Junior Boks fight back from early scare to beat Wales U20

Liam Van Wyk and Siphosethu Mnebelele scored two tries each to keep reigning champions South Africa on course for a third World Rugby Junior World Championship title with a 52-33 victory in their winner-takes-all Pool A clash with Wales.

The Boks booked their semi-final spot with a fantastic eight-try display, six of them converted by Western Province fly-half Yaqeen Ahmed, returning for his first game since being sent off for South Africa A against Zimbabwe last month.

Wales needed a strong start, and they got it with two tries in the opening nine minutes. Caio James drove over the line after four minutes, then five minutes later Deian Gwynne set up Steffan Emanuel for their second try, both being converted by Carwyn Leggatt-Jones.

But it wasn’t enough, and South Africa soon found their feet after 12 minutes. Scrum-half Hendre Schoeman went under the posts, and Ahmed provided the first of his conversions.

Four minutes later, Ethan Adams started a move with a smart chip over the top that Ahmed juggled before returning the pass for Adams to score. Ahmed then levelled with the conversion.

And they took the lead after 24 minutes when Siphosethu Mnebelele picked up from the base of the ruck to score, and Wales’ job was made even more difficult when Jac Pritchard was yellow-carded for a side entry.

Heinrich Theron drove over for a 37th-minute try, and two minutes after the break, a brilliant display of power from Risima Khosa saw his side claim 33 unanswered points after Ahmed converted both.

The Junior Boks charge was halted when they lost Cheswill Jooste after a deliberate 45th-minute knock-on, and within three minutes Osian Lewis scored after taking a short pass from Leggatt-Jones, who converted.

But just as it looked like Wales might get back into the game, Van Wyk pegged them back with a 52nd-minute try after a driving maul, but four minutes later Tom Bowen showed a clean pair of heels to reduce their arrears to 38-26.

Any hopes that Wales had of getting back into the game were ended after Van Wyk scored his second try after 61 minutes, and then Mnebelele crashed over five minutes later, and both tries were converted by Ahmed.

Boks hooker Mnebelele was sent to the sin-bin four minutes from time for his shoulder making contact with the head of a Wales player, and full-back Lewis Edwards strolled into the corner, with Lloyd Lucas converting in the dying seconds.