Wales will meet New Zealand at Rodney Parade in the first semifinal of IRB Junior World Championship tonight night.
Rugby 365 reports that the host nation progressed to the final four after their last gasp 23-19 victory over France at the Liberty Stadium last Saturday.
And the Kiwis, after a third successive pool victory – 60-0 over Argentina – have kept alive their dream of emulating the success of last season’s Under 19 Championship win in Northern Ireland.
It promises to be a wonderful occasion for both sides with Wales desperate to defy the odds and book a place in the final in Swansea on Sunday night. Wales head coach Patrick Horgan said: “I was delighted with the way we stuck in there against the French and carried on until we finally got the winning score. However, at times they were too physical for us and we know that the All Blacks will be even tougher in that department.
“Still, we are there on merit and the boys will give it their best shot. We are not going to Newport just to make up the numbers, that’s for sure. There is no reason for us to be concerned, we just have to make sure that we play to the best of our ability. Nobody can ask for anymore than that.”
Three straightforward pool victories have hardly stretched New Zealand although they are unlikely to be easing up against a Wales side who will certainly have plenty of support behind them,
Assistant coach Rob Appleyard said, “The fans have been absolutely fantastic in Swansea and they really helped us home at the weekend. I am sure that we will get some of the same at Rodney Parade.”
The All Blacks have the likes of senior Super 14 players Sean Maitland, Zac Guildford, Nasi Manu and Kade Poki leading their challenge, but outside half Daniel Kirkpatrick said, “It went well against Argentina and it was certainly enjoyable playing behind such a dominant pack. However, the semi final will be another hard game especially against the home team.”
Wales coach Warren Gatland, who will be at the game, said: “It’s a great achievement in itself to reach the semis and to be competing amongst the top four countries in the world at this level.
“I won’t be giving the Wales Under-20 coaching team any advice about the New Zealand team – I’m sure they’ve done plenty of research. But I would tell the players to go out and play with confidence against the Kiwis and put them under pressure.
“One thing we learned with the senior team in South Africa was that we gave initially gave the Springboks too much respect. You just can’t do that in international rugby.
“This is a great opportunity for these young players. It’s a shop window for them to stake a claim for places in regional squads for next season and it will show how they can play at a high level.”
Kick Off at Rodney Parade, Newport, at 19.00 GMT (20:00 SA Time)
Match Officials:
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Touch judges: Phillip Bosch (South Africa), Robin Goodliffe (England)
Assessor: Steve Hilditch/ Les Peard (Wales)
Television match official: Andrew Small (England)
Teams:
New Zealand: 15 Trent Renata, 14 Zac Guildford, 13 Kade Poki, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Sean Maitland, 10 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Mathew Luamanu, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Chris Smith (captain), 3 Ben Afeaki, 2 Quentin MacDonald, 1 Paea Fa’anunu.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Toby Smith, 18 Josh Townsend, 19 Peter Saili, 20 Grayson Hart, 21 Jackson Willison, 22 Andre Taylor.
Wales: Daniel Evans, Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies, Gareth Owen, Jimmy Norris, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, Ryan Bevington, Ryan Prosser, Scott Andrews, Haydn Pugh, Josh Turnbull, Justin Tipuric Dan Franks, Sam Warburton (captain )
Replacements: Ben Roberts, Sam Hobbs, Patrick Palmer, Lloyd Phillips, Ashley Sweet, Gareth Williams, Luke Ford
For streaming Audio from the IRB listen here from 19:00 GMT
Tweet
Wales 33/1 to win tournament.
NZ 1/6 😯
SA 6/1
To win this match NZ are 1/100 😯 😆
but they’ve got half the Crusaders backline in there!
@ra-cheltjie de’ be-er (Comment 3) :
That’s like donating money to charity. 😆
@ra-cheltjie de’ be-er (Comment 3) :
Or that’s like the Bookie saying “if you wanna give me your money we will gladly accept.”
@KSA Shark © (Comment 5) : That’s probably as close to a ‘sure bet’ as you can get.
is it 19h00 GMT or BST?
@robdylan (Comment 8) :
Who cares 😉 it is 8pm SA time, do the math from there 😛
Got this with welsh commentary! Or, rather, I did and then the wife changed channels
👿
Live coverage of the New Zealand v Wales semi final at the IRB Junior World Championship has been delayed due to extra time being played between Scotland and Canada in the preceding match at Newport.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 9) : So BST, in other words 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 11) : Is that what it was.
New Zealand v Wales – Provisional KO 19:15 local time (06:15 Thursday in New Zealand)
Welsh is a strange language, all right
Scotland won.
Go Wales?
@ra-cheltjie de’ be-er (Comment 16) :
Does the avatar portray your mood over the scotland victory or is it just coincidence 🙂
NZ making a circus of the Haka if you ask me. too much build up and shouting. 🙄
@KSA Shark © (Comment 18) : Couldn’t care less about Scotland or Canada. 😀
My avatar is a very famous man. 😎
BTW
There was a problem with the audio link above. it is sorted now though
@ra-cheltjie de’ be-er (Comment 19) :
Can (could)you SEE it?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 22) : I can see it. 😀
3-0 Wales.
Wales lead 3 – 0
after 4 minutes 😯 😎
@KSA Shark © (Comment 22) : Commentary is in Welsh though.
NZ looking much stronger.
Try NZ.
I fear the Welsh boys are gonna get klapped.
5-3 NZ
@ra-cheltjie de’ be-er (Comment 23) :
i can’t even hear it. The bloody thing spends more time buffering than broadcasting 👿
Miserable weather. Wind & Rain.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 31) : Works like a ‘bom’ for me.
Although internet audio is like a minute behind.
@ra-cheltjie de’ be-er (Comment 33) :
you don’t want me to start on what censorship does to internet speed and connection quality
@KSA Shark © (Comment 35) : You should be watching rugby. 😉
Just got an email from my other half, who’s in the bedroom above. 😯 😆
5-3 20min
@ra-cheltjie de’ be-er (Comment 37) :
welcome to my life 😆
@ra-cheltjie de’ be-er (Comment 36) :
😆 😆 😆
Maybe i should stop this Webcam connection with the missus…………. 🙄
NZ miss pen.
Lovely blond welsh lady on the sidelines doing interviews.
I have Audio!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😎 😎
Gareth Owen? Wonder if he wanted to be a scrumhalf? 😉
10-3
NZ try?
Audio pissing me off immensely. 👿
Conversion missed
Commentators don’t believe in giving the score (or they give it when my connection is buffering 🙂 )
10- 6 NZ
I got that score 😀
Half time.
10-6
@KSA Shark © (Comment 46) : Yes it was. But I missed it. 👿
@ra-cheltjie de’ be-er (Comment 49) :
Same here. Just heard that the guy kicked across the face of the poles with the conversion.
13-6 btw. No idea what happened. Eating, blogging, etc,,,
@KSA Shark © (Comment 50) : The Poles? Thought it was Wales and New Zealand …
16-6
Try NZ…
21-6
@robdylan (Comment 52) :
hehehhehe
Wales should get an extra 10min after full time to try and win the match and a penalty try for good measure too.
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 57) :
CSB Can I ask you a personal question?
What are you doing commenting on the rugby if you haven’t entered your team in the No Maintenance, 26 Man, Currie Cup, Fantasy League yet??????????????
@KSA Shark © (Comment 58) :
You may … but I don’t know what you mean..whats that all entail..??
oh I see.. ❗ been slack .. 😳 I’ll get on to it 😀
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 59) :
Hmmm, you sound confused.
A Lions supporter I presume? 😆
24-6
Try NZ……
Good one too. From their own 22.
31-6
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 60) :
Hehhehee
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 57) : Is clive norling the ref? 🙂
I’m flicking channels, watching this on channel 411 and the Russia – Sweden footy on 103!
Beautiful try that!
NZ like SA just produce awesome rugby players.
@Big Fish (Comment 61) :
I was…but managed to gather myself together..
@Villie (Comment 68) :
whats the score ?
Is it seriously still daylight in Wales..what time is it there now..?
@Villie (Comment 68) : 411? I have it on 143
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 71) : It’s just before 9 and still light as anything
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 71) : 20:50 & still light outside.
@robdylan (Comment 72) : I have it on 134. Really.
Pissing down with rain now.
@ra-cheltjie de’ be-er (Comment 75) : Or that. My wife won’t let me watch 🙂
@ra-cheltjie de’ be-er (Comment 76) : Cloudy as hell here. Won’t be long
@robdylan (Comment 77) : She probably knows best. 😉
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 70) : 1-0 to Russia
@robdylan (Comment 78) : And windy. My parasol almost flew away. Went to save it and almost did a Mary Poppins.
Make that 2-0!!!!
@robdylan (Comment 72) : Yeah 411 on Sky…British Eurosport!
@Villie (Comment 83) : That’s bloody fantastic. Thanks. 😀 😀 😀
So what is the Rugby score here?
i have no audio again for like 10min now.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 85) : Final score 31-6
@Villie (Comment 83) : Ah, ok. Don’t got that one
@Villie (Comment 82) :
Guus Huddink to meet Holland in the quaters..will be interesting..if he manages to knock them out he’ll have to find another country to live in.
@ra-cheltjie de’ be-er (Comment 86) :
Thanks
Holland are looking soooooooooo good this year but then again they always do and then always manage to screw it up somehow.
Although last time they won the Euros Van Baasten was playing and now he is coaching..is it a sign..
It should be between Holland,Portugal and Spain I reckon.
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 88) :
Russia are looking VERY good now…especially having Arshavin back!
@robdylan (Comment 87) : Is the commentary on the one you watching in Welsh?
@Villie (Comment 92) : It was, yes
Scorers in the match
For NZ Player Type Time Half
Quentin MacDonald Try 8 1
Paea Fa’anunu Try 32 1
Trent Renata Pen 5 2
Trent Renata Pen 15 2
Nasi Manu Try 17 2
Trent Renata Pen 34 2
Sean Maitland Try 35 2
Trent Renata Con 76 2
For Wales Player Type Time Half
Leigh Halfpenny Pen 6 1
Leigh Halfpenny Pen 38 1