Both sides scored five tries each, with the lead changing three times. Honours were shared in the 84th minute when Australian winger Sid Harvey converted a Beau Morrison try from a hearty lineout drive.
Approaching the end of regulation time, New Zealand led 29–22 when Australian captain Eamon Doyle snaffled an Eli Oudenryn throw à la Mark Connors. The replacement New Zealand hooker was then sin-binned as Australia advanced assertively and salvaged a tie. Harvey was an unlikely hero after missing three earlier kicks. New Zealand captain Manumaua Letiu summarised the contest as “pretty hectic” and regretted, “we couldn’t quite finish off.”
New Zealand started at a breathless pace, with Australia deprived of possession for six minutes. Pakuranga winger Harlyn Saunoa struck the first blow when he trailed a Dylan Pledger break and gleefully accepted an unselfish pass from the precocious Otago halfback.
Australia regrouped with opportunistic tries from potent centre Liam Grover and Harvey. Grover retrieved a loose pass and managed to isolate a smaller Rico Simpson close to the line, while Harvey was alert to a New Zealand spillage that went backwards instead of forwards.
New Zealand fullback Stanley Solomon is a diminutive dynamo. The Wellington Lions Premiership winner had Australia sweating throughout. His 34th-minute try was ethereal. With only a smidgen of real estate left, he dived gracefully in the air, ball outstretched in a single hand, to finish an eight-pass movement that started on halfway.
Grover’s approach is more bullish. His 39th-minute strike saw Australia turn 17–10 ahead at the interval.
Momentum flipped in the 44th minute when assured Aussie ten Joey Fowler was yellow-carded for a deliberate knockdown as New Zealand looked set to score.
Tasman winger Maloni Kunawave ensured that undermanned Australia was punished with two tries in three minutes. In the 46th minute, a dummy maul saw hooker Letiu burst clear and supply deftly to Kunawave on his right shoulder. Moments later, Solomon heaved a 30-metre pass behind his back to the Fijian, who finished with aplomb despite the convergence of two defenders.
Australia was in disarray, and at the hour mark, New Zealand was awarded a penalty try from a lineout drive speeding towards the advertising boards.
Inexplicably, Australia scored next while down to 14 players. New Zealand lacked due diligence inside their own territory, and Queensland Reds prop Trevor King profited.
A cynical foul by James Martens reduced Australia to 13, but somehow they earned a scrum penalty, alleviating massive strain close to their own posts.
ACT Brumbies hooker Lipina Ata was inspirational in his short stint. Doyle was a constant menace, and 18-year-old loose forward Eli Langi — who won the Bronze Boot award as best player in Australia’s 38–31 triumph over the New Zealand Schools in Hamilton last year — was again influential.
New Zealand lock Josh Tengblad put his nose to the grindstone. With a leg that looked like it was falling off, wholehearted openside Aio Keith resembled Long John Silver by fulltime. Will Cole showed a steady hand from the bench.
New Zealand’s next Rugby Championship fixture is against Argentina at 12am NZT on Wednesday 7 May.
New Zealand Under 20s: 29 (Harlyn Saunoa, Stanley Solomon, Maloni Kunawave 2 tries, Penalty Try, Rico Simpson con) Australia Under 20s: 29 (Liam Grover 2, Sid Harvey, Trevor King, Beau Morrison tries; Harvey 2 cons) HT: 10-17