Junior Springboks underline U20 title credentials in devastating display vs Scotland

South Africa are favourites to go into the World Rugby U20 Championship semi-finals on Monday as top seeds after another brilliant all-round display against Scotland in Calvisano on Wednesday.

South Africa had their third try bonus point of this tournament bagged inside the opening 16 minutes as they ran riot at the Stadio San Michele.

The Junior Springboks picked off where they left off against England in round two, carving Scotland open at will.

Electric winger Jaco Williams set the tone when he collected a Scotland kick, spun the defender closest to him, gassed the cover and then won the race to his kick ahead to score a brilliant try from 70 minutes.

Thandolwethu Biyela and Dominic Malgas added further tries before Williams got his second. Vusi Moyo kicked all four conversions but then left the field after receiving a head knock.

Oliver Reid powered over from close range to make it 33-0 and, at this stage, it appeared that the Junior Springboks were on course to score a century of points in a match for the third time in U20 Championship history.

The bagpipes in the crowd piped up when Reuben Logan’s bust into the 22 led to Seb Stephen scoring on the half-hour mark. But the relief was only temporary as Gilermo Mentoe and  JD Erasmus added their names to the scoresheet, to send the Junior Springboks into the break 45-7 up.

Scrum-half Ceano Everson might not have got on the scoresheet in the first half, but he was arguably as impressive as South Africa’s two-try hero against Scotland, Hassiem Pead, highlighting the ridiculous strength in depth the 2012 champions have in the position.

South Africa’s half-century was slow in coming, despite playing against 14 men on either side of the break when Scotland lost lock Charlie Moss to the sin-bin in the dying seconds of the half.

Twice the Junior Springboks were held up by a more stubborn Scotland defence and a couple of other opportunities were spurned as the men in green and gold struggled to maintain the intensity of the first half.

Finally, after a scoreless third quarter, South Africa brought up 50 points when Everson got the try his efforts deserved following a typical jinking run to the line, and he then matched Pead in bagging a brace after finishing off another slick backs move. No.8 Stephanus Linde had punctuated the double with a try of his own.

The impressive Logan continued to fight valiantly in the face of the onslaught, and he was involved in the move that led to a late consolation try for replacement Oliver Finlayson-Russell.

But there was still time for an 11th try for the Junior Springboks, from their 20th visit into the Scotland 22, with Pead offering a reminder to Everson that he’s the first-choice nine, and one of the best young players in the world, with a late try off the bench, Ian van der Merwe converting for the fifth time in the match.