NZ Under 19 Win Marred By Death
28/03/2004 05:05 PM
Tragedy marred New Zealand's opening match against Ireland at the International Rugby Board Under-19 World Championship at the ABSA Stadium in Durban on Saturday.
Irish flank John McCall collapsed midway through the first half and was stretchered off the field before passing away shortly after the match.
"Our team is simply devastated," New Zealand team manager Greg Shipton said. "Our thoughts go to the Irish team and the family of the player.
"There is nothing we can say to make this tragedy go away - we are devastated. The result of today's game means nothing."
The cause of death was still unclear but speculation was rife that it was a heart-attack although further examination will be needed to confirm this.
The Irish team were unavailable for comment and it is also unclear whether they will continue in the tournament.
The match itself was not spectacular and although most of the players did not know how serious the situation was they still seemed subdued.
New Zealand were far from perfect but came away with a bonus point for four tries - the last coming in the final minute when scrumhalf Taniela Moa wriggled over from close range.
Replacement wing Joseph Utiera scored twice, the second a fine piece of work that saw replacement flyhalf William Ripia and centre Aaron Bancroft loop superbly to create space out wide.
The Junior Blacks enjoyed the bulk of possession throughout the match, but Ireland showed tremendous mettle in defence in the first half and stopped everything that the Blacks threw at them before wilting under the strain of such pressure.
Their methods though, were often illegal and referee Marius Jonker eventually had to call Irish captain Michael Essex aside and warn him that if they continued to slow the ball at the ruck when New Zealand were on attack, he would have to reach for a yellow card.
He duly did several minutes later, but it was to send New Zealand lock Adaam Ross to the sin-bin after an attempted right hook was fended off by an Irish forward. The transgression though did not escape the notice of the touch judge who pointed it out.
The numerical advantage did not help Ireland though, and if anything New Zealand increased their grip on the ball by choosing to keep the game even tighter in the absence of Ross.
Ireland had an early chance to lead with a 45-metre penalty from left wing Eamonn Fitzgerald. But the kick fell just short of the cross bar in the heavy, humid Durban air.
It was perhaps the only real moment the Irish had to put points on the board in the entire first half because from then New Zealand slowly began to assert themselves.
Flyhalf Miah Nikora, one of only three survivors from the team that lost the final to South Africa in 2003, slotted two penalties in the sixth and 18th minutes.
Whatever coach Aussie McLean told his New Zealand team at halftime it had the desired effect because they suddenly started breaking tackles and stringing phases together.
From a break inside their own 22-metre area left wing James Somerset scorched down the right hand touchline to set up a quick ruck that saw the ball moved to left the left where there was four black jerseys against one emerald green jumper. Fullback Luke Devcich scored skimmed past the last desperate cover to score.
That sealed the match as a contest and New Zealand now face Georgia while Ireland's future participation is unsure.
Scorers:
New Zealand - Tries: Luke Devcich, Joseph Utiera (2), Taniela Moa.
Conversions: Miah Nikora, William Ripia. Penalties: Nikora (2).
Ireland: Penalties: Eamonn Fitzgerald (2).
Teams:
New Zealand: 15-Luke Devcich; 14-Nick Blincoe (Joseph Utiera - 30th),
13-Richard Kahui, 12-Aaron Bancroft, 11-James Somerset, 10-Miah Nikora
(William Ripia - 55th), 9-Taniela Moa; 8-Mikaele Tuu'u, 7-Serge Lilo,
6-Kieran Read, 5-Jeremy Thrush, 4-Adaam Ross (Michael Paterson - 41st),
3-Travis Church (Tyler Ashworth - 58th), 2-Lance Po-Ching (Hikawera Elliot -
44th), 1-Jamie Mackintosh (capt).
Ireland: 15-Fionn Carr; 14-Jamie McGrugan, 13-Mark Scott, 12-Stewart
Megaw, 11-Eamonn Fitzgerald, 10-Conor Gildea, 9-Cillian Willis; 8-Stephen
Ferris, 7-John McCall (Mark Connaughty - 21st), 6-Michael Essex, 5-Billy
Holland, 4-Ross Noonan (; 3-Paul Doran-Jones, 2-Gary Moran, 1-Killian
O'Neill.
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Young U19 centre Seminar Manu-Tinela
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28/03/2004 05:05 PM
Tragedy marred New Zealand's opening match against Ireland at the International Rugby Board Under-19 World Championship at the ABSA Stadium in Durban on Saturday.
Irish flank John McCall collapsed midway through the first half and was stretchered off the field before passing away shortly after the match.
"Our team is simply devastated," New Zealand team manager Greg Shipton said. "Our thoughts go to the Irish team and the family of the player.
"There is nothing we can say to make this tragedy go away - we are devastated. The result of today's game means nothing."
The cause of death was still unclear but speculation was rife that it was a heart-attack although further examination will be needed to confirm this.
The Irish team were unavailable for comment and it is also unclear whether they will continue in the tournament.
The match itself was not spectacular and although most of the players did not know how serious the situation was they still seemed subdued.
New Zealand were far from perfect but came away with a bonus point for four tries - the last coming in the final minute when scrumhalf Taniela Moa wriggled over from close range.
Replacement wing Joseph Utiera scored twice, the second a fine piece of work that saw replacement flyhalf William Ripia and centre Aaron Bancroft loop superbly to create space out wide.
The Junior Blacks enjoyed the bulk of possession throughout the match, but Ireland showed tremendous mettle in defence in the first half and stopped everything that the Blacks threw at them before wilting under the strain of such pressure.
Their methods though, were often illegal and referee Marius Jonker eventually had to call Irish captain Michael Essex aside and warn him that if they continued to slow the ball at the ruck when New Zealand were on attack, he would have to reach for a yellow card.
He duly did several minutes later, but it was to send New Zealand lock Adaam Ross to the sin-bin after an attempted right hook was fended off by an Irish forward. The transgression though did not escape the notice of the touch judge who pointed it out.
The numerical advantage did not help Ireland though, and if anything New Zealand increased their grip on the ball by choosing to keep the game even tighter in the absence of Ross.
Ireland had an early chance to lead with a 45-metre penalty from left wing Eamonn Fitzgerald. But the kick fell just short of the cross bar in the heavy, humid Durban air.
It was perhaps the only real moment the Irish had to put points on the board in the entire first half because from then New Zealand slowly began to assert themselves.
Flyhalf Miah Nikora, one of only three survivors from the team that lost the final to South Africa in 2003, slotted two penalties in the sixth and 18th minutes.
Whatever coach Aussie McLean told his New Zealand team at halftime it had the desired effect because they suddenly started breaking tackles and stringing phases together.
From a break inside their own 22-metre area left wing James Somerset scorched down the right hand touchline to set up a quick ruck that saw the ball moved to left the left where there was four black jerseys against one emerald green jumper. Fullback Luke Devcich scored skimmed past the last desperate cover to score.
That sealed the match as a contest and New Zealand now face Georgia while Ireland's future participation is unsure.
Scorers:
New Zealand - Tries: Luke Devcich, Joseph Utiera (2), Taniela Moa.
Conversions: Miah Nikora, William Ripia. Penalties: Nikora (2).
Ireland: Penalties: Eamonn Fitzgerald (2).
Teams:
New Zealand: 15-Luke Devcich; 14-Nick Blincoe (Joseph Utiera - 30th),
13-Richard Kahui, 12-Aaron Bancroft, 11-James Somerset, 10-Miah Nikora
(William Ripia - 55th), 9-Taniela Moa; 8-Mikaele Tuu'u, 7-Serge Lilo,
6-Kieran Read, 5-Jeremy Thrush, 4-Adaam Ross (Michael Paterson - 41st),
3-Travis Church (Tyler Ashworth - 58th), 2-Lance Po-Ching (Hikawera Elliot -
44th), 1-Jamie Mackintosh (capt).
Ireland: 15-Fionn Carr; 14-Jamie McGrugan, 13-Mark Scott, 12-Stewart
Megaw, 11-Eamonn Fitzgerald, 10-Conor Gildea, 9-Cillian Willis; 8-Stephen
Ferris, 7-John McCall (Mark Connaughty - 21st), 6-Michael Essex, 5-Billy
Holland, 4-Ross Noonan (; 3-Paul Doran-Jones, 2-Gary Moran, 1-Killian
O'Neill.
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Joe Locke
Young U19 centre Seminar Manu-Tinela
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Very tragic and extremely sad news. 
