Baby Boks in record romp
Defending champions South Africa beat the United States 97-0 on Day One of the IRB Junior World Championship in France.
The Baby Boks scored 16 tries, including four from Seabelo Senatla.
Junior Springbok captain Ruan Steenkamp missed a chance to turn the scoreboard over to 100 points for his team when he lost the ball over the try line during the last movement of the match.
It was the biggest winning margin in JWC history and SA have tied record for most tries in a match by a team (16) and Senatla has tied record for most tries in a match by an individual with four.
It is also the third highest points scored in JWC history, behind their scores against the US in 2008 and Fiji in 2011!
Last year's beaten Finalists, New Zealand, also started in impressive fashion when they beat Fiji 59-6.
Ardie Savea, the New Zealand captain, described it as a "good first game".
"We will take a lot of positives, but we know there are a few things we can work on," Savea said.
"We knew Fiji would have a physical presence, but against bigger teams we need to up our game."
The Baby Boks lead 54-0 at half-time thanks to nine tries in an action-packed first half.
The defending champions were relentless in their assault on the United States try line.
Dawie Theron, the South Africa Under-20 coach, was understandably pleased with his team's performance.
"It was good to get the first match out of the way," Theron said.
"However, I cautioned the guys that this is an extremely tough competition and that we will keep our feet firmly on the ground.
"There are still two tough pools matches waiting for us against England and home team France. Our backs did the job for us but they could only do so because our forwards laid the platform with some really good, hard work up front," added Theron.
South Africa’s next match will be a much tougher prospect against England, who ran out 30-6 winners over tournament hosts France in the first match at the venue, repeating their win in the Under 20 Six Nations earlier in the year.
In other results Ireland beat Australia 19-15, Wales smashed Samoa 42-3 and Argentina beat Scotland 44-13.
Sunday's fixtures: South Africa v England, France v United States, Ireland v Fiji, New Zraland v Australia, Argentina v Samoa and Wales v Scotland.
Results and scorers:
South Africa 97-0 United States
Scorers:
South Africa:
Tries: Andrew Beerwinkel, Cheslin Kolbe, Seabelo Senatla 4, Ruan Steenkamp, Justin Geduld 2, Jacques du Toit, Jesse Kriel 2, Michael Willemse 2, Luther Obi 2
Cons: Handré Pollard, Robert du Preez 6
Pen: Pollard
United States:
None
New Zealand 59-6 Fiji
Scorers:
New Zealand:
Tries: Fa'asiu Fuatai 2, Micheal Collins 2, Ardie Savea, Lolagi Visinia, Leroy van Dam, Scott Scraftons, Jordan Manihera
Cons: Tayler Adams 2, Tei Walden 2
Pens: Adams 2
Fiji:
Pens: Emori Waqa 2
Argentina 44-13 Scotland
The scorers:
Argentina:
Tries: Penalty try, Rodrigo Etchart, Felipe Ezcurra, Patricio Fernandez
Cons: Patricio Fernandez 3
Pens: Fernandez 6
Scotland:
Tries: Jamie Farndale, Mark Bennett
Pen: Tommy Allan
France 6-30 England
Scorers:
France:
Pens: Baptiste Serin 2
England:
Tries: Jack Clifford 2, Luke Cowan-Dickie
Cons: Henry Slade 3
Pens: Henry Slade 3
Ireland 19-15 Australia
The scorers:
Ireland:
Try: Rory Scholes
Con: Tom Daly
Pens: Daly 4
Australia:
Tries: Thomas Staniforth, Alex Northam
Con: Luke Burton
Pen: UJ Seuteni
Wales 42-3 Samoa
Scorers:
Wales:
Tries: Hallam Amos, Jack Dixon, Carwyn Jones, Sion Bennett, Ieuan Jones, Elliot Dee
Cons: Sam Davies 3
Pens: Davies 2
Samoa:
Pen: Fomai Ah Ki
