aggressive for an Aussie side at the breakdown though they didn’t have the manic mongrel of the Kiwis. They had a reasonable scrum but their lineouts were ropey.  Their main faults were in allowing the Kiwis to make inroads near the sidelines, and not covering touch when NZ kicked from hand.

New Zealand Schools deserved their win and are to be congratulated for coming back near the death against a good Aussie team, although some of their passes were not well-executed, which spoiled opportunities.  They pushed the discipline envelope too far, but on the other hand, their risky play got dividends.

The Kiwis were well-matched in most areas but were better at kicking from hand.  A few times Kiwi five-eighth McKenzie noticed vacancies on the field and kicked the ball towards them to advantage.

The Players

New Zealand Schools (points) – 3. Damian McKenzie; 2. Dillon Wihongi; 1. TJ Faiane.

Five-eighth McKenzie is reminiscent of recent All Black Beauden Barrett – a good facilitator of others, a fine game manager and can have a scoot.  No. 8 Dillon Wihongi was a line-bender all night and scored the try that won the game.  Inside centre Faiane got a yellow card but his abrasiveness was telling, and he burst through for the first try even though the Aussies knew he was coming.

Australian Schools — 3. Andrew Deegan; 2. Jack McCalman; 1. Ned Hanigan

Flyhalf Deegan had a good all round game, kicked his goals and launched a great try with a searching run. As usual he did not waver when large players ran at him nor when he was picked up once like a rag doll.  McCalman switched to the open side when Wilkin was injured and took his chance by playing well in his best position.

Hanigan played hard the whole game as the sometimes no. 8 had his best performance as a second rower I have seen from him.  Honourable mentions to centres Tepai Moeroa and Taane Milne who were not perfect but got the Kiwis’ attention.

I thought the two no. 10s were the best players on the park but I will not quibble with the official Bronze Boot awards that went to Wihongi of New Zealand and McCalman of Australia.

The Wrap-up

New Zealand Schools recovered well on their tour after losing their first game of the Macquarie Bank Schools Tri-Nation Series when they lost to Fiji Schools at St. Marys in western Sydney.

As usual they have some fine young players and it is certain that we will be seeing some of them in their senior national team one day.

The Gulliver’s Sports Travel Australian Schools team have a lot to be proud of before leaving on their end of year tour to the UK and Ireland.  Unfortunately the deck will be stacked against them again on tour because the Australian schoolboys will not be playing against any national schools team. By contrast, visiting schools teams always play against Aussie lads who are still at school.

At least the Macquarie Bank series gave the young  Aussies the best tour preparation that was possible.

Photos by Lee Grant

Click on “2” to read a match report on Australia A Schools v. Fiji Schools by “Newbie”.