The New Zealand U20 side began their preparations for the World Rugby U20 Championship last week, comfortably beating their local rivals Australia, 30-10, at Bond University on Tuesday.
The two sides met again on Saturday, with Australia recording their first ever victory over New Zealand at U20 level, thanks to a last-minute Mack Mason penalty that snatched a 25-24 win for the young Wallabies.
Both results are ominous for the other nations involved in the Championship, who will likely face an uphill battle to prevent New Zealand from retaining their title in Manchester, as well as an Australian side with more mettle than their recent iterations.
Even with very little preparation time thus far, Kiwi inside centre Jordie Barrett, the younger brother of Super Rugby standouts Beauden and Scott, looked in fine fettle and helped himself to a try in the victory over Australia, contributing 15 points in all.
Scrum-half Sam Nock, who many had tipped to make the breakthrough at the Blues season, dovetailed well with fly-half Stephen Perofeta and Barrett, making plenty of breaks and keeping the Australian defence on their toes with a good mixture of short and long passes from the ruck. He also grabbed himself a try in the second fixture and was generally impressive, despite New Zealand narrowly losing.
Further out in the back line and the highly-touted Sio Tomkinson shone at outside centre, winger Mason Emerson crossed for two tries and looked a threat in the opener and Peter Umaga-Jensen at full-back continued New Zealand’s long tradition of putting players with first receiver-type skill sets in the 15 jersey.
If there were positive signs for the other U20 Championship nations, they rested almost solely in the New Zealand’s pack which, at this point in time, looks the most fallible area of the squad.
That said, the Baby Blacks front row was effective, with Ayden Johnstone, Leni Apisai and Alex Fidow all impressing, and the whole pack were dominant at the breakdown in the opening fixture, albeit less so in the second.
What chinks New Zealand do have in their armour are small, but they are areas that the likes of South Africa, England and Wales, as well as this impressive Australia side, will need to target if they are to upset the odds next month.
Australia were a much-improved side in the second fixture and did a good job of nullifying New Zealand’s power carriers and denying them the front foot ball that they usually feast on at this level. If they are given front foot ball in Manchester next month, the Baby Blacks have the incision in their back line to cut open any team they play.
The loss to Australia may have taken some of the shine off of New Zealand’s preparations for the Championship but don’t let that fool you, these future All Blacks head to England as firm favourites to retain their title.
