HARARE, Zimbabwe – The AIG Men’s Junior All-Americans dropped their first match at the 2016 World Rugby U20 Trophy Tuesday, conceding the match-winning try in the final minutes of a 46-44 loss to Namibia.

The match was the first of this year’s tournament, and the MJAAs’ first in the competition since a third-place victory in Hong Kong in 2014. JD Stephenson’s side will continue their campaign at Harare Sports Club Saturday, April 23, against Hong Kong.

MJAAvNAM match starts at 2:28:00 in above player

The see-saw match began with two tries – one apiece – in the first 10 minutes and an additional try per team before the 25th minute as the lead changed three times, with Namibia holding a slim, 14-12, advantage. Captain Hanco Germishuys scored the first of his three tries prior to the end of the half to give the MJAAs a 19-14 lead at the break.

Germishuys doubled his tally and extended the MJAAs’ lead moments after the second-half restart to get the scoring started once again, giving Stephenson’s team its widest lead margin of the match at 28-16. Namibia would draw closer 10 minutes into the second frame, but Germishuys completed his hat trick a minute later for a 10-point, 34-24 lead.

The MJAAs held onto the lead until the 80th minute as the teams combined for three tries, with Rodney Giles kicking a two-point penalty goal in what should have been the last play of the game for a 44-38 advantage. Namibia gained territory when play resumed following two penalties against the MJAAs, and scored under the posts before kicking the easy, match-winning conversion.

AIG Men’s Junior All-Americans | v. Namibia

1. Chance Wenglewski

2. Steven Branham

3. Mason Pedersen

4. Victor Comptat

5. Deven Marshall

6. Malon Al-Jiboori

7. Brennan Falcon

8. Hanco Germishuys (C)

9. Louis Mulholland

10. Ben Cima

11. Devin Lim

12. Brian Hannon

13. Lorenzo Thomas

14. Rodney Giles

15. Mitch Wilson

AIG Men’s Junior All-Americans | Reserves

16. Ruairi Van Raalte

17. Roman Salanoa

18. Chad Sneyd

19. Veuki Taumefolau

20. Ruben de Haas

21. Duncan Van Schalkwyk

22. Tyler Sousley

AIG Men’s Junior All-Americans | 44

Tries: Mulholland, Wilson, Germishuys (3), Al-Jiboori

Conversions: Cima (2), Giles

Penalties: Giles

Namibia | 46

Tries: Nortje, De Klerk, Kavita, Luttig, Wilson, Van Der Merwe

Conversions: Olivier (3), Loubser (2)

AIG Men’s Junior All-Americans | 2016 World Rugby U20 Trophy

v. Namibia – L 46-44

v. Hong Kong – Saturday, April 23 @ 10 a.m. ET

v. Spain – Thursday, April 27 @ 10 a.m. ET