Australia U18s have held on for a 38-31 win over New Zealand Schools in Hamilton.
It’s the first time Australia has taken down their NZ counterparts since 2019 as prop Kingsley Uys cemented his status as one of the best schoolboy talents in the world.
The 16-year-old set up a try and scored in the second half to power Australia to victory.
Scrumhalf Angus Grover and fullback Rex Bassingthwaighte were also excellent as they put the hosts under immense pressure from the opening whistle.
It delivered the opening try as Bassingthwaighte diced his way through the defence and sprinted away to touch down.
The Kiwis eventually rolled and flyhalf Mason Verster finished off the overlap to put NZ in front.
They had a chance to extend their lead in the 19th minute, dropping the ball just before the line.
The mistake rallied the Australians as Heinz Lemoto puts lock Will Ross into space.
From the next phase, centre Josh Takai dived over down the short side, with the sideline conversion from Jonty Fowler extending the lead.
New Zealand answered through Siale Pahulu to level the scores but two minutes later, Australian scrum half Grover delivered a heads up play to send Shannon Fraser’s side into the lead heading into half-time.
The Waratah smartly recognised the space at the ruck and through a perfect dummy to slice through, diving early for the try line and a 19-12 lead at the break.
The Aussies picked up from where they left off after an unreal offload from prop Uys put winger Nick Conway over in the corner.
This fired the Kiwis up as a great break from Cohen Norris set up to power his way over Charlie Wallis.
As both teams traded opportunities, the Aussies felt hard done by after a clear knockdown with a two-on-one advantage was ruled a knock on rather than deliberate.
Nonetheless, Uys was once again the man to spark Australia as he fired up and crashed over the line.
The Kiwis refused to give up and a penalty try reduced the margin to seven and saw Uys go to the bin for a collapsed maul.
But it was Australia’s afternoon as they defied the numbers to set up winger Heamasi Makasani in the corner.
NZ fought back late to score in the last minute but a missed conversion from right in front and a turnover inside their half halted their comeback
