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An extra time try and conversion for Namibia handed the USA U20s a defeat in their opening match of the World Rugby U20 Trophy tournament. The match was a thrilling affair that included four lead changes and all the drama of a test match. Using the new World Rugby points system that is on trial, the two sides lock into a battle that went down to the final play.
Namibia were first on the board when hooker Orbet Nortje crossed over to open up the scoring. The conversion from Henrique Olivier gave Namibia a 8-0 lead. The USA wasn’t far behind as scrumhalf Louis Mulholland scored in the 6th minute. The conversion from Ben Cima knotted the match at 8-8. The two sides settled into some back and forth play over the next ten minutes before the USA U20s broke the tie when fullback Mitch Wilson found some space and scored to give the USA a 14-8 lead.
Namibia bounced back quickly with a try from scrumhalf Jerome Beukes. The conversion from Olivier gave Namibia a 16-14 lead. Their lead would be short lived as in the 25th minute USA Captain Hanco Germishuys scored the first of his three tries on the day. The conversion from Cima gave the USA a 22-16 lead that the team took into halftime.
Germishuys added his second try just on the other side of the half to extend the USA’s lead to 28-16. Namibia closed that gap with a 51st minute try from wing Unomasa Kavita. The conversion from Olivier cut the USA’s lead to 28-24. Germishuys added his third try of the match just minutes later to push the USA’s lead to 34-24.
In a match with swaying momentum, the USA were unable to pull away from a determined Namibian squad whom kept up the pressure. Namibia, once again, cut into the USA’s lead with a 62nd minute try from lock Johan Luttig. The conversion from Cliven Loubser left the USA with a narrow 34-32 lead as the match moved into the final quarter of play.
Malon Al-Jiboori scored the USA’s final try of the day in the 66th minute with Rodney Giles adding the conversion to give the USA a 42-32 lead. The USA appeared to have control of the match heading into the final ten minutes of play, but Namibia stormed back. Gino Wilson scored a 76th minute try to cut the USA’s lead to 42-38.
Giles added a 79th minute penalty to give the USA a bit of breathing room at 44-38. With the match headed into the dying moments, the USA held possession as time dwindled. A penalty at the breakdown by the USA gave Namibia one last bit of hope. Namibia took the penalty quickly and second half sub Stiaan van der Merwe found his way across the line to score a game trying try. Fullback Loubser added the pivotal conversion to give Namibia a 46-44 victory in their opening match of the World Rugby U20 Trophy.
Both teams return to Pool B action on April 23rd with Namibia playing Spain, whom also won their opening match. The USA follows by taking on Hong Kong.
USA 44
Tries – L. Mulholland (6), M. Wilson (18), H. Germishuys 3 (25, 41, 54), M. Al-Jiboori (66)
Cons – B. Cima (7, 27), R. Giles (67)
Pens – R. Giles (79)
NAMIBIA 46
Tries – O. Nortje (4), J. Beukes (22), U. Kavita (51), J. Luttig (62), G. Wilson (76), S. van der Merwe (80)
Cons – H. Olivier 3 (5, 23, 52), C. Loubser 2 (63, 80)
USA
1 Chance Wenglewski 2 Steven Branham 3 Mason Pedersen 4 Victor Comptat 5 Deven Marshall 6 Malon Al-Jiboori 7 Brennan Falcon 8 Hanco Germishuys (capt.) 9 Louis Mulholland 10 Ben Cima 11 Devin Lim 12 Brian Hannon 13 Lorenzo Thomas 14 Rodney Giles 15 Mitch Wilson
16 Ruairi Van Raalte 17 Roman Salanoa 18 Chad Sneyd 19 Veuki Taumoefolau 20 Ruben de Haas 21 Duncan van Schalkwyk 22 Tyler Sousley
NAMIBIA
1 Hans Breedt 2 Orbet Nortje 3 Ignus Tripodi 4 Johan Luttig 5 Cameron McNab 6 Cameron Langenhoven 7 Johan de Klerk 8 Riaan de Klerk 9 Jerome Beukes 10 Henrique Olivier 11 Gino Wilson 12 Milaan van Wyk 13 Janry du Toit 14 Unomasa Kavita 15 Cliven Loubser
16 Wildre Smith 17 Sam Kuvare 18 Arno von Wielligh 19 Le Beau du Preez 20 Allie Emamdien 21 Allister Miller 22 Stiaan van der Merwe
