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In their final pool game in the IRB Junior World Championship, Scotland under-20 felt the full force of the host nation as New Zealand under-20 ran out 54-7 winners.
Head coach Sean Lineen said: “It’s obviously a disappointing result, on the big stage, and some players had a better game than others.
“I was really pleased with the scrum, and the defensive work was much improved as was line speed, and we put in some good tackles.”
Early promise to front up to New Zealand in their back yard came to nothing, however, despite solid scrummaging and a much-improved defence.
Lineen said: “We just made too many errors and our job as coaches is to improve the players. It was always going to be a challenging pool and our players just haven’t had the exposure to this level of rugby.
“We just need to stay strong and regroup for the last game – we’ve got Italy in our fourth game so we’ve just got to get on with it.”
First half
Led out for the first time by centre Blair Hutchison, things looked promising in the opening ten minutes, with Scotland bossing the play and registering 85% possession, but it was possession they couldn’t turn into points. Stand-off Ben Chalmers had the first chance to put points on the board when a penalty was awarded for infringement at the breakdown but the kick swerved off kilter in the wind.
It was a full five minutes before New Zealand had ball and mounted the first attack but Scotland’s defence held all the way to the line, where a try attempt was held up.
Eleven minutes into the game, however, New Zealand struck to plough over the line for the first try, but they were made to work for the score which was duly converted. Despite some thumping tackles from fullback Ruairidh Young, the opposition saw the gap and crossed again within five minutes, with extras.
It was New Zealand who were duly pinged for the next few mistakes, but as before Scotland were unable to capitalise on the advantage. As the half-hour approached, the momentum changed and New Zealand hit their stride, scoring another converted try five minutes before half time. Scotland had the chance to put points on the board before the break, but the penalty attempt by Chalmers was hooked.
Second half
Fresh legs from half the bench as the second half kicked off went some way to regaining momentum but the strength of Scotland’s scrum was offset by challenges in the lineout and too many missed passes, spilled balls and gaps in defence. New Zealand had to beat Scotland by at least five points and with four or more tries and they achieved the second ask eight minutes into the second half.
Four more tries in the second half underlined New Zealand’s domination however four minutes before the whistle, Scotland at last had something to cheer about. Late replacement Damien Hoyland capitalised on a fumbled pass, intercepted and legged it 80m up the wing, ball in both hands, to touch down for the Scots’ first points, the try converted by Gavin Lowe. Final score 54-7.
Scotland will now face Italy in the 9th to 12th place play-off on Sunday 15 June at ECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe (kick-off 3.05pm local, 4.05am UK)
Scotland under-20 team v New Zealand, Tuesday 10 June, ECOLight Stadium, Pukekohe
15 Ruairidh Young (Edinburgh Accies)
14 Jamie Farndale (Edinburgh Accies/Edinburgh Rugby) **
13 Chris Dean (Edinburgh Accies/Scotland 7s) **
12 Blair Hutchison (captain) (Loughborough University/Melrose)
11 Gavin Lowe (Glasgow Hawks/Glasgow Warriors) **
10 Ben Chalmers (Melrose)
9 Ben Vellacott (Hartpury/Gloucester)
1 Jack Cosgrove (Worcester Warriors)
2 James Malcolm (Ayr) *
3 Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Hawks)
4 Andy Cramond (Aberdeen Grammar)
5 Lewis Carmichael (Melrose) *
6 Jamie Ritchie (Strathallan School/Howe of Fife) *
7 Gabriel Carroll (Loughborough University)
8 Magnus Bradbury (Boroughmuir/Edinburgh Rugby) **
Substitutes
16 Cameron Fenton (Strathallan School/Howe of Fife) * (on for Malcolm, 35m)
17 Phil Cringle (Edinburgh Accies/Edinburgh Rugby) ** (on for Cosgrove, 57m)
18 D’arcy Rae (Ayr/Glasgow Warriors) ** (on for Fagerson, 40m)
19 Tommy Spinks (London Scottish) (on for Carmichael, 66m)
20 Sam James (London Wasps) (on for Fenton, 63m)
21 Alex Glashan (Edinburgh Accies/ Scotland 7s) ** (on for Vellacott, 40m)
22 Damien Hoyland (Melrose) * (on for Chalmers, 40m)
23 Gavin Parker (Exeter University) (on for R Young, 68m)
Scotland under-20 squad for IRB Junior World Cup
Magnus Bradbury (Boroughmuir/Edinburgh Rugby) **
Lewis Carmichael (Melrose) *
Ben Chalmers (Melrose)
Gabriel Carroll (Loughborough University)
Jack Cosgrove (Worcester Warriors)
Andrew Cramond (Aberdeen Grammar)
Philip Cringle (Edinburgh Accies/Edinburgh Rugby) **
Chris Dean (Edinburgh Accies/Scotland 7s) **
Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Hawks)
Jamie Farndale (Edinburgh Accies/Edinburgh Rugby) **
Cameron Fenton (Strathallan School/Howe of Fife) *
Alex Glashan (Edinburgh Accies/Scotland 7s) **
Neil Herron (Glasgow Hawks/Scotland 7s) **
Damien Hoyland (Melrose) *
Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints)
Blair Hutchison (Loughborough University/Melrose)
Neil Irvine-Hess (Watsonians/Edinburgh Rugby) **
Sam James (London Wasps)
Gavin Lowe (Glasgow Hawks/Glasgow Warriors) **
James Malcolm (Ayr) *
Shaun MacDonald (Stirling County)
Gavin Parker (Exeter University)
Sam Pecqueur (Edinburgh Accies)
D'arcy Rae (Ayr/Glasgow Warriors) **
Jamie Ritchie (Strathallan School/Howe of Fife) *
Tommy Spinks (London Scottish) (cajptain)
Ben Vellacott (Hartpury/Gloucester)
Glen Young (Newcastle Falcons)
Ruairidh Young (Edinburgh Accies)
* member of Scottish Rugby's Regional Academy supported by sportscotland Institute of Sport
**Elite Development Player 2013/14
The IRB Junior World Cup 2014 is being held in Auckland, New Zealand. Scotland's pool games are against:
South Africa (Monday 2 June, k/o 3.35pm local) - see highlights here
Samoa (Friday 6 June, k/o 3.35pm local) - see highlights here
New Zealand (Tuesday 10 June, k/o 7.35pm local)
9th to 12th play-off: Italy (Sunday 15 June, k/o 3.05pm local, 4.05am UK)
The squad's final fixture on Friday 20 June is dependent on results.
Last year, Scotland finished in 10th place in the tournament. Auckland is 11 hours ahead of the UK.
This article was posted on 10-Jun-2014, 19:42 by Hugh Barrow.
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