Junior Boks make it historic back-to-back titles

WRAP: The Junior Springboks won back-to-back Junior World Championship titles for the first time in their history after defeating France U20 by 16-5 in the Final.

*To recap all the action, CLICK HERE!

France started like a house on fire after South Africa lost the ball from the kick-off and had the Junior Boks under pressure, which earned them a penalty.

France declined the gift three points and opted for the five-metre line-out, but the Junior Boks managed to diffuse the bomb through Heinrich Theron, who disrupted their maul plans.

Moments later, South Africa won a scrum penalty. Yaqeen Ahmed opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a successful penalty goal in the eighth minute.

The match was scrappy and loose from both sides throughout the contest.

France came close to scoring following Bastien Rasal’s linebreak; however, South Africa somehow managed to scramble back and win a try-saving penalty at the breakdown, centimetres from their own line.

Les Bleus got over the line moments later through Romeo Bonnard Martin, but the TMO came in to point out an obstruction caused by Luka Kelotaona, which had the try chalked off.

South Africa absorbed all the pressure from France and got into their groove towards the latter part of the first half and won a penalty for a tackle off the ball, which Ahmed slotted to double their lead.

Continues below…

France drew first blood in the second half with the first try of the game through flanker Raphael Audebert after the Junior Boks made themselves guilty of conceding several penalties in quick succession to gift Les Bleus free territory.

Kevin Foote’s team’s lack of discipline continued to be an issue, and they started falling off tackles, which gave France momentum on attack.

The Junior Boks survived another close shave when France were denied a try in the 49th minute due to inconclusive evidence.

South Africa were denied a try by Samuel Badenhorst in the 57th minute after it was ruled that a knock-on occurred in the lead-up.

Liam van Wyk got penalised for being offside, and France opted for the shot at goal from inside their own half, but it just didn’t have enough distance.

Markus Muller crossed the line for a decisive try with the aid of a Van Wyk offload following a strong rolling maul by the men in green. Ahmed’s conversion pushed the lead out to eight points.

Cheswill Jooste was denied a late try which would’ve sealed the deal earlier, but it was ruled that Alzeadon Felix was in touch in the lead-up.

Ahmed was denied a try in the 77th minute, but the Junior Boks played under penalty advantage, which they went back to.

Ahmed took his time to kick the penalty and make it 16-5 with a minute and a half of play left.

The Junior Boks had one final scrum before Ahmed kicked it into the stands as South African hands went aloft in celebration.

*See all the scores and scorers below!

Final

South Africa 16-5 France

Scorers:

For France:
Try: Audebert

For South Africa:
Tries: Muller
Con: Ahmed
Pens: Ahmed 3

Yellow cards:

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.

South Africa U20: 15 Alzeadon Felix, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Ethan Adams, 11 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Hendré Schoeman, 8 Wasi Vyambwera, 7 Luke Cannon, 6 Risima Khosa, 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 Gert Kemp, 22 Jayden Brits, 23 Samuel Badenhorst.

Referee: Reuben Keane (Australia)
Assistant referees: George Selwood (England), Gonzalo de Achaval (Argentina)
TMO: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)

11th-place play-off

Georgia 10-30 Fiji

Scorers:

For Georgia:
Tries: Shioshvili, Saldadze

For Fiji:
Tries: Satala, Koroi, Koroinawai, Durusolo
Cons: Maurice, Ledua
Pens: Ledua 2

Yellow cards: Faimalaga Tuvalu (Fiji, 48′), Francis Peters (Fiji, 62′), Maleli Nauvasi (Fiji, 66′)

Teams:

Georgia U20: 15 Nikoloz Khalvashi, 14 Luka Tabatadze, 13 Leonide Saldadze, 12 Davit Barbakadze, 11 Davit Arobelidze, 10 Mate Makharadze, 9 Giorgi Khonelidze, 8 Mikheil Shioshvili, 7 Luka Narsia (captain), 6 Giorgi Ardzenadze, 5 Davit Baramia, 4 Giorgi Meparishvili, 3 Levani Ezieshvili, 2 Giorgi Agniashvili, 1 Giorgi Turash Tursashvili.
Replacements: 16 Nikolozi Garibashvili, 17 Saba Nozadze, 18 Gabriel Razmadze, 19 Nikolozi Chkhortolia, 20 Giorgi Zazadze, 21 Temuri Dzodzuashvili, 22 Demetre Devdariani, 23 Data Akhvlediani.

Fiji U20: 15 Savenaca Vagadai, 14 Sevuloni Satala, 13 Tevita Vuniwaqa Ledua, 12 Faimalaga Tuvalu, 11 Apete Gauna Rokosua, 10 Cale Maurice, 9 Isikeli Bari Ratu (co-captain), 8 Isoa Koroinawai (captain), 7 Suliano Savenaca, 6 Savenaca Qabale, 5 Francis Peters, 4 Ratu Naevo, 3 Jehoshua Ratulomai, 2 Isaac Jacob Rauluni, 1 Marika Koroi.
Replacements: 16 Ratu Dasalusalu, 17 Sylvestre Vakauliafa, 18 Raymond Navunikaba, 19 Marley Chandra, 20 Mosese Tabuakoto, 21 Ravuama Samo, 22 Epeli Vocea, 23 Maleli Nauvasi.

Referee: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Luke Rogan (USA), Morgan White (Hong Kong China)
TMO: Matt Rodden (Hong Kong China)

Third-place play-off

New Zealand 41-26 England

Scorers:

For New Zealand:
Tries: Frost 2, Hutchings, Pahulu, McLeod 2, Fale
Cons: Williams 3

For England:
Tries: Winters, Staples 2, Offiah
Cons: Keylock 2

Yellow cards: Nick Lilley (England, 13′), Finn McLeod (New Zealand, 21′)

Teams:

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

England U20: 15 George Pearson, 14 Tylor Offiah, 13 Nick Lilley, 12 Finn Keylock, 11 Sam Winters, 10 Hugh Shields, 9 Jonny Weimann, 8 George Marsh, 7 Jack Lewis, 6 Tate Williams, 5 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave (captain), 4 Elliot Williams, 3 Ollie Streeter, 2 Jimmy Staples, 1 Oliver Scola
Replacements: 16 Jerold Gorleku, 17 Alan Poku, 18 Sonny Tonga’uiha, 19 Feddie Ogden-Metherell, 20 Kealan Freeman-Price, 21 Lucas Friday, 22 Will Knight, 23 Zac Finch.

Referee: Ben Connor (Wales)
Assistant referees: Christopher Allison (South Africa), Kevin Bralley (France)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)

Ninth-place play-off

Italy 26-34 Ireland

Scorers:

For Italy:
Tries: Opoku-Gyamfi, Meroi, De Novellis, Varotto
Cons: Andretti 3

For Ireland:
Tries: Neill, Maguire, Molony, O’Shea, Walsh
Cons: Green 3
Pen: Green

Yellow card: Jaheim Noel Wilson (Italy, 56′)

Teams:

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 Simone Fardin, 3 Erik Meroi, 2 Valerio Pelli, 1 Emiliano Mastropasqua.
Replacements: 16 Ettore Dinarte Patricio, 17 Giacomo Messori, 18 Luca Trevisan, 19 Fabio Salvanti, 20 Carlo Antonio Bianchi, 21 Nikolaj Varotto, 22 Alessandro Ragusi, 23 Alessio Scaramazza.

Ireland U20: 15 Daniel Green, 14 Charlie Molony, 13 Robert Careny, 12 James O’ Leary, 11 Daniel Ryan, 10 Charlie O’Shea, 9 Christopher Barrett, 8 Diarmaid O’Connell, 7 Alex Lautsou, 6 Josh Neill (captain), 5 Donnacha McGuire, 4 Joe Finn, 3 Blake McClean, 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.

Referee: Ruairidh Campbell (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Saba Makharadze (Georgia), David Vosalevu (France)
TMO: Francisco Gonzalez (Uruguay)