Junior Boks' second-half blitz sinks 14-man England

WRAP: The Junior Boks overturned an eight-point halftime deficit to book their place in the Junior World Championship Final after defeating England U20 by 53-37 in the second semifinal.

The Junior Boks will meet France in the JWC Final on Saturday, July 18, following their dramatic win over New Zealand by 26-22 in the first semifinal.

It was indeed the battle of the heavyweights, with both teams not holding back.

South Africa looked rattled during the first half after squandering two try-scoring chances, being held up over the line and not converting a Cheswill Jooste linebreak with plenty of numbers out wide.

The second half, however, saw South Africa score three times in quick succession, leaving England stunned, which proved to be the difference in the end result.

*To recap all the action, CLICK HERE!

Back-to-back errors by the Junior Boks allowed England to gain territory early on, which proved costly when Ollie Streeter crossed the line under the bar in the third minute. Hugh Shields added the conversion.

The Junior Boks got held up in the ninth minute following a strong line-out maul as England stood up defensively.

The defending champions responded two minutes later through Yaqeen Ahmed, who ran through three England defenders to cross the line under the sticks. Ahmed converted his own try.

JD Hattingh conceded a penalty for a high tackle, which Shields slotted to take England up 10-7 in the 17th minute.

England extended their lead through Shields’ try in the 29th minute after an extended period of attack and converted his own try to make it 17-7.

England went down to 14 players following a headbutt by Seb Kelly on Luan Giliomee. Kelly was sent off with a permanent red card in the 32nd minute.

The Junior Boks responded through Khuthadzo Rasivhaka, who scored in the corner a minute later following a crossfield kick by Ahmed. The conversion went away to the right.

England extended their lead to eight points following a scrum penalty, which Shields slotted a minute before halftime.

Continues below…

South Africa got on the scoreboard two minutes into the second half as Rasivhaga dotted down in the corner thanks to a linebreak by Giliomee. Ahmed’s conversion made it a one-point game.

The Junior Boks took the lead for the first time in the 47th minute through Kebotile Maake as they went wide quickly under penalty advantage. Ahmed added the extras to go six points up.

The tries kept flowing following a linebreak by Ahmed as the ball went through several sets of hands to set Maake up for a brace in the 50th minute. Ahmed’s conversion went over the crossbar.

Giliomee nailed a 50/22 kick to set the Junior Boks up for another attacking platform.

They made good use of it as Rasivhaga sealed a hat trick with England struggling to keep up with the pace of the South African attack. Ahmed’s conversion made it a 20-point game.

England got one back through Johnny Weimann two minutes later. Shields missed the conversion.

The Junior Boks responded once more through Luke Cannon in the 58th minute from close range following a five-metre line-out. Ahmed extended the lead to 22 points following his conversion kick.

England didn’t do themselves any favours following the restart that went out on the full. The Junior Boks won a scrum penalty, and Ahmed put a half-century on the board with a 50-metre penalty kick.

A horrible aerial collision between Giliomee and George Pearson led to a TMO check.

Giliomee was sent to the sinbin in the 63rd minute to make it 14 against 14, which was subsequently upgraded to a 20-minute red card, which could impact his involvement in the Final.

England went to the corner and got rewarded with a try by Tate Williams a minute later. Shields slotted the conversion.

South Africa won a penalty for offside, and Ahmed slotted it to make it a 21-point game.

England had the final say with a late try by Shields in the 78th minute, who was arguably their best player on the day in a losing cause.

England had one final attack after the hooter, but South Africa won a breakdown penalty to seal the deal.

*See all the scores and scorers below!

JWC Semifinals

South Africa 53-37 England

Scorers:

For South Africa:
Tries: Ahmed, Rasivhaga 3, Maake 2, Cannon
Cons: Ahmed 6
Pens: Ahmed 2

For England:
Tries: Streeter, Shields 2, Weimann, Williams
Cons: Shields 3
Pens: Shields 2

Twenty-minute red card: Luan Giliomee (South Africa, 63′ – Dangerous play: playing a player in the air)
Permanent red card: Seb Kelly (England, 32′ – Dangerous foul: headbutting a player)

Teams:

South Africa U20: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Ethan Adams, 11 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Hendré Schoeman, 8 Gert Kemp, 7 Luke Cannon, 6 Kebotile Maake, 5 JD Hattingh, 4 Heinrich Theron, 3 Danie Kruger, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele (captain), 1 Oliver Reid
Replacements: 16 Liam van Wyk, 17 Rambo Kubheka, 18 Luan van der Berg, 19 Jaythen Orange, 20 Thomas Beling, 21 Risima Khosa, 22 Jayden Brits, 23 Alzeadon Felix

England U20: 15 James Pater, 14 Tylor Offiah, 13 Nick Lilley, 12 Will Knight, 11 Sam Winters, 10 Hugh Shields, 9 Lucas Friday, 8 Connor Treacey (captain), 7 Seb Kelly, 6 Tate Williams, 5 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, 4 Elliot Williams, 3 Ollie Streeter, 2 Jimmy Staples, 1 Oliver Scola
Replacements: 16 Jerold Gorleku, 17 Oliver Spencer, 18 Sonny Tonga’uiha, 19 Patrick Hogg, 20 George Marsh, 21 Jonny Weimann, 22 Finn Keylock, 23 George Pearson

Referee: Kevin Bralley (France)
Assistant referees: Reuben Keane (Australia), Saba Abulashvili (Georgia)
TMO: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)

France 26-22 New Zealand

Scorers:

For France:
Tries: Garault 2, Masi, Drault
Cons: Keletaona 2, Jurd

For New Zealand:
Tries: Webber, Stuart, McLeod
Cons: Norrie 2
Pen: Muliaina

Yellow cards: Max Fale (New Zealand, 20′), Caleb Woodley (New Zealand, 60′)

Teams:

France U20: 15 Axel Guillaud, 14 Paul Zwiler, 13 Adrien Drault, 12 Bastien Rasal, 11 Melvyn Rates, 10 Luka Keletaona, 9 Baptiste Tilloles, 8 Elyjah Ibsaiene, 7 Lucas Andjisseramatchi (captain), 6 Raphael Audebert, 5 Romeo Bonnard Martin, 4 Baptiste Veschambre, 3 Alexandre Langlois, 2 Gabin Garault, 1 Matheo Frisach
Replacements: 16 Elia Masi, 17 Edouard Jabea Njocke, 18 Mael Turpin, 19 Leo Michaux, 20 Bobby Bissu, 21 Valentin Hutteau, 22 Diego Jurd, 23 Hugo Avogardo

New Zealand U20: 15 Cohen Norrie, 14 Ollie Guerin, 13 Siale Pahulu, 12 Haki Wiseman (captain), 11 David Lewai, 10 Mika Muliaina, 9 Charlie Sinton, 8 Patrick Mauga, 7 Caleb Woodley, 6 Bradley Tocker, 5 Jake Frost, 4 Max Fale, 3 Ethan Webber, 2 Josh Findlay, 1 Henry Stuart
Replacements: 16 Xavier Leota, 17 James Moore, 18 Dale Johnston, 19 Finn McLeod, 20 Micah Fale, 21 Jackson Hughan, 22 Logan Williams, 23 Kobe Brownlee

Referee: George Selwood (England)
Assistant referees: Reuben Keane (Australia), Shota Tevzadze (Georgia)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)

Ninth-place semifinals

Georgia 19-43 Italy

Scorers:

For Georgia:
Tries: Dzodzuashvili, Razmadze, Agniashvili
Cons: Khalvashi 2

For Italy:
Tries: Wilson 2, Opoku-Gyamfi, Celi 2, De Novellis
Cons: Andretti 5
Pen: Andretti

Yellow cards: Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi (Italy, 45′), Jaheim Noel Wilson (Italy, 62′), Demetre Devdariani (Georgia, 78′)

Teams:

Georgia U20: 15 Nikoloz Khalvashi, 14 Luka Tabatadze, 13 Data Akhvlediani, 12 Davit Barbakadze, 11 Avtandili Zviadadze, 10 Mate Makharadze, 9 Temuri Dzodzuashvili, 8 Mikheil Shioshvili, 7 Luka Narsia (captain), 6 Irakli Kolbaia, 5 Davit Baramia, 4 Giorgi Meparishvili, 3 Gabriel Meparishvili, 2 David Archvadze, 1 Giorgi Turash Tursashvili
Replacements: 16 Giorgi Agniashvili, 17 Luka Iaseshvili, 18 Saba Nozadze, 19 Nikolozi Chkhortolia, 20 Giorgi Ardzenadze, 21 Giorgi Zadadze, 22 Giorgi Khonelidze, 23 Demetre Devdariani

Italy U20: 15 Pietro Celi, 14 Luca De Novellis, 13 Giacomo Falchetto, 12 Riccardo Casarin (captain), 11 Luca Rossi, 10 Roberto Fasti, 9 Mattia Andretti, 8 Jaheim Noel Wilson , 7 Davide Sette, 6 Antony Italo Miranda, 5 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, 4 Fabio Salvanti, 3 Erik Meroi, 2 Valerio Pelli, 1 Emiliano Mastropasqua
Replacements: 16 Ettore Dinarte Patricio, 17 Christian Brasini, 18 Luca Trevisan, 19 Simone Fardin, 20 Marco Spreafichi, 21 Carlo Antonio Bianchi, 22 Nikolaj Varotto, 23 Edoardo Vitale

Referee: Luke Rogan (USA)
Assistant referees: Ruairidh Campbell (Scotland), Morgan White (Hong Kong China)
TMO: Francisco Gonzalez (Uruguay)

Ireland 24-19 Fiji

Scorers:

For Ireland:
Tries: Ryan, O’Connell, O’Leary
Cons: Green 3
Pen: Green

For Fiji:
Tries: Bari, Taka, Rokosuka
Cons: Ledua, Lesimaikimatuku

Yellow cards: Joe Finn (Ireland, 37), Ratu Epeli Roseruvakula (Fiji, 57′), Faimalaga Tuvalu (Fiji, 67′), Harry Waters (Ireland, 80′)

Teams:

Ireland U20: 15 Charlie Molony, 14 Johnny O’Sullivan, 13 Jack Deegan, 12 James O’ Leary, 11 Daniel Ryan, 10 Daniel Green, 9 Christopher Barrett, 8 Diarmaid O’Connell, 7 Alex Lautsou, 6 Josh Neill, 5 Donnacha McGuire, 4 Joe Finn, 3 Sam Bishti (captain), 2 Duinn Maguire, 1 Max Doyle
Replacements: 16 Rian Handley, 17 Adam Cooper, 18 Blake McClean, 19 Sean Walsh, 20 Charlie Keane, 21 Luke Coffey, 22 Sean David Walsh, 23 Harry Waters

Fiji U20: 15 Tevita Vuniwaqa Ledua, 14 Apete Gauna Rokosua, 13 Sailosi Vodonaivalu Taka, 12 Faimalaga Tuvalu, 11 Judah Draiva, 10 Cale Maurice, 9 Isikeli Bari Ratu (co-captain), 8 Ratu Epeli Roseruvakula, 7 Mosese Tamaniceva Tuvasu Tabuakoto, 6 Isoa Koroinawai, 5 Setareki Turagacoke (co-captain), 4 Francis Peters, 3 Raymond Navunikaba, 2 Ratu Osea Dasalusalu, 1 Marika Koroi
Replacements: 16 Timoci Gadolo, 17 Isaac Jacob Rauluni, 18 Sylvestre Vakauliafa, 19 Ratu Naevo, 20 Savenaca Qabale, 21 Suliano Savenaca, 22 Netani Lesimaikimatuku, 23 Maleli Nauvasi

Referee: Gonzalo de Achaval (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Saba Makharadze (Georgia) Mariam Goguadze (Georgia)
TMO: Matt Rodden (Hong Kong China)