Aussies Fend off France at JWC

[laura]

Aussies Fend off France at JWC
June 23, 2008 - 10:24am
Story by: ARU

The Ford Australian Under 20s have survived a second half fightback from France to win 42-21 and secure fifth place at the inaugural IRB Junior World Championship at Cardiff Arms Park in Wales overnight.

The first half performance from Australia was effectively enough for them to secure the win as they played with a stiff breeze and raced into a 30-point lead at the break.

Flyhalf Quade Cooper kicked a first minute penalty and then a slick backline move brought the first try as centre Rob Horne put his lightning-quick wing Ratu Nasiganiyavi into space for a simple run in.

Cooper kicked the conversion and when winger Junior Sovala picked up a loose ball and dived under the posts for his fifth try of the tournament, the Aussies led 17-0 after 10 minutes.

The Australians were completely in the ascendancy as they hassled France off their own scrums and turned defence into attack deep in their opponent’s territory.

more...rugby.com.au | Aussies Fend off France at JWC

[force addict]

I thought they got kicked out?

[Swee_82]

It was 5th vs 6th playoff, FA... they lost the Quarter Final

[James]

The Australians were completely in the ascendancy as they hassled France off their own scrums...

Thats a very beautiful sentence that I haven't seen in a long time.

[robyn <3]

OMG who make up the u/20s front row?? can we make them emergency wallabies??

[BLR]

It was 5th vs 6th playoff, FA... they lost the Quarter Final

I didn't think there was Quarters, we were knocked out by losing our last group match to England who progressed straight to the Semis, may be wrong though....

[laura]

It was the qualifier for the finals that we lost, also the last pool game. Same deal as the RWC last year.
Then we played Samoa and a 5th/6th playoff against France. Swee is right on that part.

[travelling_gerry]

The only game the U20's lost was the final ppol match against England.

It has been revealed that 5 of the players were suffering acute food poisoning the night before the game. ( Maybe Suzie has moved to Wales)

There were play offs after the pool matches and thse must have been arranged from pool seedings and hence Australia played off for 5/6th place.

For full results

International Rugby Board

[James]

The only game the U20's lost was the final ppol match against England.

Check out the footage of that charge-down if you get the check. Miles Benjamin is well off-side when he touches that ball down. Ahh well.

[Jasper]

Not only was he well off side - but apparently the head of umpires apologised to Australia after the match for the mistake!!

[Swee_82]

It was the qualifier for the finals that we lost...

Oops... what she said

[jargan83]

encouraging to hear about the Aussie Scrum. I do believe our under 20 front row should find trestle and donut and sing "your time is up, our time is now, you can't scrummage, OUR TIME IS NOW!!"

(anyone who watches wresting will get it)
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[fulvio sammut]

Good to see former Palmyra winger Ratu score the most tries in the competition. His achievement is even greater when you consider he didn't play every match and only came on as a replacement in others.
The Force will regret giving up on him...

[goony]

dont blame them though...

[fulvio sammut]

Maybe, maybe not...