Aussies upset BlunderBoks

DAY TWO WRAP: Australia produced a sensational second-half comeback to upset hosts South Africa at the Under-20 Rugby Championship.

Australia overturned a 17-point deficit in a tactically astute second-half performance to beat the error-prone Baby Boks team 29-24 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.

In what was a game of two halves, the Aussies did very well to dominate the territorial game after the break as they grew in confidence, while South Africa failed to capitalise on their opportunities, especially in the first half.

The Baby Boks, who led 14-0 at the break, started like a house on fire, with Xola Nyali (flank) scoring a maul try in the third minute. Vusi Moyo (flyhalf) converted from the sideline to give the hosts a 7-0 lead.

The Australians were under pressure in the scrums and line-outs, while SA ran with intent and put in some big hits when their opponents had the ball, but they made silly mistakes and failed to turn this into points, allowing the men in gold to work their way back into the game.

Australia capitalised on a few line-out throws that weren’t straight and turned over possession on the ground a few times, but the Baby Boks’ defence held firm, keeping the pressure on their opponents.

This pressure finally reaped rewards as Siya Ndlozi (wing) scored an intercept try just before the half-hour mark, showing great pace to beat the cover defence. Moyo converted, and 14-0 was a fair reflection of play at that stage.

The SA scrum ascendancy continued to such an extent that Australia lost Trevor King (prop) to the sin bin for repeated infringements.

With the clock in the red in the first half, the Junior Boks launched one last maul attack, but after Nyali went over, the try was disallowed by the TMO for obstruction at the line-out.

* (Article continues below ….)

Me when I’m drunk off too much coke and whiskey 🤣🤣🤣#TRCU20 pic.twitter.com/IG960xGt4P

— RUGGY RUGBY 🇳🇿 (@RuggarRugby) May 6, 2025

Moyo made it 17-0 with an early penalty goal in the second half, but Australia grew in confidence and as their passes started to stick, they forced the Junior Boks onto the back foot.

Three tries in 15 minutes swung the game in favour of the Aussies, with Eamon Doyle (lock), Edwin Langi (replacement prop) and Lipina Ata (replacement hooker) crossing for the visitors.

Sid Harvey (fullback) converted all three, and with just under 20 minutes to go, Australia took a 21-17 lead, somewhat against the run of play, although they deserve credit for putting the Junior Bok defence under pressure, with their tactical kicking game also helping their cause.

Attacking with confidence, the Aussies crossed for what looked to be a great try by Nick Conway (wing), only to be denied by a superb cover tackle by Cheswill Jooste.

Two minutes later, Conway again made lots of ground down the left, but this time his inside pass found Xavier Rubens (centre), who scored Australia’s fourth try to make it a nine-point game with 10 minutes on the clock.

When Harvey landed a penalty goal five minutes later, it was game over for the Junior Boks, despite a good try by Batho Hlekani to give South Africa a losing bonus point.

A Brilliant, yet simple piece of IQ from Australian 7s Player, Sid Harvey.

Australian rugby indeed looks bright despite what many people are saying.#TRCU20 pic.twitter.com/PwoVKnh13C

— RUGGY RUGBY 🇳🇿 (@RuggarRugby) May 6, 2025

* In the first game on Tuesday, New Zealand were in impressive form as they scored a bonus-point 75-21 victory over Argentina’s Pumitas, crossing the tryline 11 times and slotting 10 conversions, while only conceding three tries.

After two rounds, New Zealand leads the standings with seven points, followed by Australia on six, South Africa on five and Argentina on zero.

On Sunday, the Aussies and Pumitas cross swords, while the final match is between the Baby Boks and the Kiwis.

* All the Round Two scores and scorers follow below …

South Africa 24-29 Australia

The scorers

South Africa
Tries: Nyali, Ndlozi, Hlekani
Cons: Moyo 2, Smith
Pen: Moyo

For Australia
Tries: Rubens, Ata, Langi, Doyle
Cons: Harvey 3
Pen: Harvey

Yellow card: Trevor King (Australia, 33 – repeated infringements, scrum penalty)

Teams

South Africa: 15 JC Mars, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Scott Nel, 12 Dominic Malgas, 11 Siya Ndlozi, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Ceano Everson, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Xola Nyali, 5 Morné Venter, 4 Riley Norton (captain), 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Juandre Schoeman, 1 Simphiwe Ngobese
Replacements: 16 HB Odendaal, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Neil Hansen, 20 Thando Biyela, 21 Elrich Visser, 22 Kyle Smith, 23 Gino Cupido

Australia: 15 Sid Harvey, 14 Nick Conway, 13 Xavier Rubens, 12 Malakye Enasio, 11 Cooper Watters, 10 Finn Prass, 9 Hwi Sharples, 8 Beau Morrison, 7 Eli Langi, 6 Luca Cleverley, 5 Eamon Doyle (captain), 4 Joe Mangelsdorf, 3 Trevor King, 2 Ollie Barrett, 1 Finn Baxter
Replacements: 16 Lipina Ata, 17 Nick Hill, 18 Edwin Langi, 19 Ollie Aylmer, 20 Charlie Brosnan, 21 James Martens, 22 Joey Fowler, 23 Boston Fakafanua

Referee: Thomas Bertazza (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Todd Petrie (New Zealand), Phumzile Mbewu
TMO: Quinton Immelman

New Zealand 75-21 Argentina

The scorers

For New Zealand
Tries: Maisiri, Lewai 2, Ahloo, Oudenryn, Woodley, Kunawave 2, Bason 2, Tengblad
Cons: Simpson 2, Cole 8

For Argentina
Tries: Ignacio, Cambiasso, Arrieta
Cons: Arrieta 3

Teams

Argentina: 15 Sebastián Dubuc, 14 Juan Ignacio Races, 13 Valentín Maldonado, 12 Felipe Ledesma (captain), 11 Martiniano Arrieta, 10 Ramón Fernandez Miranda, 9 Félix Corleto, 8 Agustín García Campos, 7 Pampa Storey, 6 Tomás Dande, 5 Álvaro García Iandolino, 4 Tomás Duclos, 3 Gael Galván,2 Nicolás Cambiasso, 1 Juan Ignacio Rodriguez.
Replacements: 16 Tadeo Ledesma Arocena, 17 Diego Correa, 18 Ignacio Orsetti, 19 Jeremy Annand, 20 Franco Benítez, 21 Valentino Reggiardo, 22 Pascal Senillosa, 23 Pedro Coll.\

New Zealand: 15 Stanley Solomon, 14 Maloni Kunawave, 13 Cooper Roberts, 12 Tayne Harvey, 11 David Lewai, 10 Will Cole, 9 Charlie Sinton, 8 Mosese Bason (captain), 7 Caleb Woodley, 6 Finn McLeod, 5 Josh Tengblad, 4 Xavier Treacy, 3 Riley Tofilau, 2 Eli Oudenryn, 1 Sika Pole.
Replacements: 16 Shaun Kempton, 17 Tamiano Ahloo, 18 Robson Faleafa, 19 Harry Irving, 20 Micah Fale, 21 Jai Tamati, 22 Rico Simpson, 23 Taniela Maisiri.

Referee: George Myers (Australia)
Assistant referees: Christopher Allison (South Africa), Sean Muller
TMO: Quinton Immelman