Black gets Junior Blacks up in thriller
New Zealand have made it two wins from two at the under-20 rugby World Cup in Italy, but only just.
The Baby Blacks needed a late penalty from Hurricanes pivot Otere Black to snare a 32-29 victory over Argentina and keep alive hopes of topping their group, and qualifying for the semifinals.
After a 68-10 mauling of Scotland in their opening match, New Zealand struggled to subdue Argentina’s rugged forwards throughout the match and the South Americans scored tries from two rolling mauls in the final 10 minutes to draw level, before Black coolly slotted a penalty with two minutes remaining to secure the win.
Argentina came out firing and punished New Zealand’s illdiscipline – Vince Tavae-Aso sepnt 10 minutes in the bin for tackling a player in the air – with a series of first half penalties. The Baby Blacks did assume the lead at halftime, however, 15-12, thanks to two superb breakout tries.
The first, to fullback Luteru Laulala, was after a sweeping 70m backline move that went through seven sets of hands; the second, to wing Sean Wainui, followed a midfield bust.
Both teams traded yellow cards early in the second half – Laulala was binned for lazy running for New Zealand – before Argentina levelled it up at 15-15 with 20 minutes to go.
Cue a crazy final quarter, which saw New Zealand burst to a 14-point lead after converted tries
New Zealand 32 (Luteru Laulala, Sean Wainui, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Akira Ioane tries; Mitchell Hunt pen, con; Otere Black pen, 2 con) Argentina 29 (Benito Paolucci 2 tries; Emiliano Bofelli 3 pen; Domingo Miotti pen, 2 con; Matias Ferro dg). HT: 15-12.
to substitutes Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi and Akira Ioane in the space of two minutes.
The latter try was eye-catching, with Blues star Ioane, the 111kg, 1.92m loose forward who has raised eyebrows in his first Super Rugby season, collecting the ball inside his own half and charging 70m on a brilliant solo run to the line.
But Argentina weren’t done and big flanker Benito Paolucci crossed twice in the final 10 minutes.
Domingo Miotti converted both to level it at 29-29 with five to go but Argentina botched the restart, giving Black a chance to win the match with a penalty 12 metres in from the left-hand touch. His kick never looked like missing.
Ireland, 18-16 winners over Argentina in their first match, scraped past Scotland with an unimpressive 24-20 win to join New Zealand with two wins in Pool C.
The two teams play on Thursday morning to decide the pool winner and semifinal qualification.
The loser of that match will have to rely on being the best second-placed team of the three groups in order to make the final four.