The Junior Springboks clinched their first Sanzaar U20 Rugby Championship title after drawing with New Zealand at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
Having hammered Argentina and Australia, the reigning U20 world champions needed a single bonus point to finish top of the log, while the Baby Blacks – who lost to Los Pumitas – required a five-point log haul while denying their opponents a bonus point to retain their title.
South Africa achieved their objective early in the second half when scoring a fourth try.
Disappointingly, though, they relinquished a 29-15 lead to draw the match 29-29. They were fortunate not to lose, though, with the Baby Blacks missing a late penalty goal.
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Junior Boks flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed opened the scoring with his first penalty goal of the tournament, before Baby Blacks prop Dane Johnston went over from a lineout maul.
The Junior Boks scored a superb try through fullback Akahluwa Boqwana after centre Samuel Badenhorst had breached the defence.
Akahlulwa Boqwana finds his way through the All Blacks defence
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But New Zealand hit back when winger Oliver Guerin chased down a kick and when flank Caleb Woodley went over from another lineout maul for a third unconverted try, they led 15-8 after 20 minutes.
The Junior Boks levelled the scores through prop Rambo Kubheka, who scored from a lineout maul.
No 8 Kebotile Maake’s try was disallowed due to flank Wasi Vyambwera taking out a player beyond the ruck, before star centre Ethan Adams left the field on a stretcher – a huge concern for coach Kevin Foote ahead of the Junior World Championship.
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Boqwana’s second try gave the Junior Boks’ a 22-15 half-time lead and when Badenhorst dotted down early in the second half for the bonus-point try, the title was theirs.
Flank Finn McLeod’s try got the Baby Blacks back within seven and they came within inches of scoring again through Guerin.
Centre Siale Pahulu was then red-carded for a head-to-head tackle but New Zealand continue to dominate and a deliberate knock-down from Junior Boks wing with four minutes remaining resulted in a penalty try that levelled the scores.
The Baby Blacks then won a 79th-minute penalty, but Muliaina’s attempt went well wide.
JUNIOR BOKS – Tries: Akahluwa Boqwana (2), Rambo Kubheka, Samuel Badenhorst. Conversions: Yaqeen Ahmed (3). Penalty: Ahmed.
NEW ZEALAND U20 – Tries: Dane Johnston, Oliver Guerin, Caleb Woodley, Finn McLeod, penalty try. Conversion: Mika Muliaina.
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
The post Junior Boks crowned southern hemisphere kings appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Junior Springboks clinched their first Sanzaar U20 Rugby Championship title after drawing with New Zealand at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.
The post Junior Boks crowned southern hemisphere kings appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
