Black day for 'Boks in stunning U-19 final

Rugby

New Zealand take world crown with dazzling display

Monday, April 23, 2007

By Gavin Mairs

If the fantastic crowd of 11,165 supporters who turned out to see the climax of the IRB Under-19 World Championship final at Ravenhill on Saturday night were not treated to the expected white-knuckle clash of titans, it was only because South Africa simply had no answer to the breath-taking display by worthy champions New Zealand.

The 'Baby Blacks' 31-7 rout of the 'Baby Boks' was both clinical and ruthless and a display that belied their years and gave a frightening insight into the supply line to the senior New Zealand side.

With an enormous pack and exquisite finishers like full-back Wilton Pietersen, South Africa had looked equipped to test their opponents, who had breezed through the final without breaking stride.

But Kieran Crowley's side had kept their best to last, with Robert Fruean, a future star in the making, Trent Renata and Kade Poki each scored tries in a devastating first-half performance to put New Zealand in front 17-0 at the break.

If South Africa were hoping New Zealand would allow them back into the game in the second half, they were disappointed as their opponents continued their imperious march to the title.

Renata added a second try soon after half time before substitute Jackson Willison added another to extend New Zealand's lead to 31-0.

South Africa were determined to make their mark on the final and were rewarded for a long period of pressure inside the New Zealand 22 with a try for Yaasir Hartzenberg. It was little consolation.

"There is a lot of hard work goes into this and we are probably the lucky ones to be here on stage, there are a lot of managers and trainers back home in New Zealand who have put a lot of work into this," said Crowley.

"The victory certainly did not come easily. South Africa are a big team, and we had a good look at them before. We knew if we could cut out their big runners then we could weaken them."

Defending champions Australia produced a remarkable second-half comeback to claim third place over Wales. Trailing 21-10 at the break, Andrew Barrett and Alfi Mafi scored the tries that saw Australia claw back to within one point with 12 minutes remaining. Jason Ryan added a conversion and a late penalty to seal a 25-21 victory at Ravenhill.

France made it four wins out of five with a comprehensive 43-17 victory over England at Shaw's Bridge, securing fifth place in the process. France fly half Mathieu Belie scored 17 of his side's points, including a try.

Meanwhile, Ireland's disappointment in finishing in ninth place as the host nation in the IRB Under-19 World Championships was at least eased somewhat by a rousing final flourish with a 34-0 rout of Scotland.

The ninth-place play-off game had been switched to Ravenhill to serve as a warm-up act for the finals and Charlie McAleese's side did not disappoint.

Ireland ran in five tries in all, with Kieran Essex, Jamie Smith, Eoin O'Malley, Scott Deasy and Tommy Seymour touching down. Deasy also slotted three conversions and a penalty in a vastly contrasting match to the pool encounter in which Ireland had squeezed home 13-12 via an injury-time try by O'Malley.

NEW ZEALAND: T Renata; Z Guildford, R Fruean, R Crotty, K Poki; D Kirkpatrick, W Ngaluafe; R Ah You, A Dixon, B Afeaki, C Smith, capt, S Whitelock, P Saili, L Braid, L Manu.

Replacements: Q MacDonald for Dixon (48), P Fa'anunu for Ah You (35), N Barrett, T Crowley, J Townsend, J Hardie for Braid (48), M Cameron, J Willison for Crotty (11), W Stanley, K Pisi, S Maitland for Poki (53).

SOUTH AFRICA: W Pietersen; B Botha, S Dippenaar, S W Watermeyer, V Willis; F Bummer, F Hougaard; C Fourier, H Bandjes, F Kirsten, C Hess, M Muller, T Marole, J van Deventer, G van Velze, capt.

Replacements: P J Van Vuuren for Kirsten (65), W Herbst, T Masanganja, B Botha, B Ruiters, E-J Snyman for Dippenaar (65), T Masuga, M Ngoro, A McDonald, Y Hartzenberg for Marole (35), S Nhlapo.

Referee: J Jones (Wales).