Junior All Blacks Overcome Australia in Thrilling Rugby Championship Opener

The New Zealand Under 20s overcame a 12-point halftime deficit and an aggressive Australian forward pack to win 34-29 in their Rugby Championship opener in South Africa.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 4:05 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

A Tale of Two Halves

The opening match of the Under 20 Rugby Championship in South Africa lived up to the storied trans-Tasman rivalry. Australia dominated the early physical exchanges, with their forward pack asserting control after New Zealand fullback Cohen Norrie opened the scoring. Despite a try from New Zealand prop Henry Stuart, Australia responded with three first-half tries, including one from Marshall Le Maitre, to build a commanding 24-12 lead by halftime.

The Turning Point: Discipline Issues

The momentum shifted dramatically in the 53rd minute when the Australian side was reduced to 14 men following a red card for a dangerous cleanout. Shortly after, a yellow card for slowing the ruck left Australia defending with just 13 players. New Zealand took immediate advantage of the numerical superiority, launching a clinical attacking phase that saw Haki Wiseman and Caleb Woodley cross the line to close the scoring gap.

The Final Charge

With 13 minutes remaining, Logan Williams scored the decisive try to put New Zealand ahead for the first time in the second half. The final ten minutes were a test of New Zealand's defensive resolve: