Young Wallabies demolish NZ Schools in 12-try masterclass

Australian rugby has shown some of the bright shoots for the future with a blistering display by the Young Wallabies – including a monster performance from one of the sport’s brightest stars.

Brendan Bradford

@1bbradfo

2 min read

September 29, 2025 - 6:06PM

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Young Wallabies in action against NZ

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The Wallabies’ woes against the All Blacks continued last weekend, but there’s hope for the future with Australia’s Under-18s side handing the New Zealand Secondary Schools XV an 81-48 hiding in Canberra on Monday.

Two days after Joe Schmidt’s Wallabies side went down 33-27 to the ABs at Eden Park, the U18 Aussies scored a 12 tries to seven win over the New Zealanders in a remarkable match that resembled a basketball game at times.

Dynamic midfield duo Treyvon Pritchard and Cyrus Bloomfield were among Australia’s best, while rampaging backrower Heinz Lemoto was a wrecking ball.

Lemoto is one of the brightest rising stars in Australian football and created headlines when the cross-code star was snapped up by French glamour club Toulouse earlier this year.

Rising Australian rugby star Heinz Lemoto.

The No.8 showed exactly why he’s one of the country’s most sought after players with a powerful first half try to push Australia out to a 19-3 lead.

Pritchard and Bloomfield linked up brilliantly in midfield for a 26-8 advantage, before New Zealand pegged the gap back to 26-22 at the break.

A 12 minute blitz after halftime proved the difference for Australia in a second half that saw the two teams combine for 12 tries, for an average of one every three minutes.

Gun fullback Nick Conway crossed over first, just a minute after the restart, finishing off a brave solo run.

Conway, talented flyhalf Finn McKay and inside centre Pritchard are all in the Queensland Reds system, with all three signing two-year elite development squad deals this year.

Angus Grover in action for Australia

New Zealand halfback Marco Miln attempted to kickstart a fightback in the 55th minute, but it was short lived as the sensational Pritchard started and finished off a nice 60 metre counter-attacking move.

The visitors scored again through a rolling maul, but Bloomfield scored his second try of the afternoon after a solo linebreak and 60m sprint to take Australia’s lead past 60.

Rising Waratahs star Bloomfield crashed over for his hat-trick, before replacement lock Ed Kasprowicz scored his side’s 11th try straight from the ensuing kick-off.

Bloomfield was involved again as the Aussies went past the 80 point mark in the 79th minute.

The sides meet for a second showdown at the same ground this Saturday afternoon.

Australia U18 81 (Cyrus Bloomfield 3, Treyvon Pritchard 2, Chayse Geros, Ed Kasprowicz, Isaac Fonua, Nick Conway, Heinz Lemoto, Brody Folkes, Levi Slater tries; Finn Mackay 7 conv, pen, Archie Mesritz 2 con) def New Zealand Secondary Schools 48 (Rupeni Raviyawa 2, Siale Pahulu, Ollie Guerin, Tom Perkins, Marco Miln, Alani Fakava tries; Jimmy Taylor 5 con, pen)

AUSTRALIAN U18S LINE-UP

1. Kingsley Uys - The Southport School

2. Isaac Rauluni - Nudgee College

3. Levi Slater - Nudgee College

4. Isaac Fonua - The King’s School

5. William Ross - Padua College

6. Justice Taumoepeau - St Joseph’s College

7. Jarvis Orr - Knox Grammar

8. Heinz Lemoto - The Scots College

9. Angus Grover (c) - St Ignatius College, Riverview

10. Finn Mackay - Souths Rugby Club, Brisbane

11. Talen Risati - The King’s School