Captain Siphosethu Mnebelele scored a brace of tries as the Junior Springboks thrashed Wales on Tuesday, and continue their Junior World Championship title defence.
Kevin Foote’s young charges booked their place in the semi-finals with a decisive 52-33 Pool A victory, after leading 26-14 at half time in Tbilisi.
Wales struck first through blindside flank Caio James, who finished off a powerful lineout drive, before co-captain Steffan Emanuel added a second inside 10 minutes for a 14-0 lead.
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The Junior Boks hit back through scrumhalf Hendré Schoeman and inside centre Ethan Adams, and flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed split the uprights with the first and second of his six conversions in the match, to level the scores before the half-hour mark.
Mnebelele then barged over to put South Africa ahead for the first time. A Jac Pritchard yellow card left Wales down to 14 men, and lock Heinrich Theron’s try on the stroke of half time sent the defending champions into the break with a 12-point lead.
The South Africans struck first after the restart through openside flank Risima Khosa, before a Cheswill Jooste yellow card kept Wales in the contest.
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Osian Lewis and Tom Bowen crossed either side of a Liam van Wyk maul try as the Welsh refused to fold. But replacement Van Wyk and Mnebelele’s second touchdowns each pushed the Junior Boks clear in the final quarter.
A late Lewis Edwards try for Wales proved no more than a consolation as South Africa closed out victors, despite Mnebelele’s late yellow card for a dangerous tackle.
JUNIOR SPRINGBOKS – Tries: Hendré Schoeman, Ethan Adams, Siphosethu Mnebelele (2), Heinrich Theron, Risima Khosa, Liam van Wyk (2). Conversions: Yaqeen Ahmed (6).
WALES – Tries: Caio James, Steffan Emanuel, Osian Lewis, Tom Bowen (2), Lewis Edwards. Conversions: Carwyn Leggatt Jones (3), Lloyd Lucas.
Photo: Levan Verdzeuli/World Rugby
The post Eight-try Junior Boks power into semis appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Captain Siphosethu Mnebelele scored a brace of tries as the Junior Springboks thrashed Wales on Tuesday, and continue their Junior World Championship title defence.
The post Eight-try Junior Boks power into semis appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
