In sweltering Viadana heat, New Zealand Under 20 proved too hot for Georgia, winning their second match at the World Rugby Under 20 Championships 38-19.
In contrast to the sputtering start against Italy, New Zealand enjoyed greater fluidity on attack and discipline on defence. The Junior Lelos won seven scrum penalties in their 35-28 loss against Ireland. They had no such profit against New Zealand, who in the second half also defused three menacing mauls inside their 22.
Georgia made a passionate and precise start. Halfback Giorgi Spanderashvili wrenched an early turnover at the ruck. Rapid and belligerent phases ensued, and Shota Kheladze speared low and hard to reach the paint.
New Zealand responded when winger Maloni Kunawave created a turnover, resulting in a quick tap penalty by Oli Mathis, which earned Luka Keshelava a yellow card for a cynical offside tackle. Following another tap, New Zealand quickly moved the ball left, with James Cameron delivering a pass to Harlyn Saunoa, who dived into the corner with a style, reminiscent of Greg Louganis.
New Zealand botched the restart, leading to a penalty for Georgia, which allowed Toulon No. 8 Mikheil Shioshvili to maul over for a try.
Georgia failed to retain their kick off, enabling New Zealand to strike back. ‘Harlyn Air’ rinsed and repeated from a spiralled Tane Harvey pass.
Prop Bachuki Baratashvili was yellow carded for a second consecutive game for a head-on-head tackle. His departure was the cue for New Zealand to wrestle firm control.
Halfback Dylan Pledger sent Mathis thundering into a hole. Mathis transferred back to Pledger, who was tipped over but offloaded from the ground to lock Xavier Tracey as New Zealand led for the first time after 25 minutes.
Blonde Bull Eli Oudenryn expanded that advantage when he splintered off a maul and stampeded clear for a bonus point try. Lock Aissake Vakasiuola gathered a charitable lineout throw and sauntered in as New Zealand turned 31-14 ahead at the interval. New Zealand’s growing ascendancy was illustrated by the fact that they made 34 of 35 first-half tackles, and Georgia missed 27 tackles.
A 43rd-minute pitchside fire briefly held up proceedings. The flames didn’t dampen Maloni Kunawave. His footwork a short while later could have avoided the MGM Grand Hotel Fire.
Except for a rolling maul that could have stopped in Tbilisi, there was no scoring for the last 34 minutes. The game staggered from stoppage to stoppage, the players visibly strained by the searing heat.
Rampaging No.8 Micah Fale didn’t cool with a game-high 13 carries for 90 metres. Oudenryn was lively, Simpson silky, and New Zealand’s wingers combined for five turnovers, a dozen defenders beaten, and 142 metres gained. Mathis had two turnovers while adding an extra dimension to New Zealand’s attack.
New Zealand has won 57 of their 71 matches at the World Under 20 Championships. Their previous victories over Georgia were 55-0 in 2016, 45-13 in 2019, and 50-26 in 2023.
New Zealand Under 20: 38 (Harlyn Saunoa 2, Xavier Tracey, Eli Oudenryn, Aissake Vakasiuola, Maloni Kunawave tries: Rico Simpson 4 cons) Georgia: 19 (Shota Kheladze, Mikheil Shioshvili, Mikheil Khakhubia tries; Luka Takaishvili 2 cons) HT: 31-14