While it’s not been well publicised, the Junior Wallabies beat New Zealand 24-nil in the deciding match of the Oceania Rugby Under 20 Championship, an annual tournament featuring Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Japan.
Although headlines were dominated by the Israel Folau saga and Super Rugby, this result is equally important – to not only beat the Kiwis, but to keep them scoreless, is a huge feat.
It’s only the second time that Australia has beaten New Zealand in ten encounters, and also represents NZ’s largest ever loss.
It has to be said, though, that New Zealand made a number of uncharacteristic errors, while the Australian kicking game pinned them down in their 22 more than once.
While this is an achievement in its own right, it also comes as a refreshing relief from the narrative of New Zealand beating Australia that we’ve seen at every level of rugby, whether that be under-20s, schoolboys, Bledisloe Cup, women’s, or sevens.
Every so often, videos of the 2012 Junior World Cup final are shared – a game top-heavy with household names of today like Brodie Retallick, TJ Perenara, Lima Sopoaga and Waisake Naholo.
And very possibly in another World Cup cycle or two, the players who ran around on Saturday will hold down the top jobs.
The Junior Wallabies celebrate their victory in the Oceania Under 20 Rugby Championship. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
This almost already happens, with Isaac Lucas – brother of Matt and Ben – likely to play for the Reds on Friday night after starting at fullback against NZ.
The Queensland squad for the upcoming National Schools Championships in July contains more players from right across the board – state and private schools alike – in a move that hopefully sets a precedent to turn away from the traditionally elitist stereotype of rugby in Australia.
Claims about a lack of depth in the juniors, especially outside of NSW and Queensland after the axing of the Force, look to be unfounded based on Saturday’s result.
Keeping them in Australian rugby will also be a challenge, as the NRL and other rugby organisations will chase them.
On the weekend, the Aussies showed they have what it takes.
Their intensity was unrivalled and they made a point of coming away with points from almost every trip into the opposition half – something a number of Aussie teams struggle with.
It’s a big step up from under-20s to international rugby, but that game gives hope that these players can do it.
Neel
Roar Guru
Aren’t we all sick off it Ricciardo. There has to be something else going on in Australian Rugby.
Neel
Roar Guru
Great achievement and well done. Hopefully the other codes won’t snap them up.
Ulrich
Guest
Both festivals were held in South Africa, just at different schools but pretty much in the same region in the Cape as well. I'm a Saffa and there are several reasons why the success at school level does not translate so well to senior rugby, namely: 1.) South African school boys are typically larger than their international counterparts at that age. The other nations' boys catch up in physical stature at senior level. If you don't believe me compare some of the games you listed if you can find the games to watch and see the difference in size and physicality. 2.) Our schools have some of our best coaches, some who have been coaching for decades. This is lamented by Jake White that these same coaches do not move up the ranks but people like Fleck, Matfield etc. jump straight up to top coaching jobs. 3.) Our schools rugby arguably attracts larger crowds than some CC and SR games lately and it has always been that way. It is a religion here and there is a lot of money in it. The games are televised and teams are sponsored. 4.) A lot of the talent fades a way for a number of factors, players having peaked and becoming stale in senior rugby, political quotas etc. So a lot of players never even end up playing pro rugby.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
mbp it was a great match to watch and I am looking forward to the U20's RWC which I watch every time. Downside! I had to watch every moment of Japan v Fiji first as the rugby.com.au site did not allow FF on my computer.
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Taylorman: Not just Aussie but SA as well. I always like to watch changes in the ability of rugby nations. The slide of Australia was far more painful and certainly not an academic exercise!
stillmissit
Roar Guru
Exactly Taylorman: Tom English wrote "as the NRL and other rugby organisations will chase them." I suggest he replace "will" with 'are already chasing them'. I wonder if Cheika or any coaches studied the U20's game? The chances of them watching schoolboy rugby, ExFF posted, would be close to nil.
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
A really good win. Just hope they’re not all lost to AFL and NRL in the next few years
Working Class Rugger
Roar Guru
It's a good start. What we need is for 2 or 3 more Jnr Wobs teams to manage to do the same over the next few years and we might be on track.
Ex force fan
Guest
Hope to see these Japanese players progressing to the GRR soon. Remembered when we played a Japanese side in tour to South Africa on the 1980s that were short but were very well coached. They just wanted to scrum.... we preferred line outs.
Chargedown
Roar Rookie
Jason Gilmore. Coached Churchie 1st XV at the time of Scott-Young, Ponga, Liam Wright, Perese, Hockings, Brodie Coft, Jaydn Sua, Harley Fox. Not a bad list! He then went to the Reds as an assistant for 3-4 years.
Ben
Guest
Yes i live streamed the St Peters games. They returned home yesterday. I have strong affinity with St Peters having coached the 1st xv and having had 2 boys attend and play also. I follow NZs 1st xvs avidly. Its great rugby not to mention seeing future stars. What or more accurately who, impressed in Japan were the Japanese schools. Obviously lacked a bit of height and size but gee technique and skill wise fantastic. They have an ability to keep the ball for long long periods of time without making mistakes. St Peters were able to gain some ball and ride roughshod in the tackle and breakdown areas. But gee impressive by the Jap schools.
Ex force fan
Guest
Thanks Ben, I did not see the school games just noted the magnitude of the wins. At the festival in Japan (a couple of weeks ago): - Paul Roos 52 vs Auckland's St Peter's 5 in the final (as mentioned above) - Grey College 73 vs Christchurch Boys 26 - Paul Roos 93 vs Southland Boys 5 At World School Festival in South Africa in March - Grey College 54 vs Southland Boys 0 - Paul Roos 62 vs Napier Boys 7 - Boland Landbou 30 vs Napier Boys 25 - Grey College 73 vs Christchurch Boys 26 - Paul Roos 93 vs Southland Boys 5 The nearest a New Zealand team came to a win was the 31-31 draw between Affies and Christchurch Boys. Sure all these results cannot be the outcome of bias referees? Also South African schools are also at the start of their season and lost players from last year and a good rugby school should produce good teams year after year. In my days rugby was the most important element that differentiate between schools - even more important than academic performance (ridiculous!) . The question is why this does not translate to Bok rugby? Professional player development system? Too much competitive rugby too early? Talent to concentrated? Race based selections? Only a few players that make the Bok side tend to become complete players in the Bok setup and some of them just carry on with obvious weaknesses in their game which would not be tolerated in New Zealand.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Even better, if Southern hemisphere rugby is showing up NZ sides at that level, regardless of the reason its gotta be a good thing. Be careful of the poachers though...they'll want to pick up new players more cheaply than those all vying for World cup glory and / or a contract by the end of it.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
They'll all be playing NRL soon enough.
Bluesfan
I watched the game and was seriously impressed - Oz owned the NZ U20's and they looked terrible. To be honest a couple in the NZ U20 forward pack looked fat and not fit - very strange for a NZ team. The only bright spot the Kiwi side could take is that a lot of there big guns were out injured/playing Super rugby - but those missing players are in the backs. It was clearly the forwards and the 9/10 combo that were poor for NZ.
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
This is just fantastic and bodes well for the future. A NIL scoreline to boot! God, I'm sick of hearing about one man holding rugby in your country to ransom...
Ben
Guest
That was the final by the way.
John R
Roar Guru
How good was Lucas' cover tackle to shutdown that try. Outstanding
nickbrisbane
Guest
Who is their coach?
Ben
Guest
Yes ex force fan that world 1st xv champs in japan is a bit misleading. So St Peters Auckland were NZ national champs last year but the worlds are in early May so that 1st xv is never anywhere near the same team that won everything last year as the yr 13s move on. St Peters only had a handful of last years champion team. Effectively nz 1st xvs are now using it as a pre season tournament. The Safa 1st xv won 40-5. The games are only 25min halves. St Peters were handed 2 yellows and a red for a great tackle that didnt even deserve a penalty. They were caned 16-2 in the penalty count by the Sth African ref.