Junior Springboks nearly repeat scoreline as they bag double over Georgia

The Junior Springboks completed a two-match sweep in Tbilisi with a 35-5 win over Georgia on a cold and wet Friday afternoon, backing up last weekend’s 35-0 result with another five-try display.

Indeed, the Baby Boks amassed a 70-5 aggregate score over the two games, although the scoreboard didn’t necessarily reflect the how difficult Georgia U20 made life for the visitors.

Leading 21-0 at the interval, the South Africans were forced to adapt to difficult conditions and a combative Georgian pack, but ultimately proved clinical enough to secure a second successive victory.

Handling errors were frequent in the rain, while discipline also proved an issue for the visitors, who conceded a string of penalties and had two players sent to the sin-bin during a disjointed second half.

Flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed contributed 15 points through a try and five conversions. The performance meant he finished the tour with a perfect return from the tee, landing all 10 of his conversion attempts across the two fixtures.

Head coach Kevin Foote credited his side’s composure in testing circumstances.

“The conditions were tough with all the rain. Playing in Georgia is always difficult for different reasons, but I thought the guys showed a lot of maturity today.”

South Africa were made to work for possession, with Georgia’s physicality at the breakdown slowing momentum and limiting attacking opportunities. However, when chances did arise, the Junior Boks capitalised.

“We didn’t get a lot of possession, but when we did, we made use of it, especially in the first half,” Foote added.

The opening try followed a period of pressure sparked by midfield carries from Ethan Adams and Markus Muller, creating space for Lindsey Jansen to finish out wide. Scrumhalf Hendré Schoeman added the second before Zekhethelo Siyaya, operating at fullback, crossed for a third converted score to establish a 21-0 half-time lead.

Once again, Georgia responded with greater urgency after the break. The rain continued to disrupt continuity, resulting in a stop-start contest that tested both sides’ control.

The hosts were rewarded when wing Nika Khalvashi gathered a cross-kick to score their only try of the series. It was the first time South Africa had conceded on tour, but the visitors steadied through further scores from Ahmed and Risima Khosa to put the result beyond doubt.

Foote said the nature of the second half would provide useful preparation ahead of future assignments in the country.

“The second half was very stop-start, so there were some great learnings for us here in Georgia, as we’ll be playing here again during the Junior World Championship, which they will host,” added Foote.

“It was a good effort to us for only conceding one try, which is important and shows our character, but we still have a long way to go as we head towards the U20 Rugby Championship.”

The squad return to South Africa this weekend before a short break, with preparations set to resume in Stellenbosch next month as attention turns to the forthcoming U20 Rugby Championship.