Japan dominated Uruguay with a 73-22 victory, while Hong Kong China overcame Kenya 34-14 on the final day of the World Rugby U20 Trophy.
THIRD-PLACE PLAY-OFF: JAPAN 73-22 URUGUAY
Uruguay had to settle for fourth place after coming up against an irrepressible Japanese side in the third-place play-off at Hive Stadium.
Japan – relegated from the World Rugby U20 Championship last year – came out with a point to prove, scoring 11 tries and playing with a heady combination of pace, power and invention from the start.
Winger Tasuku Masuyama, flanker Shusui Kamei and hooker Kenshin Shimizu each scored twice, against a side Japan have beaten three times in four previous meetings.
Masuyama had a pair of highlight-reel tries in 60 seconds as Japan threatened to run away with it in the first 10 minutes. He had plenty of work to do for his first when he got hands on the ball on halfway, but burst through two tackles to score from 50m. And he skirted passed several defenders on a 30m weaving run to the line for his second.
They played with pace and plenty of low-down grunt, as their forwards took control of the set-piece. Kamei’s first try came two phases after a five-metre lineout, as he crashed under the posts unopposed.
Los Teritos needed points – and got them through an unstoppable, organised 22m maul on the half-hour, hooker Francisco García plunging over for his third try in Edinburgh. Uruguay tried to repeat the maul try trick twice more in the opening half, without success.
Kamei got his second three minutes into the second period as Japan continued as they meant to go on. There was brief respite for Uruguay as captain Franco Bertini charged over.
But fly-half Rieto Ito showed a clean pair of heels en route to the try-line for Japan’s sixth of the match after 53 minutes. Shimizu got his second – his seventh of the tournament – five minutes later, as they stretched their lead further.
Kent Iioka got his name on the scoreboard 14 minutes from time to take Japan past 50 points in the match. Jingo Takenoshita added their eighth in the 71st minute.
Felipe Bofill got a consolation for Uruguay two minutes later.
But Japan had the final say, as replacement Takaya Motohashi – on the pitch for just 13 minutes – outpaced the defence twice in the closing minutes of the game.
SEVENTH PLACE PLAY-OFF: HONG KONG CHINA 34-14 KENYA
Hong Kong China overturned an early 14-0 deficit to beat Kenya comprehensively and seal seventh place in the World Rugby U20 Trophy.
Tries from winger Eugene Ojiambo and second-row Andycole Omolo put the Kenyans ahead but Hong Kong China moved through the gears as the first half unfolded.
Scores from Ben Sheldon (two), James Kee, Hassan Lin and Dom Hedley put Joe Barker’s men 29-14 ahead at the break at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh.
Matthew Rickard added a late sixth as Kenya finished the tournament in eighth without a win and Hong Kong China snapped their 12-match losing streak.
Hong Kong China began brightly but Kenya struck the first blow in the third minute with a brilliant interception try from Ojiambo. The winger picked off Kee’s pass and raced clear from inside his own 22-metre line before diving under the posts.
Kenya soon scored again on the back of a quick penalty tap from fly-half Philip Okeyo. He embarked on a searing break inside the left channel and swapped passes with half-back partner Patrick Wainaina before unselfishly offloading to Omolo to score.
But Hong Kong China soon replied when influential hooker Sheldon nudged his way over from an expertly-executed driving maul. They soon struck again when outside centre Kee showed blistering speed to burst clear from inside his own half.
Hong Kong China then led for the first time when Barnaby Horberry and Kee combined brilliantly to send Lin scampering over in the right corner.
After Kenya centre Daniel Bett was sin-binned, Hong Kong China number eight Hedley squeezed over the line.
On the stroke of half-time, Kenya lost front-row Bramwel Mate to a yellow card and moments later Sheldon touched down for his second and Hong Kong China’s fifth try of the half.
Rickard, who also kicked two conversions, dived over in the left corner late on as Hong Kong China ran out comfortable victors to avenge their 22-16 loss to Kenya in last year’s U20 Trophy in Nairobi.
