England U20s win against Springboks in Junior World Champ.,
By RFU Press Office
June 19 2011
England U20 secured their spot in the IRB Junior World Championship semi-finals after a hard fought 26-20 win in Padova, Italy. South Africa were always within touching distance of Rob Hunter’s men, but England’s dogged defence & accuracy in the attack proved too much for the Boks
| England U20 hold out for memorable Springboks Win | ||||
England U20 26-20 South Africa U20 . The win means England will face France in their semi, a side who they beat 19-8 in this year’s 6 Nations, and will be hoping to secure their ninth consecutive win under Hunter. Tries from London Wasps centre Elliot Daly, Newcastle Falcons No. 8 Alex Gray and Wasps wing Christian Wade helped England to the success, while Leicester Tigers fly half George Ford scored 11 points with the boot. England got off to a blistering start with Ford scoring a long range penalty before Daly showed great initiative to pick up a loose ball near the Springboks try-line, go round two men and touch down in the corner. But South Africa came back into the game with a try of their own after 25 minutes. A simple line-out near England’s try-line was taken cleanly and No. 6 Nizaam Carr went through the gap to score. The conversion was missed to keep the score at 8-5. A Ford penalty then gave England an at 11-5 lead minutes later, but a long range South African penalty from No. 10 Johan Goosen made the score 11-8 after 37 minutes, and the fly half levelled things up at 11-apiece with another penalty just before the break. England started the second half just as they had done the first, captain Alex Gray rounded off an excellent cross-field team move to score in the corner, but Ford’s conversion sailed just wide. South Africa came close to scoring their second try of the match five minutes later, but a last-ditch try saving tackle from Worcester’s Matt Kvesic saved England. The Baby Boks did score their third penalty of the game soon after, Goosen again slotting between the posts to make the score 16-14 to England. A Ford penalty momentarily reclaimed England’s five-point lead, but a Goosen three-pointer made the score 19-17 with 15 to play. Wasps wing Wade then showed why he’s such hot property, scoring his fourth try of the competition, displaying great pace to evade several defenders before touching down between the sticks. Ford’s conversion made the score 26-17, giving England a nine point lead with five minutes to play. South Africa almost hit straight back, and would have done but for another try saving tackle, this time from Wasps lock Joe Launchbury. As the clock ticked past 80, Saracens prop Mako Vunipola was sinbinned for persistent offenses, and Goosen scored the resulting penalty to make the score 26-20. With South African a converted try away from the lead, they began to exploit their man advantage, forcing a line-out on England’s try-line, but replacement hooker Koree Britton found his man with a high pressure throw and England held out for the win. Points: Daly 1T, Gray 1T, Wade 1T; Ford 3P, 1C. England U20 starting XV v South Africa
15) Ben Ransom (Saracens) Replacements:
16) Koree Britton (Gloucester Rugby) on for Mikey Haywood 79 mins |
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Sunday June 19, 2011
Issued by Stefan Curtis
England U20 captain and Newcastle Falcons No. 8 Alex Gray reflects on England's 26-20 win against South Africa in the IRB Junior World Championship:
“It was really tough out there, it was a case of two talented sides giving absolutely everything to make sure they got into the next round, and fortunately we edged it. They really came at us and we had to fight until the death – I lost count of the number of try-saving tackles we made.”
“It was definitely one of the hardest matches I’ve played in, especially those last five minutes – I can’t remember being in a game that tense for a long time. It’s good to have that experience in the bank though, and hopefully it will stand us in good stead for our semi final against France.”
“We started both halves with real intent and I was lucky enough to get on the end of a nice team move to score at the start of the second. It was difficult because South Africa were always within touching distance, they’re one of the best sides in the world so it’s hard to stop them – they live on momentum. Our objective was to stop that momentum and at times we did, and on other occasions we just had to scramble for our lives.
“The boys played well and I’m proud of what we have achieved so far in this competition, but there’s still a long way to go. A few of the boys pulled out some amazing last-ditch try saving tackles and that just sums up the spirit within the camp and how hard we’re prepared to work for each other.
“We all want to achieve something and we want to fight hard and win for each other as well – you can’t coach that, you can’t develop that, it’s just something that comes from within.
“France are up next for us and even though we beat them in the 6 Nations a few months back that counts for very little. It’s a different ball game out here and they’re in good form, but so are we.”