Georgia 2017
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England U20 24 South Africa U20 22: Zach Mercer leads English into World Cup final Josh Coulfield of England is stopped by Junior Boks Ernst van Rhyn and Juarno Augustus 13 JUNE 2017 The hope of a golden summer for English youth sport continues to grow as defending champions England have reached the Under 20 World Championship final after a hard fought 24-22 point win over a dogged South Africa in the Georgian capital Tbilisi. To emulate their footballing peers’ feat of a World Cup title, the rugby side will face either France or New Zealand in the final on Sunday. England had a five-point cushion at half time after captain and Bath number eight Zach Mercer and Northampton Saints scrum-half Alex Mitchell crossed for converted tries. Promising Saracens Fly-half Max Malins was impressive off the kicking tee, also kicking a first half penalty. The Junior Boks showed their mettle with a striking performance from their pack. Dynamic number eight Juarno Augusto powered over for a first half try. The impressive Curwin Bosch of the Sharks duly converted. The young South Africans continued to impress in the second half with a try from lock Ruben Van Heerden, with Bosch again adding the extras. They stretched their to 17- 22 after an impressive penalty kick from Bosch. England fly-half Max Malins tackles South African lock Lee-Marvin Mazibuko . With just moments remaining Mercer showed the individual class that saw him named the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA) Young Player of the Year, to bust through the Junior Boks’ defense and score under the posts. Malins converted to edge England ahead. The South African’s had a chance to snatch the lead when Bosch slipped into the pocket but he botched his drop kick chance. England hung on to snatch the win. If they do go on to win on Sunday, it will be England’s fourth world title at Under 20 level in five years. ENGLAND BEATEN IN FINAL OF WORLD RUGBY U20 CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL 18 June 2017 England were defeated by New Zealand in the final of the World Rugby U20 Championship after sustaining a 64-17 loss in Georgia. They trailed 40-7 at the break with New Zealand scoring tries through Dalton Papali’I, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Asafo Aumua 2, Isaia Walker-Leawere and Luke Jacobson with
Stephen Perofeta contributing 10 points. England’s try came from Ben Earl, which Max Malins converted. Josh McKay and Alex Mitchell traded tries after the break before New Zealand added to their lead through Aumua and Tom Christie. Josh Bayliss scored England’s third score while Jacobson had a second and the final try of the game. Defying the odds The side had defied the odds to reach their fifth successive World Rugby U20 Championship final. Heading into the tournament five members of the U20 Elite Performance Squad were called into the senior set up for the two-Test tour of Argentina while they also lost five key players to injury out in Georgia. Nonetheless the side secured bonus-point victories over Samoa and Wales before beating Australia in their final pool game. A late Zach Mercer try in the last four secured their place in Sunday’s final but the Baby Blacks proved too strong. Blistering Baby Blacks New Zealand made a blistering start after Papali’i dived over a ruck to open the scoring and after consultation with the TMO it was awarded despite suspicions of a knock on. Rakete-Stones was the next to barge over after New Zealand powered their way to England’s line which Perofeta converted. Malins and Perofeta both missed penalties before England had their first try of the game. After going through several phases, Earl picked a fine line to scythe through the Baby Blacks midfield and cross unchallenged.Randall prevented a certain try in the corner, forcing Tima Faingaanuku to knock on but moments later they had their third try with Aumua powering through the tackle of Darren Atkins in the corner. The Baby Blacks scored a fourth after Walker-Leawere finished off Will Jordan’s break while soon after Aumua powered over from close range with Perofeta’s conversion taking the score to 33-7. There was time for one more before the break, Jacobson going over in the corner which Perofeta converted for 40-7. Mitchell makes an impact McKay had try number seven for New Zealand before they were reduced to 14 men with Ezekiel Lindenmuth sent to the bin. Mitchell came on for Randall and made an immediate impact sniping through with a quick tap and go to score. Aumua scored hat trick as New Zealand hit 50 and Christie barged over for a ninth try before replacement James Grayson produced a moment of magic to send a kick over the New Zealand defence and into the hands of Bayliss who bundled over in the corner. However, New Zealand
had the final say, Jacobson powering through which Perofeta converted in the final action of the game. • England – Tries: Earl, Mitchell, Bayliss Cons: Malins • New Zealand – Tries: Papali’I, Rakete-Stones, Aumua 3, Walker-Leawere, Jacobson 2, McKay, Christie Cons: Perofeta 7 Mercer proud of side despite New Zealand defeat 19 June 2017 England Under 20 captain Zach Mercer paid tribute to his team mates, after their World Rugby U20 Championship final ended in defeat. Mercer and his team mates had defied the odds to reach the final with the game proving one match too far. New Zealand sealed a 64-17 victory in Sunday’s final but Mercer says the side should still be proud of themselves. “We are disappointed with the result but we will leave Georgia with our heads held high,” said Mercer. “We came up against some huge challenges during this campaign and I’m really proud of the boys effort.””We are disappointed with the result but we will leave Georgia with our heads held high.” The Bath forward added: “We won’t make excuses, they were the better outfit, we didn’t switch on as well as we should have in that first 20 minutes, they capitalised on evert error they are outstanding outfit.” England were without 12 players going into Sunday’s final. Five were called into the senior squad for the tour of Argentina, while a further seven were ruled out through injury. And Mercer said he was disappointed not to have been able to win the tournament for those players who missed out through injury. “We lost players pre and during the tournament and we wanted to do it for them, however, it wasn’t to be but it has been a squad effort to get us to this point,” he added. For Mercer and many of the squad this will be the last time they play for England U20s with players such as Max Malins, Harry Randall and Theo Brophy Clews now moving into senior rugby. And Mercer says the challenge for them is to return to club rugby and try and make the move up to international rugby. “For a lot of these players it’s the last time they’ll play for England U20 so this is a special day for them,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed my time with England U20s and the challenge for us now is to go back to our clubs and be better players and try and make that step to international rugby.”
Final standings World Rugby U20 Championship 2017
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England U20s 2017 Tom Parton (London Irish),Ali Crossdale (Saracens), Dominic Morris (Saracens), Will Butler (Worcester Warriors), Gabriel Ibitoye (Harlequins), Theo Brophy-Clews (London Irish) captain, Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Ollie Dawe (Bristol Rugby), Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons), Marcus Street (Exeter Chiefs), Josh Caulfield (Exeter Chiefs), Dino Lamb (Harlequins), Max Davies (Newcastle Falcons), Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby), Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby), Henry Walker (Gloucester Rugby), Alex Seville (Gloucester Rugby), Ciaran Knight (Gloucester Rugby), Justin Clegg (Worcester Warriors), Joe Mullis (Gloucester Rugby), Harry Randall (Gloucester Rugby), Max Malins (Saracens), Jacob Umaga (Wasps)
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