An intercept try by Hawke's Bay loosie Devan Flanders was a highlight as New Zealand yesterday booked a semifinal berth at rugby's under-20 world championship in France.
Havelock North's Flanders, who started at No 8 and also had stints on both sides of the scrum, sprinted 60 minutes for his try in the 11th minute of the Baby Blacks 27-18 win against Australia. Flanders has been as big a contributor to the Baby Blacks unbeaten run as he was for the unbeaten New Zealand Secondary Schools and Hastings Boys High School teams last year.
The Baby Blacks, who are coached by former Hawke's Bay Magpies mentor Craig Philpott and also include another Bay loosie Will Tremain, will take on host nation France in Wednesday's semifinal. Waikato-based Hawke's Bay age group product Bailyn Sullivan, who was originally named on the right wing for yesterday's game, was a late withdrawal.
As the score suggests the Junior Wallabies more than tested the Baby Blacks and their scrum enjoyed numerous dominant patches.
At one scrum in the second quarter the Baby Blacks conceded a penalty try. Tighthead prop Tevita Mafileo was sin binned at the time and it was a credit to the Baby Blacks defensive efforts that no points were conceded while the defending champions were down to 14 men.