The Australian U20’s have won their final match before the World Rugby U20 Championship defeating the Australian Barbarians 47-19 at Chatswood Oval on Tuesday night.
U20’s flanker Michael Gunn scored two tries in a dominant performance throughout the match to assist the Australian side to a victory against their older opponents.
A potential injury to Melbourne Rebels fullback, Jonah Placid the only downside in a solid performance from the Australian U20’s.
Head Coach Adrian Thompson was satisfied with the win:
“It was a very solid hit out for our guys and I would like to thank the Barbarians for their performance tonight.
“This is our most prepared side in terms of matches played and we’ll return to training for another week before departing for Italy.”
The World Rugby U20 Championships kick off on Tuesday 2 June with Australia to face Samoa, South Africa and hosts Italy in Pool B.
The match:
A dominant scrum from the Australian U20’s within range of the posts allowed the young Australian team to go for an attacking line out, metres from the line.
Flanker Michael Gunn caught the ball and sailed through the Barbarian defence untouched to score the first try of the match.
The U20’s continued to pile pressure on the Barbarians with strong forward running. A dart from prop Cameron Orr near the line created an opportunity for towering lock Lukhan Lealaialoto-Tui to crash overtt for the second try taking the score to 12-0.
As the rain continued to pour over North Sydney, the match became a grind between both packs as each side looked to secure possession.
The Barbarians combinations only grew as the much went on and some individual flair from winger Sam Hyne as he chipped and regathered a kick in behind the U20’s defence to score in the corner.
The successful conversion from flyhalf Mitch Walton brought the score to 12-7 in favour of the U20’s.
Returning fire quickly, a rapid run from the flying centre Sione Tuipolotu, broke through the defence as he timed an offload to Michael Gunn, who changed his line to slice through the final tackles scoring Australia’s third try.
Flyhalf Deegan converted his second of the match to bring the score to 19-7.
As halftime edged closer the U20’s remained entrenched in the Barbarians defensive zone with Fereti Saaga benefiting from so hard running and his dived over the base of the ruck to score next to the posts.
Deegan successfully piloted the easy kick to take the score to 26-7 where the score would remain at the break.
The Barbarians were the first to score in the second stanza as the game moved from end to end with number eight Nuku’alofa Swerling diving over in the corner to take the score to 26-12.
As Head Coach Adrian Thompson brought his bench into the game, the reserves were able to test their arm against the Barbarians defence.
The Queensland combination of Harry Nucifora and James Dalgleish combined well between scrumhalf and flyhalf as Dalgleish crossed for a try minutes after entering the fray.
Western Australian, Riley Winter continued Australia’s try scoring form when a ricocheted ball bounced into his hands and the large lock galloped through a gap to score.
Canberra’s Tyrel Lomax benefited from a charge down from the rushing Australian defence as he dived over for his first try in the U20’s for 2015 taking the score to 47-12 following Dalgeish’s kick.
The Barbarians continued to throw everything at their younger opponents using physicality and creativity to find holes in the Australian defence.
The Australian U20's held out a late chare from the Barbarians leaving the final score at 47-19.
