Photo: RUGBY.com.au/Stu Walmsley
Sydney University Football Club provided three players in the Australian Under 20 Junior Wallabies who won the 2019 Oceania Cup, which culminated at Bond University on the Gold Coast on Saturday evening.
Loosehead prop Angus Bell, tighthead prop Darcy Breen and halfback Henry Robertson were named in the 28-man squad, coached by Jason Gilmore, to contest the Oceania Cup against Japan, Fiji and New Zealand
Robertson and Bell earned their first caps when they were named in the run-on side that defeated Junior Japan 64-14 in the opening match of the tournament.
Australia scored 10 tries to two with vice-captain Will Harrison contributing 21 from a try and seven conversions.
Breen made his debut in Australia’s hard-fought16-0 win over Fiji, with Bell and Robertson being named on the bench. Second-rower Michael Wood scored the only try of the match, while skipper Michael McDonald kicked 11 points with a conversion and three penalty goals.
Coach Gilmore was happy with the effort. “Tonight was a tough, hard-fought win in unfavourable conditions,” he said. “To leave a side like Fiji scoreless was pleasing. However, we will build on this as our preparation looks towards our final match against New Zealand.”
While the Junior Wallabies were going about their business, the Junior All Blacks had posted 53 points against Fiji and 87 against Japan. But they were in for a shock.
The Junior Wallabies not only kept Fiji scoreless, they repeated the defensive effort a 24-nil result against the Junior All Blacks, with Bell a part of a very solid Australian scrum. Breen and Robertson were selected on the bench.
Played in front of a 2136-strong crowd, it marked just the second time the Junior Wallabies have defeated the New Zealand Under 20s.
Coach Gilmore said the Australians had prepared well and delivered on the night. “The most pleasing aspect was to keep our opposition scoreless in our past two matches,” he said. “Winning is a habit and we aimed to win this tournament which is a great effort.
“However, we can’t get carried away. The 2019 World Championship is our aim and we need to stay humble, keep working hard and enjoy what we do.”
Bell, Breen and Robertson will be hoping to stay in the Junior Wallabies squad to contest the World Rugby Under 20 Championship to be held in Argentina from 4-22 June.
