Black out hits young Red Rose
England Under-20s 17 New Zealand U-20 64
U20s World Cup final, Tbilisi ENGLAND’S dream of making history was ripped apart in a 10-try avalanche by the All Blacks.
Zach Mercer’s side set out to become the first Under-20s team to win a Six Nations Grand SlamWorld Cup ‘double’.
Instead, they made the worst kind of history – being on the end of the biggest hiding in a final since the U-20s World Cup was launched in 2008.
England arrived in Georgia as defending champions. But injuries, and the loss of five of their starlets to the senior squad in Argentina, meant head coach Ian Vass was left expecting miracles.
The Kiwis ran riot in Tbilisi, making it five wins from five U-20s finals against England. Captain Mercer admitted: “I have never witnessed a team who keep coming at you like that, they were outstanding.
“I won’t allow the mood to dampen because we played five games in 19 days after a tremendous Six Nations slam and came up against a superb New Zealand side.”
Kiwi hooker Asafo Aumua led the way with a try treble, skipper Luke Jacobson scored twice while Pouri Rakete-Stones, Dalton Papalii, Isaia WalkerLeamere, Josh McKay and Tom Christie completed the tries with Stephen Perofeta adding the kicks.
Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell and Josh Bayliss crossed the try line for England.