NZ U20 side prove too good for Tasman rivals

Demonstrating a full range of rugby skills, the New Zealand under-20 team proved too strong for the Tasman High Performance XV at Lansdowne Park this afternoon.

Pace, physicality, off- skills and passing precision combined to propel the national team to a comprehensive 40-5 victory.

The visitors showed the benefit of a couple of matches together with an irresistible opening burst.

Utilising a reliable line-out and dominant scrum, the Under-20s used lightning-quick ball from a succession of phases to create gaps from which they scored twice in the first 15 minutes. A clean break by midfielder Corey Evans put the speedy Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens in at the corner, then highly-impressive lock Josh Lord crashed over near the posts.

Starved of possession the local side were left chasing shadows as the NZ side added a third from a forward charge close to the line then bagged their fourth just before halftime, first five Aidan Morgan the scorer this time.

Three conversions to winger Chay Fihaki gave the visitors a 26-0 lead at the break, reflecting their superiority at most phases of the game and their improved teamwork.

The second half told a different story however, the Tasman HP side gaining parity through most of the early stages.

The home side scored their first points after 55 minutes when winger Timoci “Jim” Tavatavanawai thrilled the local crowd by dotting down in the corner after beating the final defender with a left foot step.

With the game assuming a more even pattern several of the Tasman players began to show their wares. Halfback Louie Chapman and skipper Jacob Norris, at flanker, became prominent, along with midfielders Tim O’Malley and the blockbusting Levi Aumua, fullback Taine Robinson and No 8 Taina Fox-Matamua, especially on defence.

The game was halted midway through the second stanza to allow promising prop Kershawl Sykes-Martin, who suffered a serious ankle injury, to be transferred to an ambulance.

After the restart, and with Tasman emptying their bench, the NZ lads upped the ante again, finishing with a couple of well-constructed tries to inflate the scoreline, taking the gloss off what was a much improved second half effort by the locals.

Among the many shining lights in the NZ side were the 9/10 pairing of halfback Cortez Lee Ratima and Aidan Morgan while Fihaki, Evans and fullback Ruben Love were always threatening on attack. Up front, hooker Soane Vikena, Lord, plus loosies Sean Withy and Anton Segner impressed.    

Tasman XV coach Gray Cornelius was impressed by the NZ side’s play, especially in the first 40, and said that, despite the lop-sided scoreline, he and his fellow selectors had got what they had hoped for out of the encounter.

“It was a big chance for us to look at some individuals playing at that next level … their off-load game once they got in behind us killed us. We didn’t manage to get any ball in the first half, and they were able to play on top of us. It’s pretty hard tracking back when they have the sort of athletes they have. They were clinical.”

Gray said that when Tasman managed to build phases and hold onto the ball in the second half they looked a lot better. “We went back to trying to go through them and were just a bit more physical.”

He mentioned the efforts of Tavatavanawai, Willie Havili at first five and lock Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta as stand-outs.

Next up Tasman play Canterbury in Hanmer on July 23 as they build into their NPC campaign.

Scorers: NZ Under-20 40 (Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Josh Lord, Soane Vikena, Aidan Morgan, Zach Gallagher, Peter Lakai tries, Chay Fihaki 5 con) Tasman 5 (Timoci Tavatavanawai try). HT: 26-0