Netherlands and Portugal will square off in the final of the 2024 U20s Rugby Europe Championship, after successfully defeating Romania and Belgium respectfully in the semi-finals. Germany and Czechia will play in the fifth place final, while Switzerland and Poland are set for a seventh place face-off.
Germany vs Poland, the game of Round 2
79 points scored, ten tries dotted down in what was a spectacular game between Germany and Poland, with the Schwarze Adler’s securing a 46-33 win.
Germany opened the match with a slick try scored by Christopher Hennig, with the fly-half tap dancing eluding two Polish tacklers to dot down. With the German’s setting the tone, Poland went on the offensive and were able to camp inside the opposition’s 22.
After much insistence, the Biało-czerwoni finally broke the German defence, with Tomasz Tkaczuk diving in for the try-equalizer.
Santiago Brzezinski converted the try and would also successfully put the ball through the posts with a penalty, with Poland pulling ahead as the game concluded its first quarter.
Germany would add another try to their tally, thanks again to Christopher Henning, as the nº10 found space with a kick in behind the Polish backs, allowing Max Kammholz to regather and calmly place it inside the in-goal area.
Until half-time, Poland scored six more points with Germany replying with another converted try, forcing a tie at the end of the first 40 minutes.
With a win on the line, the German team would eventually come out on top, displaying more control discipline-wise and making every opportunity pay off. Max Kammholz and Louis Callow scored their team’s 4th, 5th and 6th tries, pushing a 19-point lead, enough to put an end to Poland’s aspirations.
The Polish twice reached the whitewash to sow a bit of uncertainty, but Germany remained resolute and wrapped the match with a 7th try.
Where the game was won: In the details. It might sound cliché, but the tiniest details can make the difference between winning or losing at this level, and without a doubt, Germany were best at it. Of course, having a game-changer player like Christopher Henning massively helps, but the German U20s were smarter around the breakdown, and more cunning in open play.
Top moment of the game: Germany’s 6th try. A missed pass, a smart kick, a lucky bounce and a wing that sprinted for glory. These four ingredients ultimately led Germany to victory and blocked Poland from daring to dream with a 5th place final.
Lobos howls in their way to the final
Portugal will have another shot of claiming the crown, after their 30-12 win over Belgium to qualify for the final.
It would take twenty minutes for the first change in the scoreboard, with the U20 Diable Noirs securing a first try following an unstoppable maul drive. Portugal upped the pressure, clinching a handful of turnovers to put them close to the try area.
A Belgian handling error resulted in a Portuguese interception, with inside-centre Guilherme Vasconcelos placing the ball down. Five minutes later, another Belgian mistake opened the door for Portugal’s 2nd try, with a high-kick ball bouncing towards José Monteiro’s hands. The number eight just had to sprint to put his team in the lead.
Belgium’s defence dipped in form, making life easier for the junior Lobos to reach the whitewash for a third time.
Just before the break, Belgium had a last chance to narrow Portugal’s lead, with a five-meter penalty. Unfortunately for them, a fragile carry translated to a Portuguese turnover, keeping the 17-05 score unchanged.
With snow already falling, the Portuguese were more composed for the last half of the game, bagging a penalty kick and a converted try. Belgium’s attacking strategy rarely panned out, conceding a series of penalties, helping the opposition to finish on top.
Sohan Faquez had the chance to write down his name in the game scorer’s sheet, but it wouldn’t change the outcome.
Where the game was won: Discipline. In the end, Portugal was more disciplined than Belgium, even if the Diables Noirs had a strong opening twenty minutes. As time went on, the U20 Belgians started to get tangled in a web of penalties, boosting Portugal’s chances to finish as the winning side.
Top moment of the game: That last first-half play. Down by twelve points with just seconds to go until half-time, Belgium had a last chance to narrow the score. Five meters out from the try area, they could’ve gone for a maul drive, but shockingly they chose to quickly tap the ball, losing control of the rugby egg, and boosting the Portuguese morale just before the break.
The Oranje in course for a title renewal?
Romania did offer a competitive game to the Netherlands, but in the end, the 2023 U20s champions didn’t flinch and secured a place in the final. The 41-21 doesn’t tell the full story, but it gives a sense of how the Dutch never lost control of the game, overcoming a Romanian team that tried to defy the odds.
The Netherlands added ten points in the opening ten minutes, taking advantage of Romania’s indiscipline to get ahead. The junior Stejarii didn’t have to wait long to strike back, as Stefan Mirzac capitalized from a Dutch lineout slip, with the scrum-half catching everyone by surprise.
The conceded try didn’t crack the 2023 champions' morale, with the Dutch side slowly rebuilding their margin. Ilan Vasser slotted in to add another three points, and minutes later a powerful carry from Tobias Nota gave the Netherlands a fifteen-point leading margin.
Romania had no success in finding their way inside the in-goal area, opting to kick to the posts, with David Balan converting two of them.
After the break, Netherlands doubled their efforts to quickly expand the lead, scoring three tries in under fifteen minutes, all scored by forwards.
Trailing by 27 points, Romania only managed to add a second try with just six minutes to go until the final whistle. The Dutch defence was impenetrable for most of the game and gave little space for the junior Stejarii to throw the ball around.
Where the game was won: set-piece. We could say physicality, intensity and utter strength, but the Netherlands set-piece was just too good for Romania. Four of the five tries scored by the reigning champions came from a lineout, maul drive or scrum, totally overpowering the opposition from start to finish.
Top moment of the game: minute 43:05. Romania was only 6 points down and there was a feeling that a twist was still possible. However, the Dutch forward pack had a different idea and took advantage of a lineout to not only bag a third try but to draw the line between the two teams.
Thrilling Czechia clinch a 5th place final
Czechia delighted their fans, as they took down Poland in a 38-08 win, qualifying the hosts to a 5th place final.
There wasn’t much difference between the two teams in the opening half of the game, with Switzerland being in the lead in two moments. However, a wonderful try from fullback Matj Novak pulled the home team ahead, with a 14-08 score at half-time.
The match changed dramatically in the second half, as Czechia’s gameplan started to click, increasing the ball flow and speed, with the Swiss opposition crumbling down.
Super Cup Bohemia Warrior’s standout Lukas Brada set up his team’s 3rd and 4th try, getting himself in the scoresheet, and making the best of his sidestepping expertise.
With a last try scored in the final three minutes, the hosts concluded the game with a 38-08 onslaught, being their 2nd ever win in the U20s Men’s Rugby Europe Championship.
Where the game was won: belief. Czechia didn’t stop believing that a win was possible, even if Switzerland were in the lead for a brief moment in the first half. The home team worked tirelessly to overcome the score disadvantage, never self-doubting, and it would lead them to a thumping win.
Top moment of the game: minute 31:45. Czechia was under heavy pressure as Poland had camped inside their half for the last five minutes, and seemed close to another try. However, the Czech forward pack met the moment, and won a penalty, putting an end to the relentless Swiss pressure.
The Program of the Finals here :https://www.rugbyeurope.eu/competitions/u20-european-championship-2024
By Franciso Isaac
