Australia has been crowned World Champions after beating New Zealand by 17-13 in the Final of the IRB Under 19 World Championship in Dubai this morning (Australian time).
The scores were locked at 14-13 to Australia with less than 15 minutes to go until a drop goal to centre Anthony Faingaa game Australia some breathing space in a thrilling match.
It is the first time Australia has won the U19 title but it was a well-deserved victory for an outstanding Australian team. The win was especially sweet for Anthony and Saia Fiangaa as well as prop Jack Kennedy who were in last year's team that drew with New Zealand in the Semi Final before being knocked out in a penalty shootout.
Australia scored two tries in three minutes mid way through the first half to take a 14-3 half time lead. Lock Daniel Linde was the first on the board after scrumhalf Josh Holmes opened up the defence. His pass to support deflected off the head of a New Zealand defender and bounced into the arms of Linde who went over from five metres out.
A minute later Australia ran a slick backrow move, then spread the ball wide to winger Lachlan Turner who powered down the left-hand touchline, had the strength to fend off the covering defence and cross out wide before running the ball under the posts to score.
Flyhalf Christian Lealiifano was on target with the two conversions to put Australia up 14-0 after 17 minutes and New Zealand were looking rattled.
However the Kiwis kept their composure and struck back with a penalty to fullback Colin Slade from 35 metres out late in the first half which helped lift their intensity going into the break.
In the second half it was New Zealand's turn to run in the tries with winger Armyn Sanders scoring twice in five minutes. The sideline conversions were missed but at 14-13 and less than 15 minutes to go, the crowd was on the edge of their seats.
The game see-sawed in the final stages and both teams had chances, but Australia worked their way into New Zealand's quarter and, with the referee indicating advantage to Australia for an infringement, centre Anthony Faingaa kicked a wobbly but effective dropgoal from 20 metres out and right in front of the posts.
It was a tense last couple of minutes for coach Phil Mooney but Australia secured most of the possession and kept control of the game until the final whistle.
Mooney said the win was a well-deserved team effort.
"We made such a good start that the Kiwis were probably a bit shell shocked. We had the opportunities and grasped them," Mooney said
"But then we got a reality check - we were in a World Championship Final after all - and New Zealand came back very hard at us.
"At 14-13 I was a bit worried. They had all the momentum and were winning a lot of penalties but defensively we dug deep and got the drop goal from Anthony Faingaa.
"I'm very proud of this team. And something I said to the boys is this: hopefully we'll go on to win this event lots of times in the future, but this team will always be the first, no one will ever be able to take that away from us.
"The team owes a lot to everyone back home, as well as the local Australian expats who showed us such tremendous support. We received a lot of faxes, emails and messages of support which really lifted the boys, especially being a long way from home."
Australia captain Saia Faingaa said the team kept their composure.
"I always had faith in the boys and thought that we could stick in there, and for my twin brother Anthony to get the drop goal at the end was a great moment.
"In the second half we sat back a bit too much and should have attacked more, but we showed our character to come through a very difficult test."
