Big New Zealand wing Tevita Li on the rampage against Scotland in his side’s opening game of the under-20 world rugby championship in Italy.
Big New Zealand wing Tevita Li on the rampage against Scotland in his side’s opening game of the under-20 world rugby championship in Italy.
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Big New Zealand wing Tevita Li on the rampage against Scotland in his side’s opening game of the under-20 world rugby championship in Italy.
New Zealand made a blistering start to the under-20 rugby world championship in Italy, demolishing Scotland 68-10 on Wednesday.
They were simply too strong in all departments, running in nine tries at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma.
New Zealand, the dominant team down the years at this level, are looking to end a three-year drought at the championships and erase the disappointment of failing to fire on home soil last year.
The early signs are promising. This was an emphatic performance.
Guided by former All Blacks Scott Robertson, Leon MacDonald and Tana Umaga, the New Zealanders were simply too strong in all departments and exhibited a positive game plan.
With the benefit of a dominant scrum and hungry loose forwards led by Akira Ioane, New Zealand looked to attack at every opportunity.
Their ability to break first tackles constantly had Scotland on the back foot.
After trading early penalties, Scotland struck with a try as New Zealand were down to 14 men with lock Joshua Goodhue sin-binned.
But New Zealand’s reply was instant with good movement across the paddock eventually freeing fullback George Bridge to charge through for a try.
And New Zealand’s counter-attacking skills were obvious when they shut down a dangerous Scotland movement and swept 80m downfield with big Blues wing Tevita Li showing his power and pace for the touchdown.
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Fellow Blues star Ioane, the big blindside flanker, then showed he has strength to go with his ranging game as he crashed over for a try next to the post with Scotland defenders all over him.
With Mitchell Hunt’s boot continuing to add the extras, New Zealand led 27-10 at halftime.
Li went on the rampage to start the second half, setting up a try to halfback Blake Gibson in the corner.
Lively flanker Mitchell Karpik celebrated his 20th birthday with a try from a driving maul.
Replacement lock Geoffrey Cridge was gifted a touchdown by Ioane and speedy Hunt and sweet-stepping second-five TJ Faine showed individual brilliance as the floodgates opened.
New Zealand’s next match is against Argentina on Sunday morning (NZ time) and they wrap up pool play against Ireland on June 11.
New Zealand 68 (George Bridge, Tevita Li, Akira Ioane, Blake Gibson, Mitchell Karpik, Jack Goodhue, Geoffrey Cridge. Mitchell Hunt, TJ Faine tries; Hunt 7 con, 3 pen)
Scotland 10 (Lewis Carmichael try; Rory Hutchinson con, pen).
HT: 27-10
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