The Junior Boks beat New Zealand 40-30 to clinch the bronze medal at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Beziers on Saturday.
The loss draws the curtain on yet another disappointing campaign for the Junior Boks, which saw them suffer two defeats and two wins.
And despite this brilliant comeback win to secure the bronze, it’s a set of results that will be a bitter pill for this talented squad to swallow, while it places increasing pressure on coach Chean Roux. This is South Africa’s seventh bronze medal in the tournament’s 11-year history.
The Juniors Boks struck first when Tyrone Green pounced on an erroneous pass by the New Zealanders to score the opening try in the second minute. But New Zealand came back strongly as South Africa’s defense continued to be a horror show.
New Zealand established a 25-14 lead at the half-time interval courtesy of tries by their influential inside centre Harry Plummer, Jay Renton and Waimana Rielinger-Kapa. The Junior Boks’ second try came when prop Sazi Sandi burrowed over from a surging lineout drive after New Zealand were penalised for playing Gianni Lombard off the ball.
It was a totally different ball-game in the second half, as the South Africans squeezed the life out of their opponents.
There were four unanswered tries the way of South Africa, scored by Green, lock Ruan Nortje, prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye and the competitions leading scorer Wandisile Simelane, who played in his preferred outside centre position. Simelane’s effort was a great team try as they ran 99 mertres straight from thkick-offff to score.
New Zealand had the final say when Caleb Clarke dotted down in the last minute, but the game and the bronze medal was too far gone from their grasp by then.
Junior Boks – Tries: Tyrone Green (2), Sazi Sandi, Ruan Nortje, Wandisile Simelane, Asenathi Ntlabakanye. Conversions: Gianni Lombard (5).
New Zealand – Tries: Jay Renton, Harry Plummer, Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, Caleb Clarke. Conversions: Plummer (2). Penalties: Plummer (2).
Junior Springboks – 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Tyrone Green, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Lyle Hendricks, 11 Sihle Njezula, 10 David Coetzer, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Phendulani Buthelezi, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Daniel Jooste, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.
Subs: 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Dian Schoonees, 21 Jack Hart, 22 Lubabalo Dobela, 23 Manuel Rass.
New Zealand – 15 Ngane Punivai, 14 Bailyn Sullivan, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Harry Plummer, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Kaleb Trask, 9 Jay Renton, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Tom Christie (c), 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa, 4 Laghlan McWhannell, 3 Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, 2 Ricky Jackson, 1 Oliver Norris.
Subs: 16 Flynn Thomas, 17 Sione Asi, 18 Suetena Asomua, 19 John Akau’ola Laula, 20 William Tremain, 21 Xavier Roe, 22 Scott Gregory, 23 Jamie Spowart.
Photo: Steve Bardens/Getty Images
