Junior Wallabies suffer heartbreaking 24-23 loss to France in world under-20 championships
The Junior Wallabies have suffered a heartbreaking loss in the World Rugby Under-20 Championships, with France coming from behind before hanging on to seal a thriller.
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A heartbreaking 24-23 loss in an epic final has left captain Fraser McReight and his Junior Wallabies devastated at the World Rugby Under-20 Championships in Argentina.
The brave young Aussies scored three tries-to-two and led four times yet the French would not be denied in a pulsating decider in Rosario early this morning (AEST).
The Junior Wallabies had a chance to steal it at the 66-minute mark when halfback Michael McDonald stepped up for a long-range 45m shot at penalty goal but his attempt skewed wide.
“The scoreboard shows how close it was,” said McReight, who had another excellent game by winning three turnovers.
“I’m super, super gutted for my team ... it just sucks.”
It wasn’t the ideal moment to talk of the wider meaning for Australian rugby, with the first final at world Under-20s level since 2010, but McReight did his best.
“It shows the junior pathways are still working in Australia … this (under-20s campaign) is very positive for sure,” he said.
Flanker McReight, lock Michael Wood, try-scoring backrower Harry Wilson, elusive fullback Isaac Lucas, finisher Mark Nawaqanitawase and outside centre Semisi Tupou all had excellent games.
The strong-running Tupou (Melbourne Rebels), McReight (Queensland Reds) and Lucas (Reds) all played Super Rugby this season and others from this side will surely join them.
The Junior Wallabies could not have made a better start to the high-quality final.
Only 49 seconds were on the clock when winger Nawaqanitawase dashed 30m for a try in the corner after fullback Lucas had created the chance from nothing.
Attacking on the shortside was a clear tactic from the Junior Wallabies and this was the first pay-off because Lucas, from a virtual standing start, dummied, hit the accelerator and scooted past French hooker Alex Burin.
As they did throughout the final, the French response was swift with hooker Theo Lachaud bumping through a Will Harrison tackle and smashing over after a strong counter-ruck by Les Bleus.
Midway through the first half, the shortside tactic paid off again when Tupou bumped through a tackle and fed long-haired hooker Lachlan Lonergan for his 20m gallop to the tryline.
Wood’s strong ball-carries and McReight’s uncanny knack to latch onto the ball and force penalties were highlights as the Junior Wallabies protected a 13-10 lead.
A smart French front-of-the-lineout play for a try and a penalty goal gave the defending champions an 18-13 kick just before half-time.
This young French side had more polish and organised attack than the nation’s dysfunctional senior side in the Six Nations and there will be players in the Test ranks before long.
Fly half Louis Carbonel was classy and his five-from-six effort with the boot was decisive when Harrison and McDonald landed just three-from-seven between them.
Strong-running centre Julien Delbouis and No.8 Jordan Joseph also had the look as French Test players of the future.
The young Aussies attacked the second half with extra tempo and the third lineout of a sustained attacking passage was turned into gold.
Wilson’s strong, twisting effort final got him over the tryline for the 20-18 lead at the 48-minute mark.
Penalty goals were traded so that the Junior Wallabies entered the final 20 minutes with a 23-21 lead.
Another forced penalty earned by McReight stalled one French raid but a thumping French scrum earned the matchwinning penalty goal at the 64-minute mark.
A Wilson surge into open space shortly after ignited hope of a comeback but without clear support he decided on a kick ahead. McReight was just beaten to the ball as it bounced over the deadball line and Australia’s last clear try-scoring chance was gone.
The Junior Wallabies can be proud of how they reignited Australian rugby at this level after years in the doldrums.
The 24-0 shutout of the New Zealand Under-20s on the Gold Coast in May was the start of a fine season that highlighted how an organised build-up with full access to Super Rugby squad players can pay off.
France 24 (T Lachaud, A Burin tries; L Carbonel con, 4 pen goals) d Australia 23 (M Nawaqanitawase, L Lonergan, H Wilson tries; W Harrison con, 2 pen goal)
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