Junior Boks battle to win over Uruguay

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The Junior Springboks laboured to a bonus-point victory over a dogged Uruguay U20 team on the first day of the International Series on Friday afternoon.

Game Flow: The Junior Springboks looked set for a comfortable afternoon when Moodie grabbed his first try after a break from Quan Horn in the opening minute of the match.

However, the first half of the match was everything but comfortable, as, to their credit, Uruguay turned it into an almighty scrap. The South American team were unlucky not to score a try as they had the ball held up over the tryline.

The Junior Boks dominated possession and territory towards the end of the first half, but were given a hard time at the breakdown and had to settle for a 7-3 lead at the half-time

Junior Bok coach Bafana Nhleko rang the changes at the break, bringing a new front row and squad captain George Cronje on at the start of the second half.

The changes paid off as Wessels put Ethan James away out wide, who in turn passed on his inside to see Bobby Alexander race through to score.  Wessels then put Alexander away again, but the scrumhalf this time turned provide as he generously gave Moodie the ball to the wing score his second try.

The Junior Boks extended their lead when a powerful driving maul saw Andre-Hugo Venter score in the corner, before wing Curwin Gertse stepped his way over to make it 29-3.

Despite having two players yellow-carded, Uruguay kept fighting and got a deserved try in the last five minutes when, after a long period of pick-and-drives, loosehead prop Gabriel Evans scored. to make it 29-10 at fulltime.

Players that shone: Fullback Quan Horn looked dangerous whenever he ran the ball back from any kicks behind and was generally solid when fielding anything at the break.

Canan Moodie chased any kicks down his wing excellently and grabbed a deserved brace of tries.  Outside centre Ethan James didn’t see too much of the ball, but when he did, he looked like making something happen.

Jan Hendrik Wessels has an awesome impact in the second as the Bulls front-rower had a hand in two tries and dominated the collisions and scrums.

Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the Argentina Pumitas (U20) showed their class by handing the Georgia U20 team a 82-10 thrashing, scoring 12 tries in the process.

Junior Springboks – Tries: Canan Moodie (2), Bobby Alexander, Andre-Hugo Venter, Curwin Gertse. Conversions: Brandon Wilkie, Kian Meadon.
Uruguay U20 – Try: Gabriel Evans. Conversion: Thomas Bameule. Penalty: Santiago Gomez Platero

Junior Springboks – 15 Quan Horn, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Ethan James, 12 Tyler Bocks, 11 Curwin Gertse, 10 Brandon Wilkie, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Izan Esterhuizen, 7 Reinhardt Ludwig, 6 Sasko Ndluvo (c), 5 Dylan de Leeuw, 4 Raynard Roets, 3 Blaine Golden, 2 Jacques Goosen, 1 Nolan Pienaar.
Subs (from): 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Corne Weilbach (nominated front row), 19 George Cronje, 20 Rynard Mouton, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Siya Ningiza, 23 Dalvon Blood.

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Dylan Jack