It's Official: Junior Boks claim title after tense draw with gritty NZ

MATCH REPORT: This year’s Under-20 Rugby Championship ended with a thrilling 29-29 draw between the Junior Springbok and New Zealand U20 at the Nelson Mandela Stadium on Saturday.

The South Africans only needed a point to clinch this year’s title, and that was secured early in the second half with a bonus point try.

The result means the Junior Boks have ended the tournament unbeaten after victories over Argentina and Australia in the previous rounds.

It will also be a proud result for the New Zealanders, who bounced back from their defeat to Los Pumitas.

They also played the last 12 minutes of the game with 14 men after Siale Pahulu received a red card for a dangerous tackle.

The Junior Boks had New Zealand on the ropes early in the game, and they took the lead in the fifth minute with a Yaqeen Ahmed penalty goal.

However, NZ showed their pedigree up front when Dane Johnston powered over for a try in the seventh minute after a powerful driving maul. Cohen Norrie could not convert the score.

NZ’s lead didn’t last long as some brilliant backline play, spearheaded by Ahmed, sent Akahluwa Boqwana over in the corner in the 10th minute.

The see-saw nature of the game continued after that, and after winning the ball from an SA scrum, Oliver Guerin scored NZ’s second when he raced away to collect the ball after a grubber.

Momentum was firmly on NZ’s side, and they increased their lead in the 21st minute when a powerful maul sent Caleb Woodley over for a try.

The Junior Boks then gave NZ a taste of their own medicine with Rambo Kubheka going over from a maul. Ahmed’s conversion made it a 15-15 ball game.

The South Africans thought they took the lead in the 33rd minute after Kebotile Maake went over after a strong run by Ethan Adams. However, it was ruled out for obstruction.

Adams also suffered an injury in that play, and he had to be taken off on a medical cart, which will be a concern ahead of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.

The Junior Boks eventually took the lead a few minutes later when Boqwana crossed for his second after a great kick-pass by Vusi Moyo.

At half-time, it was 22-15 to the Junior Boks.

It was the fast start in the second half for the Junior Boks and the title was wrapped up in the 42nd minute when Samual Badenhorst scored the bonus point try.

Despite having no chance of winning the title after that, NZ still showed plenty of intent with the ball, and they were rewarded when Finn McLeod powered over for a five-pointer.

There was a bit of drama in the 59th when Guerin thought he had scored his second for NZ after winning a race to the ball in the Junior Boks’ in-goal. However, after a long TMO review, it wasn’t given.

It went pear-shaped for the visitors in the 68th minute after Pahulu was red-carded for a high tackle.

Muliaina had the chance to put his team in front in the 79th minute, but he pulled his kick wide.

However, NZ stayed in the fight, and they were awarded a penalty try to level the scores after Jack Benade’s deliberate knock-on in the 77th minute.

*In Saturday’s early game, Australia U20 ensured that they went home with a win after they edged Argentina U20 32-20.

The Aussies outscored their opponents by five tries to four during the 80 minutes.

See below for Saturday’s scores and scorers!

South Africa U20 29-29 New Zealand U20

The scorers:

For South Africa U20:
Tries: Boqwana 2, Kubheka, Badenhorst
Cons: Ahmed 3
Pen: Ahmed

For New Zealand U20:
Tries: Johnston, Guerin, Woodley, McLeod, Penalty Try
Con: Muliaina

Red card: Siale Pahulu (NZ, 68′ – foul play, high tackle – head contact)

Yellow card: Jack Benade (SA, 77′ – deliberate knock-on)

Teams:

South Africa U20: 15 ⁠Akahluwa Boqwana, 14 ⁠Jack Benade, 13 ⁠Samuel Badenhorst, 12 ⁠Ethan Adams, 11⁠ Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 10 ⁠Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 ⁠Hendré Schoeman, 8⁠ Kebotile Maake, 7⁠ Wasi Vyambwera, 6 ⁠Luke Canon, 5 ⁠Riley Norton (captain), 4⁠ Heinrich Theron, 3 ⁠Danie Kruger, 2 ⁠Liam van Wyk, 1 Rambo Kubheka
Replacements: 16 ⁠Mahle Sithole, 17 ⁠Oliver Reid, 18 Luan van der Berg, 19 ⁠JD Hattingh, 20 Risima Khosa, 21 ⁠Jayden Brits, 22 ⁠Vusi Moyo, 23 ⁠Jade Muller

New Zealand U20: 15 Cohen Norrie, 14 Oliver Guerin, 13 Siale Pahulu, 12 Haki Wiseman, 11 Logan Williams, 10 Mika Muliaina, 9 Charlie Sinton, 8 Patrick Mauga, 7 Caleb Woodley, 6 Finn McLeod, 5 Jake Frost, 4 Max Fale, 3 Dane Johnston, 2 Josh Findlay, 1 Henry Stuart
Replacements: 16 Jericho Wharehinga, 17 Ethan Webber, 18 Alexander Hewitt, 19 Johnny Falloon, 20 Micah Fale, 21 Jackson Hughan, 22 David Lewai, 23 Kobe Brownlee

Referee: Ella Goldsmith
Assistant referees: Sean Muller, Lulutho Matomela
TMO: Marius Jonker

Argentina U20 30-32 Australia U20

The scorers:

For Argentina U20:
Tries: Cuneo, Ledesma, Cebron, Ledesma
Cons: Serpa 2
Pens: Serpa 2

For Australia U20:
Tries: Langi 2, Kruger, Jaques, Robinson
Cons: Fowler 2
Pen: Fowler

Teams:

Argentina U20: 15 Simón Pfister, 14 Benjamin Ledesma Arocena, 13 Pedro Coll (captain), 12 Benjamín Ordiz, 11 Luciano Avaca, 10 Federico Serpa, 9 Juan Preumayr, 8 Federico Torre, 7 Jerónimo Sorondo, 6 Tomas Dande, 5 Bautista Benavides, 4 Joaquin Pascual Viale, 3 Bautista Salinas Mealla, 2 Manuel Cuneo Camargo, 1 Benjamin Farias Cerioni.
Replacements: 16 Nicolas Cambiasso, 17 Fabrizio Cebron, 18 Federico Narvaez, 19 Toribio Latorre, 20 Franco Marizza, 21 Ignacio Zabella, 22 Ramon Fernandez, 23 Manuel Giannantonio.

Australia U20: 15 Chayse Geros, 14 Taione Taka, 13 Leo Jaques, 12 Josh Takai, 11 Cooper Watters, 10 Jonty Fowler, 9 Sam Blank, 8 Eli Langi, 7 Tom Robinson (captain), 6 Luca Cleverley, 5 Kenneth Harris, 4 Will Ross, 3 Edwin Langi, 2 Ewald Kruger, 1 Jacob Job
Replacements: 16 Charlie Hollyman, 17 Nick Hill, 18 Jasper Asi, 19 Isaac Fonua, 20 Toby Brial, 21 Angus Grover, 22 Riley Whitfeld, 23 Louis Fenwicke

Referee: Christopher Allison
Assistant referees: Sean Muller, Lulutho Matomela
TMO: Marius Jonker