Baby Boks survive scare to start U20 champs on top

DAY ONE WRAP: South Africa came from behind to beat Argentina 36-25 on the opening day and go top of the Under-20 Rugby Championship.

The Baby Boks were trailing by 10 points (15-25) early in the second half.

However, a three-try, 21-point blitz in 15 minutes saw them race into a 36-25 lead, which they held on to, until the final whistle.

South Africa had to rally strongly in the second half, though, as they were 15-20 down at the break and following a South American try shortly after the restart, 10 points behind before their fightback earned them a well-deserved victory to leave the crowd of close to 9,000 go home happy.

Three second-half tries by the Junior Boks moved them past their opponents and onto the top of the tournament log after Australia scored a converted try after the buzzer in the first game to draw with New Zealand in the opening game.

South Africa had the better start, with a good try in the first 15 minutes of play. Flyhalves Kyle Smith and Rafael Benedit first exchanged penalty goals for a 3-all scoreline, before livewire Junior Bok scrumhalf Haashim Pead scored after darting through a gap.

Pumitas fullback Pascal Senillosa cancelled it out when he ran onto his own grubber, and with the conversion good, it was clear that the Baby Boks had their work cut out.

SA centre Demitre Erasmus Argentina wing Bautista Lescano then scored tries, which were a good reward for some industrious play by both backlines, but some ill-discipline by the Baby Boks allowed Benedit to edge his side ahead with a second penalty goal.

Felipe Ledesma edged Argentina further ahead shortly after the break, but slowly and surely, SA U20 started to put the squeeze on their opponents, despite some misfiring line-outs and scrums.

First Pead scored his second try before captain Riley Norton went over to edge the home side closer and eventually past their opponents for the first time in the half, handing his side a 29-25 lead after 53 minutes.

South Africa put in one big hit after the other, but it was their broken field running game that was starting to tell and from another good burst, Gino Cupido finished off in the left-hand corner, with the wing’s try extending the lead even further.

SA replacement prop JD Erasmus had the crowd on their feet shortly after following a strong burst, but the try was disallowed as he was deemed to have used his knees to propel himself forward.

A bit later, another ‘try’, this time by replacement loose forward Batho Hlekani, didn’t stand due to a forward pass, but it was clear the Junior Boks had the upper hand with time running out on the clock.

* In the opening match, a clutch conversion from Sevens star Sid Harvey after the final siren saw Australia secure a thrilling 29-all draw against New Zealand.

Down by seven points and defending a New Zealand line-out as time expired, it looked like Australia would leave the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium empty-handed.

However, a steal from captain Eamon Doyle sparked a nail-biting passage of play, which ended with back row forward Beau Morrison plunging over on the back of a rolling maul in the 83rd minute.

Harvey, who had made only one of his previous four attempts at goal in the windy conditions, then stepped up to slot the conversion from out wide.

Chris Whitaker’s side were in control heading into the break with a seven-point lead before three yellow cards in the space of 22 minutes allowed the Kiwis to take control.

Wing Maloni Kunawave scored twice to erase the difference and take what looked to be a game-sealing lead before the Aussies rallied as the clock hit 80 minutes.

All the Round One scores and scorers follow below …

New Zealand 29-29 Australia

The scorers

For New Zealand
Tries: Penalty try, Kunawave 2, Solomon, Saunoa
Cons: Solomon, a penalty try does not require a conversion

For Australia
Tries: King, Grover 2, Harvey, Morrison
Cons: Harvey 2

Yellow cards: Joey Fowler (Australia, 43), Joseph Mangelsdorf (Australia, 59), Joey Fowler (Australia, 65)

Teams

New Zealand: 15 Stanley Solomon, 14 Maloni Kunawave, 13 Cooper Roberts, 12 Jack Wiseman, 11 Harlyn Saunoa, 10 Rico Simpson, 9 Dylan Pledger, 8 Mosese Bason, 7 Aio Keith, 6 Xavier Treacy, 5 Josh Tengblad, 4 Randall Baker, 3 Robson Faleafā, 2 Manumaua Letiu (captain), 1 Sika Pole.
Replacements: 16 Eli Oudenryn, 17 Tamiano Ahloo, 18 Dane Johnston, 19 Dylan Eti, 20 Micah Fale, 21 Charlie Sinton, 22 Will Cole, 23 David Lewai.

Australia: 15 Shane Wilcox, 14 Cooper Watters, 13 Liam Grover, 12 Boston Fakafanua, 11 Sid Harvey, 10 Joey Fowler, 9 Hwi Sharples, 8 Beau Morrison, 7 Eli Langi, 6 Jacob Veiru, 5 Joe Mangelsdorf, 4 Eamon Doyle (captain), 3 Kaleb Ah-Colt, 2 Ollie Barrett, 1 Finn Baxter.
Replacements: 16 Lipina Ata, 17 Trevor King, 18 Nick Hill, 19 Charlie Brosnan, 20 Toby Brial, 21 James Martens, 22 Joe Dillon, 23 Nick Conway.

Referee: Christopher Allison (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Thomas Bertazza (Argentina), Phumzile Mbewu (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Crouse (South Africa)

South Africa 36-25 Argentina

The scorers

For South Africa
Tries: Pead 2, Erasmus, Norton, Cupido
Cons: Smith 3, Moyo
Pen: Smith

For Argentina
Tries: Senillosa, Lescano, Ledesma
Cons: Benedit 2
Pens: Benedit 2

Teams

South Africa: 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 Albie Bester, 11 Gino Cupido, 10 Kyle Smith, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Matt Romao, 6 Thando Biyela, 5 JJ Theron, 4 Riley Norton (captain), 3 Simphiwe Ngobese, 2 Sethu Mnebelele, 1 Oliver Reid.
Replacements: 16 Juandré Schoeman, 17 Ranon Fouché, 18 JD Erasmus, 19 Morné Venter, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Vusi Moyo, 23 JC Mars.

Argentina: 15 Pascal Senillosa, 14 Bautista Lescano, 13 Pedro Coll, 12 Felipe Ledesma (captain),11 Aquiles Vieyra, 10 Rafael Benedit, 9 Jerónimo Llorens, 8 Agustín García Campos, 7 Tomás Dande, 6 Santiago Neyra, 5 Tomás Duclos, 4 Alejandro Barrios, 3 Gael Galván, 2 Tadeo Ledesma Arocena, 1 Juan Ignacio Rodriguez.
Replacements: 16 Diego Correa, 17 Jerónimo Otaño, 18 Valentin Vincent Vidal, 19 Jeremy Annand, 20 Pampa Storey, 21 Jerónimo Sorondo, 22 Félix Corleto, 23 Ramón Fernandez Miranda.

Referee: Todd Petrie (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: George Myers (Australia), Sean Muller (South Africa)
TMO: Ben Crouse (South Africa)