Ukraine U20 7 Luxembourg U20 12
Luxembourg secured their first ever victory over Ukraine at U20 level and, in doing so, ensured a third place finish in the Rugby Europe U20 Championship played in Brno in the Czech Republic last week.
The match itself was a tense, low scoring affair, with Ukraine again relying on their size and physicality to attempt to bully the smaller Luxembourg team in a manner similar to that employed a week previously. The fact that they were unsuccessful this time is largely due to the fact that Luxembourg stuck far more rigidly to their game plan this time, and pushed Ukraine back with a bombardment of kicking, followed up by good chasing, particularly from wingers Maxim Kenens and Stan de Bruyn.
It was Ukraine though who scored first, their early try coming from a penalty close to Luxembourg's line for collapsing a maul. The Ukrainians kept the pressure on by kicking to the corner, and driving the ball over from the resultant lineout. A successful conversion made it 7-0.
Luxembourg however began to play the more intelligent rugby, and were able to equalise with a similar try of their own. A cleanly executed lineout just inside the Ukraine 22 meant the Luxembourg forwards still had a lot of work to do, but they drove very hard in the resultant maul and were able to march their much heavier opponents back all the way over the line for a try grounded by the captain, Christian Olsen.
The Luxembourg team, clearly boosted by this, continued to pressure Ukraine deep in their own half and Rhys Williams picked up from a scrum and was able to power over for a second try.
They should also have had a third try after 32 minutes, De Bruyn reacting first to gather a charged down clearance kick, but the Romanian referee incorrectly penalised him for offside, spoiling what was otherwise a very enjoyable game. Fortunately for Luxembourg, his excessive officiousness did not overly hamper them despite repeatedly being the victims of his whistle. The Ukrainian goal kicker was having a poor day with the boot and missed a straight-forward shot at goal just before half time.
The second half saw more squandered opportunities, first by another missed Ukrainian penalty and then by Luxembourg making a good break through fullback Sam Irons. A poorly misplaced pass, however, meant the attack did not finish with a try.
Luxembourg won a penalty after 70 minutes, but Daniel Ascoli's effort from 25 metres went wide. Ascoli then attempted to put Luxembourg 8 points clear with a drop goal, but this also missed. Jason Ribeiro had come on in the back row for the excellent Sacha Ernstberger, who suffered a shoulder injury. Ernstberger's high workrate and repeated jackaling is a real weapon to this team, but Ribeiro did well in his 16-minute shift, putting in a succession of very effective tackles.
Luxembourg were defending frantically in the last few minutes but, unlike their previous match, they were doing so in opposition territory, instead of on their own goal line. In the last action of the game, Ribeiro's big hit on a Ukrainian ball carrier was enough to stop the final attack. Quick thinking halfback Josh Van Zeeland pulled the players legs into touch, and the Luxembourg team could begin celebrating.
This result represents the Grand Duchy's highest ever placing since the tournament was expanded some years ago. The fact that 11 of the 26 players in the squad are still under 18 bodes extremely well for the future of rugby in this country.
