A whopping 13 tries were scored in an entertaining affair at St Paul’s College in Hamilton, but it was ultimately Australia U18 who emerged victorious, prevailing 54-31 over the New Zealand Barbarians U18s.
It proved a perfect afternoon for rugby in the centre of the North Island, with plenty of Australian fans making their voices heard as the next generation of Wallabies showed their potential.
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The Australians raced out of the blocks, getting on the scoreboard after just 6 minutes through a brilliant rolling maul try, hooker Oliver Smith picking up the reward on the scoresheet.
It proved an ominous sign for the Barbarians, with the visitors finding success applying pressure at the set piece, while also finding plenty of space going wide, generating several opportunities inside the hosts’ 22 that they were unable to convert.
The pressure ultimately resulted in a second try in the 18th minute, Australia U18s turning to their maul again and picking up the same reward with a second try to Smith.
However, the Barbarians struck back quickly after struggling to break into the Australian 22 in the opening quarter, with co-captain Triumph Voice going over in the corner to get the hosts’ first score of the afternoon in the 21st minute.
However, the visitors struck back five minutes later off the scrum, with Taione Taka breaking the New Zealand line to set up fullback Jack Plamondon for their third try before the half-hour mark.
The score saw the Australians grow in confidence, attacking the ruck well while also finding success in direct hit-ups, getting over the gain line against the Barbarians.
However, it would be the scrum where Australia would really start to dominate, the 36th minute seeing a scrum penalty and the visitors kick to the corner, the rolling maul proving unstoppable again to see Smith net his third.
The Barbarians would score their second in the shadows of halftime to make it a two-try game, finding success rolling up their sleeves and going up the guts, with Luke Goodman the beneficiary.
The hosts finished the half with momentum, denying Australia a late chance to score after the halftime siren to go into the break down 26-12.
However, the Australians struck back quickly after halftime, extending their lead in the 44th minute through a try in the corner to Aidan Wunsch - and it proved a moment that the game opened up.
The Barbarians struck back with their own rolling maul just shy of the 50th minute, with co-captain Santino Naufahu scoring to keep the hosts in touch.
With the game opening up, the Australians upped the tempo, and off the back of the strong set piece, skipper Justice Taumoepeau crashed through to score his side’s sixth, and the visitors crossed 40 points.
With both sides turning to their benches, the results came quickly for the hosts, with Solomone Tuitupou scoring off a tap-and-go just a few minutes later, thanks to a strong shove from his bench, but with the hosts 16 points behind, they needed to score next.
However, the visitors would shut the door on the affair in the 63rd minute with a long-range effort finished off by Plamondon, scoring his second of the afternoon and continuing his strong form.
After James Smith was sent to the bin for repeated infringements in the ruck, the Barbarians would get their fifth try of the day after sustained pressure in the 22 saw Junior Aukuso Slade.
However, the visitors would get the last laugh in the closing stages, with the rolling maul seeing them score a penalty try to see the visitors cross 50 points and deliver a strong win on New Zealand soil.
New Zealand Barbarians 31 (Tries: Voice, Goodman, Naufahu, Tuitupou, Slade. Cons: Soagia 2/4 Talbot 1/1) def by Australia U18s 54 (Tries: Smith 3, Plamondon 2, Wunsch, Taumoepeau, Penalty Try. Cons: Ruthven 6/7)
