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

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Junior World Championship - Match highlights from Day 3

Day three of the Junior World Championship ended in drama for some, as the fate of the semi finalists was decided late in the day, with points scored proving the difference between a few of the sides. Here are highlights from four of the games.

The Baby Blacks of New Zealand continued their fine form as they powered to a 48-15 win over Argentina, making it 18 consecutive wins for the defending champions. While Argentina were looking good at one stage, a clinical second half proved the difference.

England top Pool C as they got the better of South Africa in a game that at one stage looked as though it could have gone either way. Unforced errors from the Baby Boks and an incredible work ethic from England on defence were two key factors in the game. England took their chances, while South Africa struggled to finish thanks to more than a few excellent try saving tackles, two from the second row.

As was seen here a few days ago, Wales took a serious hiding at the hands of New Zealand in their previous pool meeting. This time out they got things together though and punished Italy’s lack of fire power, winning the game convincingly 56-6.

Australia’s meeting with France was always going to prove vital to the layout of the semi finals, and it was France who threw a spanner in the works by reaching their first ever semi finals in the tournament, beating the junior Wallabies 31-25, effectively knocking out South Africa in the process, who finished equal on log points.

What that all means is that France will meet rivals England on Wednesday 22 June, while New Zealand will face Australia, who were the best runner up team across the three pools. That game is a repeat of last years final, and will also be on Wednesday, also at the Stadio Comunlae di Monigo.

Elsewhere - in games that aren’t featured here – Ireland got their first win of the tournament as they beat Scotland 30-13, while Fiji beat Tonga 36-18. Ireland will face South Africa again as they play for fifth place, while Fiji face Wales.

A relegation battle will also take place, as Scotland, Tonga, Argentina, and hosts Italy will all fight to avoid ending up in the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy next year.

Below are highlights of four featured games. You can navigate through the playlist via the button next to play, or simply sit back and catch up on all the games as it autoplays them.

first, well done england and france

By Anonymous, at June 19, 2011 10:14 pm
Great defence by the England squad there!! looking forward to see some of these players in the senior squad, bring on france. Looking forward to it, French flair vs English grit and determination!

By Anonymous, at June 19, 2011 10:33 pm
Brilliant, thanks RD!

By Flinto, at June 19, 2011 10:39 pm
I think the France v Australia game was the most exciting to watch, lots of flair and grit from the french, may have taken too much out of them for the English game though.
NZ v Eng for the final and I think Aus will take 3rd place.

fantastic rugby all round

By I hate ppl who write "First!", at June 19, 2011 10:48 pm
The 2nd French try had some neat passing and offloads. But England will win in the semi given that they'll wind up their Latin counterparts with remarks such as "nice throw old chap" or "I'm afraid we're winning, aren't we?" (while patting French players on the head).

By moddeur, at June 19, 2011 11:25 pm
I saw the whole Argentina v New Zealand match and have to say that yellow card was one of the worst referee mistakes I've ever seen on the pitch.
The tackle was excellent and, although Argentina never had a chance of winning the game, it let the "Baby" (they are anything but babies) Blacks to score a couple good tries and to throw the ball around, and that gave them a lot of confidence.

Looking forward to the next few games, these tournament has proven to be excellent!

My prediction: yet another England v New Zealand final, but this time the english will lose by a very small margin, if those tackles shown here are anything to go by.

By Juggernauter, at June 20, 2011 12:26 am
referee robbed us against England. Least the big boys will destroy england in the world cup!

By Anonymous, at June 20, 2011 12:31 am
Oh, and by the way, Matthew Morgan (the Wales no 10) looks like the real deal! You heard it here first

By Juggernauter, at June 20, 2011 2:33 am
The French dishing out Jager at 0:30.. love it!

By gf, at June 20, 2011 3:08 am
Brilliant highlights, thanks RD!!

By Dave_7, at June 20, 2011 7:27 am
@anonymous

And you sound anonymous. I'm sorry, who are you again?

ps: French, as a Romance language, is derived from Latin, thus the expression.

By moddeur, at June 20, 2011 8:06 am
I hate to say it but I dont think anyone will come close to New Zealand.. again!

By Laz, at June 20, 2011 10:03 am
It's kind of funny to see how it looks like senior RWC. France playing one hell of a game, then being beaten by the English...
The only difference is that New Zealand always win this one.

By maxime, at June 20, 2011 10:11 am
the one thing that stands out most is the speed in which the baby blacks play. There backs hit the ball at pace and are looking for space to run, their foward hit every ruck with speed as well. Looks like another cup for the baby blacks

By Anonymous, at June 20, 2011 10:15 am
Judging by the way this comp is going, its a good thing that the NZ senior team don't win the world cups as well, how boring will it be if they did?

By Anonymous, at June 20, 2011 10:17 am
Also I'm not saying the JWC is boring, cause the rugby played in this comp is very entertaining, but it will be more interesting if there was more that just one dominate team.

By Anonymous, at June 20, 2011 10:19 am
young frenchie are playing very well. Doussain is certainly the next national scum-half.
but as said before, kiwis seem to be the favorites

By Colombes, at June 20, 2011 11:15 am
doussain was excellent in the heineken cup semi for Toulouse against Leinster. hopefully he'll be in the world cup squad for france

By Anonymous, at June 20, 2011 4:45 pm
Great play by the Blacks. Though I have to say the Pumas don't look half bad either.

And that big hit at the beginning looked legal to me. But I'm not the ref.

By Guy, at June 20, 2011 8:11 pm
Didn't notice it was a playlist...

By the way: is it me or does this Junior stuff look even more entertaining than Senior rugby?????!!

I'll bet it's easier to get tickets too...

Great, great stuff RD, thanks.

By Guy, at June 20, 2011 8:21 pm
why the hell did the argentinian get yellow carded??? and what is this new idea about any lifting in the tackle is dangerous????? the dump tackle is being eradicated.

By Anonymous, at June 20, 2011 10:03 pm
@ Anonymous

No the dump tackle is not being eliminated. The onus is now on the players' safety: it is the tackler's responsibility to bring the tackled player to ground and NOT go beyond horizontal.

I'll give you that some referees sometimes overreact, but as you long as you drop a guy straight on his back there should be no problem!

By Sander, at June 20, 2011 10:07 pm
Have to agree with Sander. The first time I saw the tackle was a replay on the actual TV coverage from a different angle, he clearly lifted beyond horizontal and dump on the top of his shoulders and so, as has been the case all year, yellow card. Simple.

I think the angle in this vid makes it look better than it was. Great tackle right up until he tipped him round too far.

By Tim, at June 21, 2011 12:24 pm
the video looks to be in fast forward the Baby Blacks play with so much pace to their game

By George, at June 22, 2011 9:02 am
Why do New Zealand breed knob heads at Scrum half? After the yellow card he can be seen 'waving' to the Puma's player. That in my opinion should be a card itself. As for the rugby, absolutely fantastic. If the senior WC is anything like this one it's going to be amazing!!!!! Hopefully the AB won't be as dominent :)

By I_hate_Scrum-Halves, at June 22, 2011 10:34 pm