The draw was a fitting result for the next generation of Australian rugby stars, having lost three players to yellow cards throughout the match and worked their way back from 29-17 down after 60 minutes.

Captain Eamon Doyle was one of the stars for the young men in gold, pinching a lineout steal from the New Zealand throw in the 81st minute when all they needed to do was win the throw and kick the ball out.

But the rising lock had other ideas, with the Junior Wallabies a penalty soon after which allowed Harvey to kick for touch. The rising Australian Sevens winger didn’t flinch, stepping up near the 10 metre line to find touch just seven metres out.

After winning the lineout, the Junior All Blacks lost hooker Eli Oudenryn to the sin bin for not releasing. In reality though, it could have been a penalty try as the hooker swam around the side of the maul to bring it down just short of the line.

Sid Harvey nailed a conversion from out wide to ensure the Junior Wallabies drew with the Junior All Blacks in their under-20s Rugby Championship opener at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on May 01, 2025 in Gqeberha. (Photo by Richard Huggard/Gallo Images)

There were plenty of standouts for the men in gold, with outside centre Liam Grover scoring a double.

Playmaker Joey Fowler had his moments, flanker Eli Langi was threatening while Whitaker got plenty out of his bench, with loose-head prop Trevor King scoring.

On a sunny day in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), New Zealand showed plenty of endeavour early as they ran the ball from the opening kick-off and made huge metres through swift movement and quick ruck speed.

After the Junior All Blacks were held up in the 4th minute, New Zealand scored through winger Haryln Saunoa after a quick dart from halfback Dylan Pledger.

The Junior Wallabies quickly responded when Grover stretched out to score to level the match.

After some quick ruck speed and more territory, the Junior Wallabies hit the front when Harvey scored out wide.

The Junior All Blacks then went 60 metres to cut the margin to 10-12 as Stanley Solomon touched down out wide after a stunning interchange of passes that came first phase from a lineout.

Harvey then sent Grover in for his second as the winger produced a bit of magic by chip-and-chasing, before firing a lovely ball to his backline teammate to extend the score out to 17-10 at half time.

Liam Grover scored a double in the Junior Wallabies’ draw with New Zealand in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. (Photo by Richard Huggard – Gallo Images/Getty Images)

The Junior All Blacks’ response was emphatic in the early stages of the second half as winger Maloni Kunawave scored a quick-fire double.

His first try came after running a superb inside line off his captain and hooker Manumaua Letiu. The winger then scored out wide after stepping inside the attempted covering tackle from Harvey.

It looked like Junior All Blacks would run away with the match when they were awarded a penalty try after the Junior Wallabies collapsed a rolling maul. Rubbing salt into the wound was that lock Joe Mangeldorf was also sent to the sin bin.

But the momentum changed soon after as New Zealand kicked a ball out on the full, which allowed Australia some territory. They wouldn’t waste it as King barged over.

The Junior All Blacks had the chance to bury the game by taking it beyond a converted try lead in the 66th minute, but instead called for a scrum. It would be a decision they would be left to rue as the Junior Wallabies won a penalty from the set-piece.

While the match-levelling try didn’t come easy, Australia’s patience was rewarded as Ata scored. Then Harvey showed his composure to land the extras.

Australia will take on host nation South Africa next Wednesday morning (AEDT), with the Junior Springboks beating Argentina  36-15 in their opening fixture.