HARARE, Zimbabwe - The AIG Men's Junior All-Americans dropped their first match at the 2016 World Rugby U20 Trophy Tuesday, losing to Namibia 46-44-39 on a late try.

It was clearly not a match where the defenses were operating well, and as the game wore on the tries came thicker and faster.

Namibia scored early through their hooker, Nortje, and just a minute later USA scrumhalf Louis Mulholland went over in reply. At the 18th minute, fullback Mitch Wilson's try put the USA ahead 14-8, but then Namibia scored right after to take the lead 16-14.

That was how the game seemed to be going - almost like a 7s game in that a possession often meant a score. Captain Hanco Germishuys put his side back on top 22-16 at 27 minutes, but the defenses held until halftime after that.

Germishuys scored again after the break to make it 28-16, and after Namibia scored again, Germishuys got his third and it was 34-24 with 25 to go. Both sides started to run on the subs after that, and it seemed that Namibia got a spark from the changes. Namibia inched close and then Malon Al-Jiboori's try put the USA up 42-32. Again Namibia inched closer. The USA kicked a penalty, and that set up a furious final minute with the score 44-32. Namibia kept the play going well past full time, and finally, substitute back Stiaan van der Merwe went over to make it USA U20s 44, Namibia U20s 44. The kick was good, Namibia took the victory. 

The USA takes two bonus points from the game, one for a close loss and one for four tries scored. They are certainly not out of it in what is always a difficult tournament.

But it's also clear that Namibia finished somewhat strongly, and were more successful in kicking their conversions - USA was 3-for-6, while Namibia 5-for-6.

(Note: We reported this score differently earlier, because we forgot that World Rugby is using special law variations for this game, and counting a try as six (6) points, not five. Penalties are worth two points. So we added up the tries and conversions and thought there's been a mistake at 40-39, but no!  lists this result as 46-44, but we've gone back over the scoring timeline from World Rugby themselves and the score according to that is 40-39.)

Also in action at the World Rugby U20 Trophy: 
Spain beat Hong Kong 44-8

Fiji edged Uruguay 38-34

Samoa beat hosts Zimbabwe 54-24

USA U20s 44

Tries: Germishuys 3, Al Jiboori, Mulholland, Wilson

Convs: Cima 2, Giles

Pens: Giles

Namibia U20s 46

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

Convs: Olivier 3, Loubser 2

USA U20s 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

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