Rugby: Baby Blacks remain on track for world U20 title defence

Will Tremain Xavier Roe
NZ U20 players Will Tremain and Xavier Roe. Photo credit: Photosport

New Zealand remain unbeaten at the World Rugby U20 Championship, with a convincing 42-10 win over Wales in France on Monday morning (NZ time).

Leading 25-10 at halftime, the 'Baby Blacks' scored 17 unanswered points in the final 18 minutes to stamp their authority on the contest. They scored five tries to their rivals' one, with first-five Harry Plummer converting four and adding three penalties.

Wales were the other unbeaten team in Pool A after the opening round, so defending champions New Zealand are now in a commanding position to progress through to the semi-finals as pool winners or the best second-placed team.

Baby Blacks open world title defence with romp over Japan

"Today, we had a real test match," said coach Craig Philpott. "Conditions meant it was a little bit difficult to play the expansive style that we wanted to play, so we had to muscle up up front.

"I thought we did that really well and defensively, to only concede 10 points against a good Welsh side is pleasing as well."

Star winger Caleb Clarke, a survivor from last year's triumph and an All Blacks Sevens representative, was a late scratching from the game with a virus.

Perhaps the biggest concern from the performance was three yellow cards issued against the Baby Blacks. After fullback Vilimoni Koroi was sin-binned in the seventh minute, Wales scored a converted try to lead 10-7, but could not match their opponents once Koroi had returned.

Flanker Tom Florence was marched in the 33rd minute, while second-five Tanielu Tele'a was first to the showers in the final minute of play.

"We obviously don't want to be playing with 14 men very often and we had over 20 minutes of that today," said Philpott. "Disappointing in that regard, but we'll have a really good look at the footage to check if there are some issues technically that we can fix."

They now face Australia - 54-17 winners over Japan - in their final pool outing on Friday morning.

"Our job's not done yet," said Philpott. "We want to make sure we finish top of our pool."

England loom as the strongest challengers from other pools, defeating Italy 43-5 in their second outing, with only winless Scotland standing between them and a semi spot.

South Africa and France are unbeaten in Pool C, and they meet on Friday morning.

New Zealand 42 (Billy Proctor, Bailyn Sullivan, Tom Christie, Tevita Mafileo, Xavier Roe tries; Harry Plummer 4 conversions & 3 penalties) Wales 10

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