The USA were the first team to guarantee their spot in the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2024 final after defeating Kenya 30-17 in the final round of group play at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh.
With an unquestionable eight-point advantage over the Netherlands in Pool B, this victory ensures their place in the championship game. Uruguay and the Netherlands play later today at 17:15 BST.
Earlier, Samoa defeated Hong Kong China 39–19 to win their opening match of the competition.
KENYA 17-30 USA
After winning a spot in Wednesday’s World Rugby U20 Trophy final, the USA are just one victory away from making their first appearance in the World Rugby U20 Championship since 2013. Since the age-grade tournament’s second edition in 2009, which Kenya’s Chipu won 33–32, the teams had not faced off in the U20 Trophy.
And around fifteen years later, the rematch got off to an equally close start with neither team scoring in the first fifteen minutes. A pair of Kenyan breakaway attempts were undone by handling errors, and Oliver Cline had an opportunity to put the United States on the scoreboard when his penalty kick went wide of the posts.
But the first goal of the game was well worth the wait. With 16 minutes remaining, USA took the lead thanks to a burst down the middle by tight end Luke Schaefer, and Keelan Farrell’s quick hands and fast throw from Raymond Hahn set him up for a run to the line. Max Threlkeld was up in support to gather up the ball at the base of the ruck and dive over for the opening try after Farrell was stopped just short.
The left-footed center Tito Edjua subsequently took over as the goal-kicker after Cline failed the conversion and another penalty attempt. Edjua’s second effort at goal was successful.
The USA had squandered numerous scoring opportunities when two offensive lineouts went tragically awry in the middle of the half. In contrast, Kenya capitalized on the first opportunity presented to them by kicking a penalty in the 36th minute following a pushback by their pack against the Americans.
Edjua kicked toward the nearby Murrayfield Stadium and put a 38-meter penalty kick through the poles to give the USA the first points of the second half. Schaefer then scored a close-range header. Edjua scored the two extra points and made the score 18-3 once more with a precise stroke of the putter.
USA had established themselves as the clear winners at this point, and scrum-half Solomon Williams’ choice to explore the blindside at a ruck near the Kenya line paid off as Edjua converted with confidence and Farrell received a well-earned touchdown.
As the game moved into its final quarter, it appeared as though the USA would win handily thanks to Rand Santos’ completion of the forwards’ hard work for the try bonus point.
However, Samuel Otete’s spectacular run to the line ignited the Chipu, and two minutes later, the left wing was involved in their next try after Daniel Bett, his replacement, grounded an attempt to kick ahead.
Kenya appeared to be a different squad, but with two converted tries remaining between the two sides, time was running out and the Americans could finally exhale with relief.
Also Read: World Rugby U20 Championship 2024: France, New Zealand, England, and Ireland Reach Semi-Finals
SAMOA 39-19 HONG KONG CHINA
This turned out to be a far more competitive match after both sides lost by lopsided scores in their games against Scotland and Japan. The right winger Taitaifono Tavita gave Samoa a quick start with a try in the second minute, and they led by a narrow 17–12 at halftime.
But Hong Kong China retaliated, scoring a try and setting up another with a strong lineout drive. Hooker Ben Sheldon scored their first goal straight out of the maul, and Hong Kong China carried the ball into midfield where Marcus D’Acre stepped beneath the posts when the next one stood still.
With a 12-10 deficit, Samoa did not take long to get back in front thanks to a powerful pick-and-go from number eight Benjamin Faavae and more points from Panua Nuilevaea.
After sending tight-head Alauni Fatu to the sin bin for a careless late challenge, Samoa played the final eight minutes of the half with 14 men, although they still led 17–12 at the end of the half.
But in the first moments of the second half, Hong Kong China took the lead when winger Matthew Rickard scored in the left corner just after his effort was waved off.
Hong Kong China had all the momentum as they saw a chance to snap an 11-match losing streak in the competition. However, winger Panaua Niulevaea’s 70-meter sprint home after intercepting Blake Elliot’s pass reversed the tide of the match.
The game appeared to be improving for Hong Kong China when Tavita chipped the ball over the top and it rebounded nicely for him to recover and score his second try. When Niulevaea kicked a penalty and then intercepted another telegraphed pass to score his second, there was no longer any room for debate about the result.
With his fourth conversion kick, Niulevaea increased his total score to 21 points in a 39-19 victory that seemed closer than the score indicates.
