Despite being dealt a full hand of cards, the New Zealand Under 85kg side defeated Sri Lanka 25-10 in Kandy on Sunday. The win means the side remains unbeaten and retains the Sir Graham Henry Trophy, however the series was much closer than last year with the Tuskers showing a great deal more physicality.
It meant the New Zealanders had to pull out a gutsy defensive effort, at one point reduced to 13 men with the Sri Lankans camped on their goal line for much of the second half.
Earlier, the home side took a stunning early lead that erupted the passionate capacity crowd at Nittawela Stadium. After winning an early penalty, a lineout drive was brought down close to the New Zealand line, leaving referee Morgan White of Hong Kong no choice but to award a penalty try.
Not only that, but debutant Oli Dunn-Parrant became the first player sent to the sin bin.
The message throughout the week from coach Ben Sinnamon was to hang onto the ball and string phases together, which they managed to do admirably despite being a man down. A sustained period of attack eventually saw lock Jack Laity barge over to level the scores, after which the game settled into an absorbing grind.
Jarred Percival knocked over two penalties to give New Zealand a 13-7 lead heading into the break, also by that stage it was clear that the scrum dominance the home side had enjoyed in the first game was no longer a factor.
A key part of that was prop Tom Rowland, who was well rewarded for an outstanding all round game when he drove over for a lineout drive try straight after the break. That made the score 18-7 and should’ve sparked some more attacking play, however another run of yellow cards made that almost impossible.
First Percival and Lahiru Thilakaratne were simultaneously carded for a ruck infringement and retaliation respectively, meaning wing Pieter Swarts had to move into first five for New Zealand. Thenunka Nanayakara knocked over the penalty to cut the lead to eight points, but not long after came the moment of the match.
Francis Morrison, who only joined the New Zealand team on Monday, found himself on the end of a wide cut out ball from Swarts. Morrison then went on a sidestep spree, beating nine defenders to dive over next to the posts for a try that would rank among the best anywhere in the world.
Swarts converted, but once again the game devolved as Frazer Harrison was carded for repeated team infringements, then Chad Crenfeldt-Smith unluckily got a fingernail to a pass from Kevindu de Costa that meant he was carded for a deliberate knock on.
Crenfeldt-Smith’s luck got even worse after he returned, with a tackle slipping high and leaving White no choice but to brandish a second yellow and send the replacement back from the field.
While the crowd kept its voice to the very end, the final stages were one of frustration for a Sri Lankan side that had all the possession and territory but couldn’t manage to get past some brave short-handed New Zealand defence. Loose forwards Josh Gellert and Josh Evans were absolutely outstanding, with Gellert the only starting forward to back up from last weekend.
The final whistle was greeted with exhausted jubilation from the New Zealanders, who hoisted the trophy for the second year in a row and Morrison was named player of the match.
New Zealand Under 85kg 25 (Jack Laity, Tom Rowland, Francis Morrison tries; Jarred Percival 2 pen, con; Pieter Swarts con)
Sri Lanka 10 (penalty try; Thenunka Nanayakara pen)
HT: 13-7
