Australia’s under-20 rugby team risk their worst finish at the IRB junior world championship after failing to making the final four following a 31-7 loss to France.
The Aussies were down 14-7 by half-time at South Africa’s Cape Town Stadium early Wednesday morning (AEST), before conceding two converted tries and a penalty in the second half.
Captain Liam Gill scored the Australians’ only try.
The defeat means Australia finish third in Pool C with just five points, which they secured with the 67-12 win over Scotland in their opening match.
Unbeaten Argentina topped Pool C with 12 points, ahead of France (11 points) while Scotland were last on two.
Australia will meet France again in the play-off for fifth place at Newlands Stadium on June 17.
Argentina will now compete for the championship trophy along with Wales, South Africa and defending champions New Zealand.
In their previous appearances at the world championship the Australians finished third last year, second in 2010, fourth in 2009 and fifth in 2008.
the bone
Guest
Not that they would have made the difference to the results but future star backrowers Boyd Killingworth and Michael Wells were unavailable due to injury, both back next year
the bone
Guest
That team only lost 1 game all tornament in Wales and was very unlucky to lose it. This current team has been flogged
p.Tah
Guest
LOL
BL from Canberra
Guest
It wasn't too many years ago when you could ask a room full of former Australian Under 21 players for those to stand who had never been beaten by the NZ Colts and then whole room would rise - this occurred not by magic but by a superior and rigorous player talent identification and assessment program funded by the Australian Institute of Sport and conducted by two rugby coaches appointed full time - Speed Kennedy and former Wallaby and English Womens Rugby Coach Geoff Richards - vale rugby sense and responsibility to mindful stakeholders these days
DingoBob
Guest
Makes you wonder who picks the squad. Besides Gill and a couple of others was this the best team of U20 players in Australia?
Wow it is an absolute disaster if we finished 5th at the Junior world Cup like we did in 2008. None from the 2008 squad have gone onto good things. Apart from the following fifteen of them that are either currently Super XV players or Wallabies; Pocock, Genia, Beale, Quade Cooper, Rob Simmons, Rob Horne, Ben Mccalman, Ben Tapuia, Sam Wykes, Alfi Mafi, Richard Kingi, James Hansen, Nathan Charles, Ben Daley, and Peter Betham
Aussie Fan Club
Guest
david nucifora..enough said, hopeless, just how much input has he had on wallaby tactics and selections over the last 5 yrs?? far too much, he's a disgrace