Netherlands Rally to Overcome Germany in Convincing 38-9 Victory

The Netherlands endured a nervy start against Germany, struggling to find their rhythm in the opening 10 minutes. It was the visitors who first threatened, entering the Dutch 22 after 12 minutes, only to squander their opportunity with a misfired lineout.

The match was paused shortly after, as Dutch flanker Tim De Jong suffered a suspected ankle injury. De Jong hobbled off and was replaced by Joris Smits, adding an early blow to the home side’s plans.

Germany began to find their footing, piecing together phases deep in Dutch territory. They almost drew first blood, crossing the try line only to be held up, forcing a goal-line dropout. The Netherlands escaped unscathed, leaving the Germans to rue their missed opportunity to break the deadlock.

Neither team seemed settled in the opening quarter, with the scoreboard still unmoved at 0-0. Germany’s struggles in the lineout and set-piece attack only added to the frustration, as both sides wrestled for control.

The stalemate was finally broken in the 29th minute, with Germany slotting a penalty to take a slim 3-0 lead. The Netherlands’ woes continued when a replacement received a yellow card for a late hit, reducing the hosts to 14 men. Moments later, tighthead prop Thymo Peters was forced off, bringing Bilaal Egberts into the fray.

With the Dutch down a man, Germany sensed an opportunity. However, the Netherlands rallied, applying pressure in the dying moments of the first half. The tension mounted as Germany’s discipline faltered, leading to a yellow card for tripping. Both teams were now down to 14.

The Dutch seized the moment, kicking for touch and executing a textbook maul to cross the whitewash for their first try. As the halftime whistle blew, the score remained tight at 5-6 in favor of Germany.

The second half began with Germany extending their lead to 9-5 through the boot of Nikolai Klewinghause. But the Netherlands responded swiftly, with star scrum-half Boris Hadinegoro, affectionately dubbed “Baby Dupont,” finishing off a brilliant try to propel the Dutch into a 12-9 lead.

With momentum shifting, the Netherlands began to find their rhythm. Crisp handling from Weersma to Raymond created space on the edge, and skipper Koen Bloemann capitalized, diving over to extend the lead to 19-9.

As the game progressed, the Dutch showcased their endurance. The German pack began to wilt under the pressure, and the Netherlands turned on the style. The home side demonstrated maturity and fluency, underlining their growth as a team with a dominant final quarter.

When the final whistle blew, the Netherlands had transformed a tight contest into a commanding 38-9 victory. It was a statement win, highlighting the team’s resilience and growing confidence as they continue to build on their recent successes.