The Junior Springboks turned in a clinical performance to claim a 27-9 victory over Argentina’s Pumitas in the U20 international series final at Newlands on Saturday.

Gameflow: In a brutally physical encounter, the Junior Springboks were able to claim a series victory over a tenacious Pumitas side that was never out of the contest until the final 15 minutes.

Argentina’s U20 side had the better of the opening exchanges, giving the Junior Boks plenty of problems at the maul and scrum. Under pressure, the home side conceded far too many penalties and were punished by Argentina’s Ramiro Waisberg, who kicked all his first-half penalties.

However, to their credit, Bafana Nhleko’s side grew into the game as it went on and went into the break 13-9 ahead thanks to tries from centre Henco van Wyk and Bobby Alexander.

The second half turned into a bit of a scrap as the rain started to come down in Cape Town. However, the Junior Springboks laid a decisive blow in the 65th minute, when their pressure eventually told as Andre-Hugo Venter scored his first of two tries from driving mauls.

Try as they might, Argentina’s Pumitas never recovered and the game was all but sealed when Venter went over for his second try just as the full-time hooter sounded.

Junior Springboks – Tries: Henco van Wyk, Bobby Alexander, Andre-Hugo Venter (2). Conversions: Sacha Mngomezulu (2). Penalty: Mngomezulu.
Argentina U20 – Penalties: Ramiro Waisberg (3)

Junior Springboks – 15 Quan Horn, 14 Dalvon Blood, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Tyler Bocks, 11 Ethan James, 10 Sacha Mngomezulu, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 George Cronje (c), 7 Siya Ningiza, 6 Jacques Goosen, 5 Simon Miller, 4 Reinhardt Ludwig, 3 Corne Weilbach, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Subs: 16 Blaine Golden, 17 Nolan Pienaar, 18 Sibusiso Shongwe (nominated front row), 19 Dylan de Leeuw, 20 Raynard Roets, 21 Sasko Ndhlovu, 22 Izan Esterhuizen, 23 Rynard Mouton, 24 Nico Steyn, 25 Bradley Davids, 26 Kian Meadon, 27 Mnqobi Mkhize, 28 Curwin Gertse.