Under-19 World Cup Final: New Zealand 31, South Africa 7Their senior team are hot favourites to win the Rugby World Cup in France later this year and on Saturday night the New Zealand Under-19 side demonstrated that the supply line to the All Blacks is in the rudest of health by winning the IRB Under-19 World Championship with a stunning 31-7 defeat of South Africa in the final at Ravenhill.
The crowd of 11,165, largely made up of neutrals, had turned out in expectation that the clash of the "Baby Blacks" and the "Baby Boks" would serve up an epic showdown. Instead they were treated to a dazzling brand of rugby, albeit one-sided, as New Zealand clinically and ruthlessly tore their opponents apart in a display that belied their years.
With an enormous pack and exquisite finishers like fullback Wilton Pietersen, South Africa had looked equipped to test their opponents, who had breezed through the final without breaking stride.
But Kieran Crowley's side had kept their best to last, with Robert Fruean, a future star in the making, Trent Renata and Kade Poki each scored tries in a devastating first-half performance to put New Zealand in front 17-0 at the break.
Renata added a second try soon after half-time before substitute Jackson Willison added another to extend New Zealand's lead to 31-0.
South Africa were determined to make their mark on the final and were rewarded for a long period of pressure inside the New Zealand 22 with a try for Yaasir Hartzenberg. It was little consolation.
SCORING SEQUENCE:4 mins: R Fruean try, 5-0; 7: T Renata try and con, 12-0; 34: K Poki try, 17-0 ; 45: Renata try and con 24-0; 48: J Willison try, Renata con, 31-0; 60: Y Hartzenberg try, S Watermeyer con, 31-7.
NEW ZEALAND:T Renata; Z Guildford, R Fruean, R Crotty, K Poki; D Kirkpatrick, W Ngaluafe; R Ah You, A Dixon, B Afeaki; C Smith (capt), S Whitelock; P Saili, L Braid, L Manu. Replacements: Q MacDonald for Dixon (48 mins), P Fa'anunu for Ah You (35 mins), J Hardie for Braid (48 mins), J Willison for Crotty (11 mins), W Stanley, K Pisi, S Maitland for Poki (53 mins). Not used: N Barrett, T Crowley, J Townsend, M Cameron, W Stanley, K Pisi.
SOUTH AFRICA:W Pietersen; B Botha, S Dippenaar, S W Watermeyer, V Willis; F Bummer, F Hougaard; C Fourier, H Bandjes, F Kirsten; C Hess, M Muller; T Marole, J van Deventer, G van Velze (capt). Replacements: P J van Vuuren for Kirsten (65 mins), E-J Snyman for Dippenaar (65 mins), Y Hartzenberg for Marole (35 mins). Not used: W Herbst, T Masanganja, B Botha, B Ruiters, T Masuga, M Ngoro, A McDonald, S Nhlapo.
Referee:James Jones (Wales).
