Aumua scores three as NZ win U20 World Championship

Final match report:

New Zealand: 64 (Asafo Aumua 3, Luke Jacobson 2, Dalton Papali’i, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Josh McKay, Tom Christie; Stephen Perofeta 7 con) England:17 (Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Josh Bayliss tries; Max Mailns 1 con)

New Zealand has won the World Rugby Under-20 Championship for the sixth time demolishing England by a record 64-17 in the final.

New Zealand’s victory eclipsed the 62-17 triumph over Australia in 2010 and hooker Asafo Aumua emulated Telusa Veainu’s feat of scoring a hat-trick in the decider.

New Zealand’s power, pace and skill completely overwhelmed the 2016 winners who were down 40-7 at halftime.

New Zealand set the tone in the fourth minute when they pilfered a tight head inside the English 22. A succession of authoritative pick and goes followed and flanker Dalton Papali’i leapt over a ruck for the first try.

England frequently missed one on one tackles as New Zealand was able to ignite their offloading game. Prop Pouri Rakete-Stones powered over for a second try in the 10th minute.
England threatened a resurgence when flanker Ben Earl galloped away from a well-timed Max Mailns pass, but New Zealand was quick to reassume control.

In the 25th minute fullback Will Jordan went flying through flimsy defence, only to stumble short of the line. New Zealand swiftly sent the ball wide and Aumua bumped off the fullback to collect his first. Three minutes later Jordan and Aumua combined again in a 50-metre surge and lock Isiah Walker-Leawere profited.

Aumua blasted over again in the 38th minute and wing Caleb Clarke barrelled aside two defenders and overloaded on the ground to skipper Luke Jacobson to complete the first-half massacre.

Predictably New Zealand lacked the same verve in the second-half, but still produced some awe-inspiring rugby. Aumua had a hand in New Zealand’s seventh try when he burst 20-metres from a lineout and recycled promptly for flatmates Jordan and Josh McKay to finish an overlap.

The rampaging hooker then brought up the half century with a Lomu like run 10-metres from the English line.

The rampaging hooker then brought up the half century with a Lomu like run 10-metres from the English line.

New Zealand played ten minutes with 14 men when prop Ezekiel Lindenmuth was yellow carded for a late tackle in the 46th minute.

New Zealand left plenty of points on the field. First-Five Stephen Perofeta missed five kicks and in the seventh minute bombed a try when he broke 70-metres swatting aside all three English front rowers, but failed to release to unmarked support.

In the 13th minute Jordan made a spectacular catch in traffic and broke to the English 22. From the next ruck Perofeta cross-kicked for Orbyn Ledger who dropped the ball with a clear run to the line. Nine minutes later a bullet pass by Enari to Tima Faingaanuku set the winger free who after a 20-metre dash fumbled perilously short of the chalk

New Zealand’s scored 41 tries in five games at the World Championships. In April the Oceania Championship final was won by a record score as well.

Preview and team that played the final below:

Blues first-five-eighth Stephen Perofeta has been named in the New Zealand team for the final of the World Rugby Under 20 World Championship after Tiaan Falcon was ruled out of the match due to concussion.

The New Zealand Under 20 team plays England in the final at 2.00am NZT tomorrow, Monday 19 June. 

The team is:

1.Ezekiel Lindenmuth  - Auckland      
2.Asafo Aumua   - Wellington
3.Pouri Rakete-Stones  - Hawke’s Bay
4.Isaia Walker-Leawere - Wellington
5.Samuel Slade  - Auckland
6.Luke Jacobson (C)  - Waikato
7.Dalton Papali'i - Auckland
8.Marino Mikaele-Tuu  - Hawke’s Bay
9.Ereatara Enari (VC) - Canterbury
10.Stephen Perofeta - Auckland
11.Caleb Clarke - Auckland
12.Orbyn Leger - Counties Manukau
13.Braydon Ennor - Canterbury
14.Tima Faingaanuku - Tasman
15.Will Jordan - Tasman        
16.JP Sauni  - Auckland                          
17.Harrison Allan - Canterbury
18.Alex Fidow  - Wellington
19.Sam Caird - Waikato
20.Tom Christie - Canterbury                       

21.Kemara Hauiti-Parapara  - Wellington
22.Tamati Tua - Northland
23.Josh McKay - Canterbury

Starting first-five-eighth Falcon sustained a concussion in the sides semi-final win over France. A star of the tournament, Falcon and team mate Will Jordan have been nominated for the World Rugby Player of the Tournament award with online voting here http://rug.by/U20PlayerOfTheTournament

Perofeta, who played in the Blues recent victory over the British and Irish Lions, joined the squad in Georgia on Friday. Alex Mitchell from Taranaki has also joined the squad as a replacement for Ryan Coxon at prop.

Head Coach Craig Philpott said the team was looking forward to the final. 

“Our young men are excited to add to the legacy of the Black Jersey and perform well in the World Cup Final.”

“Unfortunately, we have had to rule Tiaan out of the final due to concussion which was really disappointing for both him and our whole squad. Luckily we have an awesome replacement in Stephen who played for the Under 20s last year and brings a wealth of experience. 

“The forwards selected have been rewarded for their consistent performances. Our scrum and lineout has been operating at close to 100 percent during the tournament so we need to reproduce that in the final."

ed to reproduce that in the final."