NZU U23s finish World Universities Cup in Oxford

Their countrymen stunned South Africa at the Rugby World Cup and the Japanese Waseda University side went on to pip the New Zealand U23 Universities team in their playoff for 5th and 6th at the World Universities Cup on Monday (NZT).

New Zealand Universities (NZU) went into the final match of the tournament hoping to finish on a high after they had previously missed out on the semi-finals. In a tight match, NZU led the Japanese side 19-7 with a few minutes to go, but the latter came back to score twice in the embers of fulltime to tie the game up at 19-19. It then came down to a penalty shootout and Waseda won 8-7 on penalties.

The tournament and inaugural World University Rugby Cup was won by South African side the University of Cape Town, who beat Trinity College Dublin 17-0 in the final. 

NZU ended the tournament having been left to rue several missed opportunities and other results that didn’t go their way. The loss that frustrated them most was the 10-20 day one defeat to the University of British Columbia, after leading 10-3 at halftime before conceding an intercept try, a spate of penalties and then a penalty on fulltime.

On Sunday (NZT), NZU had gone into the penultimate day of matches needing to beat Trinity College to make the top four, but were tipped over 11-10.

They then enjoyed their best match of the tournament, beating hosts the Oxford Greyhounds 40-0. Running rampant, highlights of this win were two tries each to Tom Brown and Kieran Parker and five conversions to Brown. NZU held a 12-0 lead at halftime before breaking the shackles in the second spell.

The final match against Waseda University was played on Oxford’s home ground of Iffley Road, and the full squad was given a run.

The match started with national anthems, the Waseda song and finally the Haka which the Waseda team challenge ending with the players up close and eye to eye.

NZU started strongly and that pressure saw Jordan Lay pick up a loose ball and scamper 40 metres for a try which was converted by Tom Brown. The Waseda team then had most of the possession but a fierce set-piece and aggressive defensive line saw the students repel the Waseda attack. 

After a quick break, Liam Doherty linked on the outside of a ruck just short of the Waseda line to score in the corner which Brown converted, to extend the NZU lead to 14-0 at the break. 

Making several changes at halftime, NZU struggled for possession early on and Waseda turned that pressure into points via their nippy halfback which was converted to see NZU hold a 14-10 lead with 10 minutes to go. 

Sam Chamberlain then weaved some magic with a short chip inside the NZU 22, regathering and linking with Brosnan who raced 50 metres to score. The conversion was missed but NZU now lead 19-7 with 4 minutes remaining.

However, Waseda managed to claim the kick off and from a resulting line out drove over to score. 19-12 with time almost up.

NZU failed to shut down the re-start and seemingly now tiring Waseda pounced on their chance and after several ruck penalties crashed over to score which was converted, all be it in off the post, to see the game end in a 19-19 draw.

Tournament organisers proclaimed a penalty shootout, which saw Chamberlain draw the short straw to take the shots. An early miss by the Japanese player saw NZU have the opportunity to claim victory but Chamberlain pushed his shot wide. Once again the luck was not with the students and another miss by Chamberlain six kicks later saw NZU lose 7-8 on penalties.