Junior Boks smash Australia convincingly

WRAP: The Junior Springboks started their World Rugby Under-20 Championship campaign like a house on fire, scoring 11 tries in a convincing 73-17 victory over Australia on a hot and windy Sunday afternoon at the Stadio San Michele in Calvisano.

The Junior Boks played a controlled game with a clear plan, with their pack delivering a physical masterclass and providing their dangerous backs with a brilliant attacking platform.

Although they were sometimes undone by unnecessary errors, the SA U20s could not be faulted for their effort, attacking with intent and often ripping the Aussie defence to shreds and controlling the pace of the game by dominating possession.

Despite a few strong early carries, there were mistakes on the Junior Bok side, but they showed their intent in the sixth minute when Haashim Pead (scrumhalf) raced away for the opening try from a counter-attack that started deep inside their own half, with Siphosethu Mnebelele (hooker) putting in a good run.

Flyhalf Vusi Moyo’s conversion made it 7-0, but the Aussies pulled one back a few minutes later when Sid Harvey (fullback) exposed a defensive lapse on the wing. The conversion wasn’t over, and the South Africans remained in the lead as they started to step up the pace.

The Junior Boks then delivered one body blow after the other in the last 15 minutes of the half, with four tries putting them in firm control of the match.

Herman Lubbe (prop) bulldozed his way over after sustained pressure on attack before Siya Ndlozi (wing) scored two tries in six minutes, both from attacking breaks from the scrum, with Moyo converting all three to make it 28-5 with three minutes to go before the break.

The South Africans were not done yet, and Cheswill Jooste (wing) went over on the stroke of half-time after some great hands. Moyo missed his first kick of the game, but at 33-5, it didn’t make a big difference.

It’s a scintillating sixth try for South Africa ✨

South Africa have started the second half the same way the finished the first and show no signs of slowing down!#WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/04EkWS3yYW

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 29, 2025

The Junior Boks then added four more tries in the first 12 minutes of the second half, to seal the deal with a superb display of attacking rugby.

Pead scored his second from an attack after a Wallaby kick in the 45th minute before Gilermo Mentoe (fullback) intercepted on the ground and raced 80m downfield to dot down shortly thereafter.

Two minutes later, lock JJ Theron smashed his way over after a great run by Xola Nyali (flanker) to bring up 50, and a few moments later, Jaco Grobbelaar crashed over in the corner shortly after he replaced Theron.

Moyo converted three of these, and with 25-odd minutes to go, the Junior Boks led by 59-5, but it was 66-5 just before the hour-mark when Nyali broke away and ran 30m to score from a maul. Replacement flyhalf Ian van der Merwe made no mistake from the tee.

Australia managed to get more possession, but the Junior Bok defence held firm as Kevin Foote emptied the bench. The Junior Wallabies finally scored their second try with 10 minutes to go when Cooper Watters (wing) went over in the corner, adding a second a few minutes later as the heat started to take its toll.

Jaco Williams (replacement wing) had the final say, though, as he intercepted and scored from the halfway line to seal a superb victory for the Junior Boks.

All the scores and scorers of Round One below…

South Africa 73-17 Australia

Scorers:

For Junior Springboks:
Tries: Pead 2, Lubbe, Ndloz, Jooste, Mentoe,Theron, Grobbelaar, Nyali, Williams
Cons: Moyo 7, Van der Merwe 2

For Australia:
Tries: Harvey, Watters 2
Con: Harvey

Teams

Australia: 15 Sid Harvey, 14 Cooper Watters, 13 Xavier Rubens, 12 Boston Fakafanua, 11 Shane Wilcox,10 Joey Fowler, 9 Hwi Sharples, 8 Beau Morrison, 7 Tom Robinson, 6 Eli Langi, 5 Eamon Doyle (captain), 4 Charlie Brosnan, 3 Trevor King, 2 Lipina Ata, 1 Finn Baxter
Replacements: 16 Ollie Barrett, 17 Nathaniel Tiitii, 18 Edwin Langi, 19 Joe Mangelsdorf, 20 Toby Brial, 21 Aden Ekanayake, 22 James Martens, 23 Joe Dillon

South Africa: 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 Albie Bester, 11 Siyabonga Ndlozi, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Bathobele Hlekani, 6 Xola Nyali, 5 JJ Theron, 4 Riley Norton (captain), 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Simphiwe Ngobese
Replacements: 16 Jaundre Schoeman, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Jaco Grobbelaar, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Erich Visser, 22 Ian van der Merwe, 23 Jaco Williams

Referee: Furuse Katsuki (Japan)
Assistant Referees: Ben Breakspear (Wales), Lorenzo Pedezzi (Italy)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)

England 56-19 Scotland

Scorers:

For England
Tries: James 2, Knight, Bracken 2, Bellamy, Redshaw
Cons: Bellamy 2, Coen 5

For Scotland:
Tries: Cowan, Patterson, Penalty Try
Con: Urwin

Yellow cards: Louie Gulley (England, 11’), Fergus Watson (Scotland, 9’)
Red card: George Timmins (England, 52’)

Teams

England: 15 Josh Bellamy, 14 Jack Bracken, 13 Nick Lilley, 12 Will Knight, 11 Tyler Offiah, 10 Ben Coen, 9 Jonny Weimann, 8 Kane James, 7 Samuyel Silliams, 6 George Timmins, 5 Junior Kpoku, 4 Tom Burrow, 2 Louie Gulley, 1 Ralph McEachran
Replacements: 16 Kepyu Tuipulotu, 17 Oli Scola, 18 Vilikesa Sela, 19 Olamide Sodeke, 20 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, 21 Archie McParland, 22 Campbell Ridl, 23 Ben Redshaw

Scotland: 15 Jack Brown, 14 Nairn Moncrieff, 13 Johnny Ventisei (captain), 12 Kerr Yule, 11 Fergus Watson, 10 Matthew Urwin, 9 Noah Cowan, 8 Reuben Logan, 7 Oliver Duncang, 6 Charlie Moss, 5 Dan Halkon, 4 Bart Godsell, 3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 2 Joe Roberts, 1 Jake Shearer
Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Oliver McKenna, 18 Jamie Stewart, 19 Dylan Cockburn, 20 Mark Fyffe, 21 Oliver Finlayson-Russell, 22 Hector Patterson, 23 Jack Hocking

Referee: Marcus Playle (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Tomas Bertazza (Argentina), Alex Frasson (Italy)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)

Ireland 35-21 Georgia

Scorers:

For Ireland:
Tries: Molony, Ronan, Farrell, Walker
Cons: Wood 2
Pens: Wood 2

For Georgia:
Tries: Margvelashvili, Spanderashvili 2
Cons: Takaishvili 3

Yellow cards: Alex Mullan (Ireland, 34’),’ Bachuki Baratashvili (Georgia, 34’)

Teams

Ireland: 15 Charlie Molony, 14 Paidi Farrell, 13 Ciaran Mangan, 12 Eoghan Smyth, 11 Derry Mononey, 10 Tom Wood, 9 Clark Logan, 8 Luke Murphy, 7 Eanna McCarthy (captain), 6 Michael Foy, 5 Billy Corrigan, 4 Mahon Ronan, 3 Alex Mullan, 2 Henry Walker, 1 Billy Bohan
Replacements: 16 Mikey Yarr, 17 Alex Usanov, 18 Tom McAllister, 19 Conor Kennelly, 20 Bobby Power, 21 Will Wootton, 22 Sam Wisniewski, 23 Daniel Green

Georgia: 15 Luka Takaishvili, 14 Luka Keshelava, 13 Data Akhvlediani, 12 Nugzari Kevkhishvili, 11 Tarieli Burtikashvili, 10 Gigi Sirbiladze, 9 Giorgi Spanderashvili, 8 Mikheili Shioshvili, 7 Andro Dvali, 6 Luka Narsia, 5 Gagui Margvelashvili, 4 Temur Tsulukidze, 3 Mate Gurtskaia, 2 Mikheil Khakhubia, 1 Bachuki Baratashvili.
Replacements: 16 Shota Kheladze, 17 Archil Nozadze, 18 Giorgi Meskhidze, 19 Nikolozi Chkhortolia, 20 Davit Baramia, 21 Temuri Dzodzuashvili, 22 Sandro Meskhidze, 23 Nika Abesadze.

Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)
Assistant Referees: Ben Breakspear (Wales), Alex Weiner (USA)
TMO: Graham Cooper (Australia)

France 49-11 Spain

Scorers:

For France:
Tries: Leveque, Tilloles, Akrab, Baret 2, Sanson, Britz
Cons: Jurd 2, Keletaona 5

For Spain:
Tries: Gonzalez
Pens: Otamendi 2

Yellow card: Guardin Gonzalez (Spain, 32’)

Teams

France: 15 Xan Mousques, 14 Tom Leveque, 13 Lucas Vigneres, 12 Robin Taccola, 11 Nolann Donguy, 10 Luka Keletaona, 9 Baptiste Tilloles, 8 Mathis Baret, 7 Noa Traversier, 6 Baptiste Britz, 5 Charles Kante Samba, 4 Corentin Mezou, 3 Lenny Alifanety, 2 Quentin Algay, 1 Edouard Jabea Njocke.
Replacements: 16 Lyam Akrab, 17 Lorencio Boyer-Gallardo, 18 Mohamed Megherbi, 19 Bartholome Sanson, 20 Bobby Bissu, 21 Elyjah Ibsaiene, 22 Simeli Daunivucu, 23 Diego Jurd.

Spain: 15 Lucien Richardis, 14 Beltran Ortega, 13 Unax Zuiarrain, 12 Hugo Pichardie, 11 Pablo Mateos, 10 Gonzalo Otamendi, 9 Nico Infer, 8 Manex Pujana, 7 Marcal Carreras, 6 Cael Almorin, 5 Liam Mcnamee, 4 Guardin Gonzalez, 3 Guio Reyes, 2 Pau Massoni (captain), 1 Alberto Gomez
Replacements: 16 Marcos Perez, 17 Danie Chico, 18 Victor Deojetu, 19 Marcos Lopez, 20 Nico Cali, 21 Jaime Powys, 22 Jorce Carreta, 23 Hugo Gonzalez

Referee: Filippo Russo (France)
Assistant Referees: Tomas Bertazza (Argentina), Morgan White (Hong Kong China)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

Argentina 34-27 Wales

Scorers:

For Argentina:
Tries: Campos, Rapetti 2, Silva, Arocena
Cons: Benedit 3
Pen: Benedit

For Wales:
Tries: Penalty Try, Emanuel, Minto
Cons: Ford 2
Pens: Ford 2

Yellow cards: Garcia Campos (Argentina, 18’), Pascal Senillosa (Argentina, 2’)

Teams

Argentina:15 Pascal Senillosa, 14 Timothy Silva, 13 Pedro Coll, 12 Felipe Ledesma (captain), 11 Baptist Lescano, 10 Rafael Benedit, 9 Felix Corleto, 8 Agustin Garcia Campos, 7 Santiago Corleto, 6 Tomas Dande, 5 Alvaro Garcia Iandolino, 4 Tomas Duclos, 3 Tomas Rapetti, 2 Tadeo Ledesma Arocena, 1 Juan Rodriquez
Replacements: 16 Jeronimo Otano, 17 Diego Strap, 18 Gael Galvan, 19 Valentino Freiria, 20 Pampa Storey, 21 Fabricio Griffo, 22 Ramon Fernandez Miranda, 23 Aquiles Vieyra

Wales: 15 Jack Woods, 14 Elijah Evans, 13 Osian Roberts, 12 Steffan Emanuel, 11 Aidan Boshoff, 10 Harri Ford, 9 Sion Davies, 8 Evan Minto, 7 Harry Beddall (captain), 6 Deian Gwynne, 5 Nick Thomas, 4 Kenzie Jenkins, 3 Sam Scott, 2 Harry Thomas, 1 Ioan Emanuel.
Replacements: 16 Saul Hurley, 17 Louie Trevett, 18 Owain James, 19 Dan Gemine, 20 Caio James, 21 Ellis Lewis, 22 Harri Wilde, 23 Tom Bowen.

Referee: Griffin Colby (SARU)
Assistant Referees: Morgan White (Hong Kong China), Franco Rosella (France)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)

New Zealand 14-5 Italy

Scorers:

For New Zealand:
Tries: Pledger, Letiu
Cons: Cole 2

For Italy:
Try: Beni

Yellow cards: Randall Baker (New Zealand, 77’), Stanley Solomon (New Zealand, 14’)

Teams

New Zealand: 15 Rico Simpson, 14 Frank Vaenuku, 13 Cooper Roberts, 12 Jack Wiseman, 11 Stanley Solomon, 10 Will Cole, 9 Dylan Pledger, 8 Mosese Bason, 7 Caleb Woodley, 6 Finn McLeod. 5 Jayden Sa, 4 Xavier Treacy, 3 Logan Wallace, 2 Manumaua Letiu (captain), 1 Sika Pole
Replacements: 16 Shaun, Kempton, 17 Dane Johnston, 18 Robson Faleafa, 4 Randall Baker, 5 Micah Fale, 6 Jai Tamati, 7 Tayne Harvey, 8 Harlyn Saunoa

Italy: 15 Edoardo Todaro, 14 Alessandro Drago, 13 Federico Zanandrea, 12 Riccardo Casarin, 11 Jules Ducros, 10 Roberto Fasti, 9 Niccolo Beni, 8 Nelson Casartelli, 7 Antony Italo Miranda, 6 Giacomo Milano (captain), 5 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, 4 Mattia Midena, 3 Bruno Vallesi, 2 Niccolo Michelle Corvasce, 1 Sergio Pellicciolo
Replacements: 16 Alessio Caiolo-Serra, 17 Sascha Mistrulli, 18 Nicola Bolognini, 19 Simone Fardin, 20 Piero Gritti, 21 Carlo Antonio Bianchi, 22 Luca Rossi, 23 Gianmmarco Pietramala

Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Alex Weiner (USA), Alberto Favaro (France)
TMO: Dan Jones (England)