Australian schools and under 18s v New Zealand rugby stars, standouts, result wrap
They are the New Zealanders likely to terrorise our Wallabies of the future and already inflicting pain on Australia’s rising stars of rugby. But there’s still some good news. Result wrap.
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They are the young New Zealanders likely to terrorise our Wallabies of the future and on Monday they were already inflicting plenty of pain on Australia’s rising stars of rugby.
The touring New Zealand schools and under 18s side beat their Australian opposites 55-36 to claim the trans Tasman trophy after also winning the series opener last Thursday in Canberra.
The match previewed the exciting talent in New Zealand and Australia’s teen ranks but it was the clinical Kiwis who dominated and their captain and Man of the Match Oli Mathis who starred.
After a tit-for-tat first 40 the New Zealanders lifted a gear in the second half to run out big winners in a major show of power.
It was a tough loss for the Australians despite some stirring moments from the locals in the first half of the match and two pride-saving tries from late call-up Luca Cleverly and Boston Fakafanua in the second half.
Australian coach Shannon Fraser said he was pleased with the improvement from the first Test but that New Zealand were the better side on the day.
“Between game one and game two we showed a bit of growth, they responded well to what we wanted them to do in our movement off the ball and collisions and I think we showed some good signs,’' he said.
“I thought today we worked really hard off the ball, had a lot of energy in our defensive line early on and our attacking run was much better.
“They were the main areas of focus but we weren’t able to do it effort on effort.
“We weren’t good enough today and that’s the reality.
“There’s a gap and it’s our responsibly to work hard to close that gap. The responsibility of the players and the programs.
“They have the capacity. There’s a lot of growth and potential in them and the ones coming behind.
“There’s encouraging signs for the future.’’
The focused New Zealanders took a 29-24 lead into halftime after a ripper first half from both teams.
QueenslanderDre Pakeho opened the scoring for Australia with New Zealand’s James Cameron matching suit soon after.
Teammate Tevita Naufahu scored the first of his two first half next before Waratahs gun Toby Brial scored two in a row to put the Aussies ahead briefly.
Two quick tries from New Zealand captain Mathis and Naufahu gave the Kiwis side the edge heading into the break.
Mathis, one of the sports most exciting young up-and-comers, opened the scoring in the second half with another great try to put the visitors up 34-24.
New Zealand had three more tries in them - including one from big Logan Wallace - to dominate the match.
Coming off the bench Cleverly, just 16, scored a second half try in an encouraging sign for the future with Fakafanua also going over.
The pair’s stablemate at the Waratahs Toby Brial was another standout with his two first half tries.
Fraser also liked Hwi Sharples leadership, backrowers Aden Ekanayake, Austin Durbridge and Brial and Fakafanua.
“Boston was in everything and a very good competitor,’’ he said.
A number of changes were made to the team which were outclassed by New Zealand 34–3 in a major shock last Thursday.
A key change was the starting halves combo of Waratahs scrum half Hwi Sharples and young Rebels fly half Joey Fowler.
Joining his Waratahs teammate Sharples in the starting line-up was Lachlan Doheny from Eastwood Rugby and Queensland Reds Academy player Avery Thomson.
Also, in the starting line-up was Brial replacing his injured Waratahs teammate Sam Niulala. Brial came off the bench in game one.
AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS & U18s TEAM FOR GAME 2
1. Nathaniel Tiitii (NSW Waratahs, The Kings School), 2. Oliver Barrett (QLD Reds, St Joseph’s Nudgee College), 3. Will Goddard (NSW Waratahs, Knox Grammar School), 4. Lachlan Doheny (NSW Waratahs, Eastwood Rugby Club), 5. Avery Thomson (QLD Reds, Brisbane Boys College), 6. Aden Ekanayake (NSW Waratahs, Gordon Rugby Club) (vc), 7. Austin Durbridge (NSW Waratahs, The Kings School), 8. Toby Brial (NSW Waratahs, The Scots College) (vc), 9. Hwi Sharples (NSW Waratahs, St Joseph’s College) (c), 10. Joey Fowler (Melbourne Rebels, Sydney University Rugby Club), 11. Shane Wilcox (ACT Brumbies, Tuggeranong Vikings Rugby Club), 12. Boston Fakafanua (NSW Waratahs, The Kings School), 13. Dre Pakeho (QLD Reds, Brothers Rugby Club), 14. Brendan Palmer (NSW Waratahs, Hunter Wildfires), 15. Joe Walsh (NSW Waratahs, St Augustine’s College), 16. Macarius Pereira (QLD Reds, St Joseph’s Nudgee College), 17. Lipina Ata (NSW Waratahs, Newington College) 18. Lehopo Leota (QLD Reds, Iona College), 19. Charlie Brosnan (QLD Reds, Brothers Rugby Club), 20. Fergus Gillan (QLD Reds, The Southport School), 21. Wyatt Ballenger (Melbourne Rebels, Marcellin College), 22. Luca Cleverley (NSW Waratahs, Newington College) 23. Tyrese Lokeni (NSW Waratahs, The Kings School), 24. Samson Tuqiri (QLD Reds, Brisbane Boys College), 25. Luke Aiken (QLD Reds, Sunshine Coast Grammar School), 26. Finn Prass (QLD Reds, Brothers Rugby Club
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