Junior Boks through to U20 playoffs

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The Junior Springboks claimed a 25-17 victory over New Zealand U20 in Rosario on Wednesday to progress to the semi-finals of the U20 Championship. DYLAN JACK reports.

Chean Roux’s charges came into the match needing a single point to qualify for the playoffs, after defending champions France were stunned by Argentina earlier in the day.

The victory saw the Junior Springboks top their group, with New Zealand knocked out of the tournament, as they failed to get the point they required to go through. The Junior Boks will, therefore, face France in the semi-finals next Monday.

The Junior Springboks deserve plenty of credit for the mental strength they showed throughout the match. They were reduced to 14 men on three separate occasions, but survived all three without conceding a try.

It was a dream start for the South Africans as they took just seven minutes to open the scoring when centre Rickus Pretorius set up Vaughen Isaacs for the opening try.

Jaden Hendrikse, who controlled the game excellently from the base of the ruck, added three points with his first penalty before big lock JJ van der Mescht intercepted at a New Zealand lineout and sprinted 50m for the second try.

The Junior Springboks then came under pressure as they first lost Dylan Richardson to a yellow card for an intentional knockdown. Shortly after Richardson’s return, flank partner Sibusiso Sangweni was then yellow-carded for a chop tackle near the SA tryline. New Zealand could only add a penalty from Fergus Burke during this period.

Hendrikse responded with another two penalties in the final five minutes of the half, giving his side a 19-3 lead at the break.

The New Zealanders got right back into the contest at the start of the second half when they were awarded a penalty try and James Mollentze was sent to the sin bin for an early tackle. That seemed to give New Zealand a boost and they started to dominate possession and territory.

Once again, the Junior Springboks survived the phase without conceding, with three successive knock-ons allowing South Africa to escape from their area and earn a penalty, which replacement scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba converted to give them a 13-point lead with 10 minutes to go.

However, New Zealand made it a nervous finish as wing Lalomilo Lalomilo beat Thaakir Abrahams out wide for a converted try that revived their hopes with five minutes left to play.

The SA U20s kept their composure, and Nohamba sealed New Zealand’s fate with his second penalty.

Junior Springboks  – Tries: Vaughen Isaacs, JJ van der Mescht. Conversions: Penalties: Jaden Hendrikse (3),  Sanele Nohamba (2).
New Zealand U20 – Tries: Penalty try, Lalomilo Lalomilo. Conversion: Fergus Burke. Penalty: Burke.

Junior Springboks  – 15 Vaughan Isaacs, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Rickus Pretorius, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 James Mollentze, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Phendulani Buthelezi (c) , 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Dylan Richardson, 5 Elrigh Louw, 4 JJ van der Mescht, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Fezokuhle Mbatha, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Subs: 16 Dameon Venter, 17 Kudzwai Dube, 18 Keagan Glade, 19 Thabiso Mdletshe, 20 Jaco Labuschagne, 21 Celimpilo Gumede, 22 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 23 Sanele Nohamba, 24 Janko Swanepoel, 25 Emile van Heerden, 26 Caleb Dingaan, 27 David Coetzer, 28 David Kriel.

New Zealand U20 – 15 Cole Forbes, 14 Etene Nanai-Seturo, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Dallas McLeod, 11 Leicester Faingaanuku, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 Leroy Carter, 8 Devan Flanders, 7 Kohan Herbert, 6 Samipeni Finau, 5 Tupou Vaa’I, 4 Cullen Grace, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Kianu Kereru-Symes (c), 1 Ollie Norries.
Subs: 16 Shilo Klein, 17 George Dyer, 18 Tamaiti Williams, 19 Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, 20 Taine Plumtree, 21 Kaylum Boshier, 22 Jeriah Mua, 23 Simon Parker, 24 Taufa Funaki, 25 Rivez Reihana, 26 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 27 Quinn Tupaea, 28 Scott Gregory.

Photo: Juan Jose Gasparini/Gallo Images

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Dylan Jack