Baby Boks fluff their lines
The South African Under-20 team stumbled at the first hurdle at the 2012 IRB Under-20 World Championships, going down 23-19 to Ireland whilst Argentina caused another upset by beating France 18-15.
The Irish led 13-3 at the break and managed to score a try in each half, whereas South Africa relied heavily on the boot of flyhalf Tony Jantjies to keep their hopes of victory alive.
The Baby Boks started off as if they would take Ireland apart with strong ball carries and their physical approach seemingly giving them the edge.
They secured territorial advantage but did not translate it to points and after camping in the Irish 22 for six minutes they had only a single Jantjies penalty, in the 11th minute, to show for their efforts.
After Ireland had held out on defence, they broke out with effect as the pressure they exerted saw the Baby Boks infringe at the breakdown.
In the space of nine minutes flyhalf JJ Hanrahan was twice on target with penalties from 30 metres out, which allowed the visitors to take the lead for the first time in the match.
As it turned out, the Irish never again relinquished the lead in the half as the Boks lost their rhythm.
Some 10 minutes ahead of the break the 12 000-strong crowd went silent as South Africa suffered another setback when openside flank Jordon Coglan romped in for the first try of the match.
Hanrahan added the conversion from the touchline to open up a commanding 13-3 lead, which they held till half-time.
The Baby Boks were off to a sluggish start in the second period but they soon turned that around and the Irish tryline was under siege eight minutes after the break.
The pressure took its toll as lock Paul Willemse crashed over for a converted try and the score seemed to lift the Boks' play considerably in the ensuing minutes.
The Irish managed to sneak into South African territory when they looked under the whip and Hanrahan snapped over a drop-goal to open up a six-point lead.
Jantjies was twice on target with long-range penalty attempts and with 16 minutes left the scores were level at 16-all.
But nine minutes before the final whistle, flank Conor Gilsenan crashed over for a converted try to put Ireland back on top.
Although South Africa fought back through a late Jantjies penalty, it was not enough to change their fate.
In the other major upset of Day One of the Junior World Championship Argentina scored 13 unanswered second-half points to snatch a dramatic victory over France.
The matches earlier in the day all went according to expectations with New Zealand dominating Samoa 63-0, England beating Italy 64-5, Wales recording a convincing 44-18 victory over Fiji and Australia downing Scotland 67-12.
Ireland U20 23-19 South Africa U20
Scorers:
For South Africa:
Try: Willemse
Con: Jantjies
Pens: Jantjies 4
For Ireland:
Tries: Gilsenan, Coghlan
Cons: Hanrahan 2
Pens: Hanrahan 2
DG: Hanrahan
The teams:
South Africa U20: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 Paul Jordaan, 13 Pat Howard, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Tony Jantjies, 9 Abrie Griesel, 8 Fabian Booysen, 7 Wiaan Liebenberg (captain), 6 Shaun Adendorff, 5 Pieter Steph du Toit, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Allan Dell, 2 Mark Pretorius, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Jason Thomas, 17 Oliver Kebble, 18 Ruan Botha, 19 Braam Steyn, 20 Vian van der Watt, 21 Handrè Pollard, 22 Tshotsho Mbovane, 23 Maks van Dyk.
Ireland U20: 15 Peter Nelson, 14 Barry Daly, 13 FosterHoran, 12 Chris Farrell, 11 Sam Coghlan-Murray, 10 JJ Hanrahan, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Conor Gilsenan, 7 Jack Conan, 6 Jordan Coghlan, 5 Iain Henderson, 4 Tadhg Beirne, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Niall Scannell (captain), 1 Des Merrey.
Replacements: 16 James Rael, 17 Peter Reilly, 18 Jake Cawley, 19 Alan O'Connor, 20 Aaron Conneely, 21 Luke McGrath, 22 Jack Carty, 23 Mikey Sherlock.
France U20 15-18 Argentina U20
Scorers:
For France:
Pens: Escande 5
For Argentina:
Tries: Cappiello, Ramella
Con: Poet
Pens: Poet 2
The teams:
France U20: 15 Theo Platon, 14 Yohann Artru, 13 Jimmy Yobo,12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Bastien Fuster, 10 Enzo Selponi, 9 Eric Escande, 8 KarlChateau, 7 Kelian Galletier, 6 Alexandre Derrien, 5 Paul Jedrasiak, 4 Bastien Chalureau, 3 Pascal Cotet, 2 Raphael Carbou, 1 Sebastien Taofifenua.
Replacements: 17 Florian Fresia, 18 Jefferson Poirot, 19 Pierre Gayraud, 20Jonathan Laugel, 21 Etienne Quiniou, 22 Clement Otazo, 23 Vincent Martin.
Argentina U20: 15 Santiago Cordero, 14 Felipe Nougues, 13Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Juan Cappiello, 11 Ramiro Finco, 10 Sebastian Poet, 9Felipe Ezcurra, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Pablo Matera, 6 Gaspar Oberti, 5 Juan Cruz Guillemain, 4 Leandro Ramella, 3 Matias Diaz, 2 Santiago Iglesias, 1 SantiagoGarcia Botta.
Replacements: 16 Matias Sambran, 17 German Lefort, 18Mariano Sanchez, 19 Rodrigo Parada Heit, 20 Rodolfo Ambrosio, 21 Joaquin Paz, 22 Gonzalo Ruiz, 23 Lautaro Casado.
New Zealand U20 63-0 Samoa U20
Scorers:
For New Zealand:
Tries: Curtis 2, McKenzie 2, Keresoma 3, Harris, Ross, Marshall
Cons: West 4, Eade
Pen: West
For Samoa:
None
The teams:
New Zealand U20: 15 Martin McKenzie, 14 Ambrose Curtis, 13 Jason Emery, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Milford Keresoma, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Jordan Taufua,7 Jake Heenan, 6 Jimmy Tupou, 5 Joe Latta, 4 Nick Ross, 3 Fraser Armstrong, 2 Rhys Marshall, 1 Tuki Raimona.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Eric Sione, 18 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 19 Glenn Preston, 20 Hugh Blake, 21 Jono Kitto, 22 Scott Eade, 23 Marnus Hanley.
Samoa U20: 15 Fomal Ah Ki, 14 Fale Iosefa, 13 Toetu David,12 Lomitusi Ulu, 11 Jason Tagiilina, 10 Potoae Sasagi, 9 Faatafa Maiava, 8Elekana Laupola, 7 Elia Togitele, 6 Risati Faamatuainu, 5 Tumama Tu'ulua, 4 Tofatuimoana Solia, 3 Andrew Broomhall, 2 Ropeti Lafo, 1 Aniseto Sio.
Replacements: 16 Raymond Salu, 17 Petelo Masei, 18 Alex Iosefa, 19 Airi Hunt, 20 Oneone Fa'afou, 21 Vavao Afemai, 22 Utu Poliko, 23Peter Schuster.
England U20 64-5 Italy U20
Scorers:
For England:
Tries: Robson, Bassett, Sinckler, Cowan-Dickie, Yarde 2,Mills, Hill, Heathcote
Cons: Slade 4, Heathcote 4
Pen: Slade
For Italy:
Try: Sarto
The teams:
Italy U20: 15 Filippo Guarducci, 14 Alex Morsellino, 13 Michele Campagnaro, 12 Andrea Bettin, 11 Leonardo Sarto, 10 Edoardo Padovani, 9Guido Calabrese, 8 Vittorio Marazzi, 7 Federico Conforti, 6 Ruben Riccioli, 5Alfio Luca Mammana, 4 Matteo Ferro, 3 Leonardo Bortoletti, 2 Giovanni Maistri,1 Sami Panico.
Replacements: 16 Giovanni Scalvi, 17 Luca Scarsini, 18 Pietro Ceccarelli, 19 Marco Bellucci, 20 Jacopo Salvetti, 21 Marcello Violi, 22John Apperley, 23 Giulio Bisegni.
England U20: 15 Charlie Walker, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Sam Hill, 12 Tom Heathcote, 11 Josh Bassett, 10 Henry Slade, 9 Dan Robson, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Chris Walker, 6 David Sisi, 5 Dominic Barrow, 4 Sam Twomey, 3 RossHarrison, 2 Narthan Morris, 1 Luke Cowan-Dickie.
Replacements: 16 Max Crumpton, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 George Merrick, 20 Jack Clifford, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Ryan Mills, 23 Ben Ransom.
Wales U20 44-18 Fiji U20
Scorers:
For Wales:
Tries: Allen, Hill, D.Thomas, Harris, Walker, Morgan
Cons: Morgan 3, Davies
Pens: Davies 2
For Fiji:
Tries: J.Kerevi, S.Kerevi
Con: Gavidi
Pens: Vuibau 2
The teams:
Wales U20: 15 Ross Jones, 14 Eli Walker, 13 Jack Dixon, 12 Owen Williams,11 Luke Morgan, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Jonathan Evans, 8 Dan Baker, 7 Daniel Thomas,6 Luke Hamilton, 5 Matthew Screech, 4 Cory Hill (captain), 3 Samson Lee, 2 Kirby Myhill, 1 Rob Evans.
Replacements: 16 Darran Harris, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Willgriff John, 19 Rhodri Hughes, 20 Ellis Jenkins, 21 Tom Habberfield, 22Matthew Morgan, 23 Cory Allen.
Fiji U20: 15 Matayavusa Lea (captain), 14 Josua Kerevi, 13Sevanaia Galala, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Jimilai Rokoduru, 10 Michael Little, 9Sakiusa Gavidi, 8 Aca Simolo, 7 Ledua Ratumuri, 6 Joketani Raikabula, 5 EsikiaMacu, 4 Temo Raibevu, 3 Alex Hodgman, 2 Jale Sassen, 1 Ratulame Lewanavanua.
Replacements: 16 Etuati Qadroro, 17 Semi Keli, 18 Petero Tivitivi, 19 Sakeasi Kautoga, 20 Sitiveni Nawaqa, 21 Seru Cavuilati, 22 TimociSeruwalu, 23 Tikilaci Vuibau.
Australia U20 67-12 Scotland U20
Scorers:
For Australia:
Tries: Latunipulu, Sautia 2, Browning, Roach 2, Dargaville,Holloway, Ngauamo, Frisby, Latu
Cons: Godwin 4, Seuteni 2
For Scotland:
Tries: Redmayne, Farndale
Con: Leonard
The teams:
Australia U20: 15 Nicholas Frisby, 14 James Dargaville, 13 Chris Sautia, 12 Apo Latunipulu, 11 Allan Faalavaau, 10 Kyle Godwin, 9 Matt Lucas, 8 Benn Melrose, 7 Liam Gill (captain), 6 Curtis Browning, 5 Steven Cummins, 4 Jed Holloway, 3 Les Makin, 2 Hugh Roach, 1Silatolu Latu.
Replacements: 16 Maile Ngauamo, 17 Pettowa Paraka, 18 Sam Reiser, 19 Thomas Cusack, 20 Jock Merriman, 21 Con Foley, 22 UJ Seuteni, 23 Allan Alaalatoa.
Scotland U20: 15 SamHidalgo-Clyne, 14 Jamie Farndale, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Finn Russell, 11 Mike Crawley, 10 Harry Leonard (captain), 9Matthew James Torrance,8 Andrew Nagle, 7 Will Bordill, 6 Jamie Swanson, 5 Andrew Redmayne, 4 Mitch Eadie, 3 Alex Allan, 2 Fergus Scott, 1 Robin Hislop.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Jamie Marvin Bhatti, 18 Gavin Robertson, 19 Adam Sinclair, 20 Alex Henderson, 21 Gary Graham, 22 Murray McConnell, 23 Tomasso Allan.
