Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Junior World Champs

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Junior World Champs - Argentina vs Ireland & England vs France

The IRB Junior World Championship, for Under 20 teams representing the top rugby nations, is currently taking place in Argentina. After many requests, today RD has highlights of some of the best games from the last day of pool action.

We’ll start with the great match between hosts Argentina and Ireland, where the young Los Pumitas beat the Under 20 Six Nations champions 24-21 in Rosario. They had hoped to reach the Semi Finals on home soil but losses to both England and France meant that was unfortunately not possible.

By beating Ireland though, they have ensured their place in next years Junior World Championship in Italy. They are also guaranteed a finish of between fifth and eighth on the standings, while Ireland will need to win one of their remaining matches to avoid relegation to the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy for 2011.

In the other featured game, England overcame traditional rivals France 17-9 to go top of Pool C in their match. Freddie Burns proved a valuable asset once again as he kicked his kicks to add to the only try, scored by Jamie Gibson.

The playing conditions weren’t ideal so this was perhaps the least enjoyable match to watch of the round, but a hard fought win means that England will face Australia in the semi finals.

"Tough game, very tough. The first 50, 60 minutes was a real battle by two teams that looked quite nervous. At times we combated the French drive and their pick and go round the fringes well and I think to restrict a good French side to two penalties was a good return," said England coach Mark Mapletoft.

England will play Australia in the first semi final in Rosario on Thursday. Below are highlights of both games discussed. Highlights of two of the other best games will be posted shortly.

Wohoo.. thanks RD :)

By Kev, at June 15, 2010 9:51 pm
poor showing by ireland at the world champs after a 6N title! Shame. England looking very good has to be said! Tom Homer is a very solid full back.

By theboss, at June 15, 2010 10:33 pm
RD I love you! Glad to see one England team doing well...

By margaretmcsmithingtonbear, at June 15, 2010 11:00 pm
I have always loved RD. Put my flag on it...

By Anonymous, at June 16, 2010 2:02 am
put ma flag on next weekend

By drap eau, at June 16, 2010 2:14 am
wasnt the English play @ around 1min20sec illegal?

The number 6 blindside flank detaches from scrum which then the number 8 passes him the ball.

I thought you couldnt break from the scrum until the ball was out?

wat gives?

By chris, at June 16, 2010 5:42 am
Chris: good spot, yes that is illegal. The ref was distracted by the two scrum halves pushing and shoving so did not see that the flanker broke early.

In my opinion the English #9 was also obstructing the French #9.

By Anonymous, at June 16, 2010 6:56 am
that yellow card is absolute brubbish !!!!
in no way does he drop the player after having turned the guy face downwards !!!!
what he does is a normal dump tackle, he lifts the guys and lands in on the back, and tackler bends down to his legs before releasing the guy
although i understand the penalty has the english player doesnt have the ball during the whole tackle

By Luxi, at June 16, 2010 9:09 am
Yeah nothing wrong with the yellow. Wasn't off the ball and in no way did he just lift him up and drop him on the floor. Not even a pen. And i'm not being sarcastic. Much.

By Yellow, at June 16, 2010 10:29 am
@ Luxi, you really need to watch that dump again. first off "a pretty normal dump tackle"?? its illegal to dump tackle a player. the laws are explicit; you must bring the player down safely. the french player pushed him to the ground and stayed standing himself, bending at the waist and then tossing a player still isn't bringing him down in a controlled manner. completely unnecessary, totally off the ball, a definite penalty and a pretty deserved yellow.

By Sam, at June 16, 2010 3:58 pm
It's holiday for every french rugby team, and holiday time is important in France. That's why we stopped playing rugby this last weekend.

By Anonymous, at June 16, 2010 10:50 pm
lol, how you think that tackle was ok i dont know! lol

By Nath, at June 17, 2010 2:10 pm
All right for the penalty but no way for de yellow! and further in the the game Lamerat scored a perfectly good try and the ref didn't even bothered to use the video before unvalidating it....

By Anonymous, at June 17, 2010 5:02 pm
I'd like to remark that ALL the argentinian players are amateurs, and most of them haven't even played a single match in their clubs' 1st squad. It was a very nice test for them.

By Bauti, at June 18, 2010 10:54 pm