England thrash South Africa

Ignore the 17, for England thoroughly deserved to win and probably by even more.  England won every facet of the match, except perhaps for three minutes of it – three out of 80, about 3,5% of the match. There was a passing thought in that 3,5% that South Africa was setting a new rugby trend of saving their best for the second half, but Ellis Park did not happen at Manchester City Stadium.

England outran, out-tackled, outscrummed, out-lineouted, outrucked, outpassed, outkicked, outcaught the South Africans. Any 50-50 ball England won it. Outplayed. In a word England outplayed South Africa, and the Under-20 Six Nations clear winners look like becoming the World winners.

There was a glimmer of hope for South Africa when Curwin Bosch had an incisive run but that glimmer was soon extinguished when England won a turnover, and Johnny Williams broke and passed inside to scrumhalf Max Green who raced over to score. England led 7-0 after just two minutes, and lethargy settled over South African minds and bodies.

Five minutes later England scored again when Joe Marchant gathered a short grubber. England went right – Stan South to Callum Chick and out to Jack Singleton who wing-like sped towards the line. Great defence just kept him out but Huw Taylor was on hand to dab the ball over the line. 12-0 after 7 minutes.

South Africa mauled and went wide left. England were[penalised at a tackle and Bosch goaled, a drop in the rugby ocean. 12-3 after 12 minutes.

Jeremy Ward was sent to the sin bin for an air tackle and Manie Libbok kicked directly into touch. The half belonged to England.

England went wide right, then wide left then back right with a perfect chain of passes that gave Sam Aspland-Robinson an overlap on the right wing and he scored in the corner. Harry Mallinder converted from far out. 19-3 after 22 minutes.

South Africa had some patches of improvement with pick-'n-drive, but their best efforts ended in penalties or turnovers.

Two penalties gave England an attacking line-out. They mauled. Stopped right at the line, they quickly got the ball back and Green gave to Williams who charged over Ward to score. 26-3 after 35 minutes.

Just after this Will Evans of England was sent to the sin bin for a tip tackle on Junior Pokomela.

From a line-out on England's left, Mallinder kicked a high kick to his right. South Africans stood and watched the ball descending but Marchant caught it and passed to Max Malins who scurried  some 40 metres to score in the left corner. That made the score 31-3 at half-time.

England carried on attacking in the second half with Matt Gallagher racing down the left and passing inside to Green. South African passing went astray and Williams raced clear but Marco Jansen van Rensburg caught him from behind as England went left. From the left Mallinder kicked a high diagonal to his right but the South African left wing Edwill van der Merwe caught it and raced 90 metres for a try under the posts. 31-10 after 48 minutes.

South Africa mauled and Libbok got his nose ahead and passed to Bosch and the fullback raced over for a try. 31-17 after 51 minutes.

Here endeth South Africa's purple patch.

Mallinder goaled a penalty and England settled to waiting out time.

A penalty gave South Africa an attacking line-out 10 metres inside the England 22, and England snatched the ball and started running with short passes  inside and outside till Max Wright went over for a great team try.

There were six minutes left before England were confirmed, once again, as Finalists in the Under-20 World Championship with a chance of adding to their Six Nations title earlier in the year. They will face vigorous Ireland

Scorers:

For England:

Tries: Green, Taylor, Aspland-Robinson, Mallinder, Malins, Wright

Cons: Mallinder 3

Pen: Mallinder

for South Africa:

Tries: Van der Merwe, Bosch

Cons: Bosch 2

Pen: Bosch

Teams

England: 15 Max Malins, 14 Sam Aspland-Robinson, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Matt Gallagher, 10 Harry Mallinder (captain), 9 Max Green, 8 Callum Chick, 7 Will Evans, 6 George Nott, 5 Huw Taylor, 4 Stan South, 3 Billy Walker, 2 Jack Singleton, 1 Lewis Boyce.  

Replacements: 16 Charlie Piper, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Andrew Kitchener, 20 Jack Willis, 21 Harry Randall, 22 Max Wright, 23 Ollie Thorley.

Junior Springboks: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Mosolwa Mafuma, 13 Jeremy Ward (captain), 12 JT Jackson, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Manie Libbok, 9    Marco Jansen van Vuren, 8 Junior Pokomela, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Zain Davids, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Ruben de Villiers, 3 Jaco Holtzhausen, 2 Tango Balekile, 1 Nicolaas Oosthuizen.

Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Franco van den Berg, 18 Carlü Sadie, 19 Eduard Zandberg, 20 Cobus Wiese, 21 James Hall, 22 Franco Naude, 23 Keanu Vers.

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Thomas Charabas (France), Greg Garner (England)

TMO: Paul Adams (England)