Late charge-down try sinks Ford Australian Under 20s

A heartbreaking charge down try in the 78th minute has seen the Ford Australian Under 20s eliminated from the iRB Junior World Championship semi-final race in Wales overnight, going down 18 – 13 toEngland.

With just minutes to play Australian fullback Dayne Haylett-Petty tried to clear the ball metres from his line, but the clearance was charged down by English centre Jordan Turner-Hall. The ball bobbled up to English winger Miles Bejamin who went over for the winning score – and his second try of the game.

Before that Australia were clinging to a 13 – 11 lead and looked set to hold on in the hard fought thriller between an Australian Under 20s team with six Super 14 players and a England team full of Guinness Premiership stars.

It was disappointing for the Young Wallabies who were far from their best and were confident of challenging for the World Junior crown.

The match began as it was to continue for Australia with an early chance from a lineout close to the English line going begging, due to a wayward lineout throw from hooker James Hanson.

Then on 13 minutes disaster struck for Australia when a long pass from Queensland Reds flyhalf Quade Cooper was intercepted by his opposite number Alex Goode who got the ball to Benjamin who sprinted away for his first try. Goode missing the conversion.

Cooper made amends shortly afterwards with a well struck penalty goal on 18 minutes making the score 5 – 3.

Shortly before that Australia had already used one of their replacements bringing on giant winger Ratu Nasiganiyavi, the cousin of another giant winger – Qantas Wallaby Lote Tuqiri – for Junior Sovala Futi.

England forged further ahead with a penalty to Goode after a breakdown indiscretion made it 8 – 3 on 20 minutes, before Cooper closed the gap to two points with his second penalty a few minute later.

The English team were pressurising the Young Wallabies into mistakes with bustling defence leading to a case of the “dropsies” for the normally skilful team.

Goode missed a chance to put England further ahead on 33 minutes with a penalty that went wide after some spirited counter rucking from the English turned over the ball.

Another intercept from Goode on 38 minutes almost got England in again but good scrambling defence from Australia held them at bay.

But Goode did put England further ahead when Australian tight head prop Ben Daley, from the Gold Coast Breakers club, was penalised right on half time for a scrum infringement. England went to the break 11 – 6 ahead.

The second half started well for the Wallabies with Ratu making a powerful charge down the left touchline but the pass inside to Haylett-Petty went to ground.

Another Ratu run soon after looked promising but again the movement broke down due to courageous English defence.

On 47 minutes things could have got a lot worse for Australia when yet another intercept saw English scrumhalf Joe Simpson run 50 metres upfield before popping a pass inside to Benjamin who touched down.

Luckily for the Young Wallabies the final pass was called forward.

On 49 minutes more substitutions for Australia saw Seilala Lam come on for No. 8 Ben McCalman and Albert Anae replace prop Dan Palmer.

Haylett-Petty almost picked up Australia’s first try soon after following a strong charge from Hanson but he was pulled down just short from the English line.

Bu the pressure led to repeated infringements from England and on 55 minutes the England captain Hugo Ellis was yellow carded for hands in the ruck.

With one man extra Australia soon made their advantage pay.

From a ruck in the English 22, Cooper passed to NSW Waratahs centre Rob Horne. He was heavily tackled but still managed a miracle pass to Cooper who then fed Ratu who beat Benjamin to score in the corner.

Cooper landed the conversion to put Australia up 13 – 11 with twenty minutes to play and gaining superiority.

Indeed Australia had a number of chances to go further ahead over the next ten minutes but the forwards held the ball in tight repeatedly when the backs seemed better placed to score.

Then on 67 minutes the door opened for England when hardworking Australian flanker Benjamin Coridas was yellow carded, again for hands in the ruck.

Three minutes later Goode had a penalty shot to put England back in front but the ball scraped the outside of the post from wide out.

Cooper also had a chance to put Australia further ahead but missed with his 43 metre penalty shot on 73 minutes.

Then with the minutes ticking down it seemed Australia would hold on until the game-defying charge down.

The Australia Under 20s now go on to face Samoa next Wednesday in Swansea in the play-offs for 5th to 8th place.

Final Score - iRB 2008 Junior World Championship

Ford Australian Under 20s 13 (Ratu Nasiganiyavi try; Quade Cooper conversion, 2 penalty goals) lost to England Under 20s 18 (Miles Benjamin 2 tries; Alex Goode conversion, 2 penalties) at Rodney Parade, Newport.

The Ford Australian U20s program is proudly supported by the Australian Institute of Sport