Namibia finish fourth at World Rugby u20 Trophy

NAMIBIA finished fourth at the World Rugby u20 Trophy after losing 44 30 to Fiji in the third place playoff in Harare on Sunday.

In the final, Samoa beat Spain in sudden death extra time to win the World Rugby U20 Trophy and secure an immediate return to the World Rugby U20 Championship in 2017.

In the other matches on the final day, USA beat Uruguay 32 30 with Ben Cima ‘s last minute penalty to finish fifth and Hong Kong picked up their first win, 44 40 against hosts Zimbabwe to finish seventh.

Samoa win World Rugby U20 Trophy

Samoa and Spain served up a classic final as the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2016 came to a thrilling climax in the gathering gloom of the Harare Sports Club in the Zimbabwe capital.

Even for a tournament where entertainment had been the order of the day throughout, few people would have predicted that the final would have been quite so dramatic.

Leading by eight points with nine minutes left to go, Spain threatened to cause an upset against the side relegated from the nbsp;U20 Championship in 2015 nbsp;until number eight nbsp;Elia Elia struck with his hat trick try to hand Samoa a lifeline which they gratefully accepted three minutes into extra time when nbsp;replacement Tivoli Masaga crossed in the corner.

Despite the disappointment, Spain can take huge credit for their performances in their first outing at this level but it is Samoa who can now look forward to playing against the elite nations again at nbsp;the World Rugby U20 Championship 2017 in nbsp;Georgia.

FINAL: SAMOA 38 32 SPAIN

First time European qualifiers Spain showed no nerves despite the prize at stake and after bossing the early exchanges they deservedly took the lead when full back Guillermo Dominguez rounded off a multi phase attack with an arching run to the corner.

Samoa’s response was immediate, Elia bulldozing his way over from close range after a series of pick and goes had initially been repelled by determined Spanish defending.

Another smash and grab raid resulted in Salesi Rayasi crossing and D’Angelo Leuila was again on the money with the conversion to make the score 16 8.

Cheered on by choruses of Viva Espa ntilde;a, Spain hit back when Dominguez finished off a first phase move, which started with clean ball being won off the top of the lineout just inside the Samoan half. This time Rabagao was unable to add the extras.

A yellow card for openside flanker Uini Fetalaiga for taking the man out in the air saw Samoa play out the last seven minutes of the first half down to 14 men and the nbsp;electric Dominguez threatened to complete his hat trick when he went on another dangerous run down the right. However, this time the Samoan defence was up to the job in hand and the full back was bundled into touch 10 metres out.

Samoa held out for a 16 14 half time lead and that advantage was extended four minutes after the restart when Elia built up a head of steam and stepped the last defender to score from 20 metres out.

With scrum half Jaime Mata expertly controlling play at close quarters, Spain managed to hit back again when replacement hooker Tommy Vaisset burrowed his way over and nbsp;Rabagao tagged on the extra two points.

Spain continued to press forward and Jon Zabala’s try after nbsp;63 minutes was just reward for their efforts. Rabagao slotted the conversion from in front of the posts.

Leading 30 24, Spain opted to kick for goal when Samoa were pinged for being offside in centre field and Rabagao stroked the ball between the posts.

A brilliant break down the right from Laaloi Leiluai, which took him past three defenders and deep into the Spanish 22, set the platform for Samoa to get back on level terms. The ball was recycled and Elia forced his way over and dotted down by the posts to make the score equalling conversion a formality.

Leuila had a chance to win it in normal time after an almighty shove from the Samoan pack forced a scrum penalty with the stadium clock showing 88 minutes, but his attempt from 40 metres sailed wide and the final went into sudden death extra time.

Samoa’s forwards worked a drop goal position for Leuila but the defence was up quickly and instead of going for goal the fly half sensibly kept the ball in hand and found replacement Masaga unmarked wide out on the left with a pinpoint pass. Masaga was left with the simplest of run ins to spark scenes of jubilation among nbsp;the Samoan players and fans in the crowd.

Spain, meanwhile, dropped to their knees in despair but they can be proud of their efforts nbsp; -not only in the final but throughout the tournament as a whole.

THIRD PLACE PLAY OFF: FIJI 44 30 nbsp;NAMIBIA

Five first half tries did the damage for an impressive Fiji and meant that third place at the World Rugby U20 Trophy was wrapped up long before Namibia staged a second half fight back of their own.

The Fijians had led 44 0 early in the second half, but Namibia finished the stronger and put some respectability back on the scoreboard, much to the delight of their vocal supporters in the crowd, with four tries of their own.

An early scrum five metres from Namibia’s line brought the first try for Fiji, hooker Vuniani Mokalou having the strength to get over the line from close range with nbsp;centre Jone Manu adding the conversion to make it 8 0.

A third try wasn’t long in coming, a series of pick and goes on the Namibia line resulting in a try for scrum half Ratu Peni Matawalu, the younger brother of Fiji international Nikola stepping right before darting back to dive over the line.

Two tries in quick succession on the stroke of half time effectively wrapped up the victory for Fiji, the first from close range through prop Lorenzo Mario, the second a typical counter attack score with Frank Lomani and Matawalu combining to send winger Viliame Tuidrak over in the corner.

Fiji picked up where they left off when play resumed and a good break from Tuidrak took him to within a metre of the line, prop Eroni Mwai going over from close range two phases later to take the islanders out to 44 0.