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The Junior Springboks got their Six Nations Under-20 Summer Series off to a winning start with a 30-22 win over the England in their pool encounter in Verona, Italy on Friday night.
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The South Africans, who were playing against a strong wind in the first half, led England by five tries to three at the end of the game thanks in large part to the superiority of their pack.
South Africa U20s scored first through Suleiman Hartzenberg, who slid over in the corner following a spectacular cross kick from Mngomezulu, giving his side the early lead.
A yellow card for openside winger Siya Ningza saw the men in green reduced to 14-men. England kicked to the corner and utilized the maul for lock Ewan Richards to score while playing with a strong breeze behind them.
Following a Junior Boks penalty kick, No. 8 Cameron Hanekom crossed the goal line from a scrum five metres out, only to have the try overturned by the TMO.
To end the first half exactly how they had started it, witgh Nico Steyn scoring South Africa’s second try after a blistering run from right wing Donovan Don, South Africa took a 10-7 lead into halftime.
The Junior Boks continued to build on their momentum in the second half, through a Hanekom try that increased their advantage to 15-7. The Junior Boks then made it 22-10 after using their forwards to punch holes in the English defense, before Hartzenberg scored his second 5 pointer.
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England responded with a Emaka Ilione try that was successfully converted to cut the deficit to 22-17, before SA hit back with a penalty from Mngomezulu to make it to 25-17.
Reserve hooker Tiaan Lange scored the Baby Boks fifth try to put the score out of reach at 30-17, before a late England consolation closed the gap to 30-22.
? Great start to the #U20SummerSeries for the Junior Boks
?? "We do realise there’s a lot of work to be done"
? More here: https://t.co/fWp6hDcnN4#BuildingBoks pic.twitter.com/D5R2DxC3FL— Junior Springboks (@JuniorBoks) June 24, 2022
Coach of the Junior Springboks, Bafana Nhleko said: “We are happy with the win because England are a quality side,” said Nhleko. “They are physical but we knew what would be coming, however, we pride ourselves on our physicality and our forwards laid the foundation for a good win.”
The Junior Boks took a while to get into their stride. Captain Sacha Mngomezulu made an impression with his decision-making and distribution, but he struggled with the boot.
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“You could see it was our first match because we looked rusty at times,” explained Nhleko. “However, we are happy with the victory, and we do realise there’s a lot of work to be done before we play the two teams who finished first and second in the U20 Six Nations this year.”
“Playing against the wind in the first half and going into the lead at the break with an advantage gave us a huge lift,” said Mngomezulu.
“We will enjoy the win, not get carried away and get straight into preparation for Ireland, who are the Six Nations’ top side.”
Scorers: Junior Boks 30 (10) – Tries: Suleiman Hartzenberg (2), Nico Steyn, Cameron Hanekom, Tiaan Lange. Conversion: Sacha Mngomezulu. Penalty goal: Mngomezulu.
England 22 (7) – Tries: Ewan Richards, Imeka Ilione, Conor Oresanya. Conversions: Fin Smith (2). Penalty goal: Smith.
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments