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Junior Springboks thrash Scotland in World Rugby U20 Championship to finish group stage with a flurry

Junior Springboks thrash Scotland in World Rugby U20 Championship to finish group stage with a flurry

IOL News5 days ago
Scrumhalf Ceano Everson launches a kick at the back of a Junior Springbok ruck. The nippy halfback and winger Jaco Williams both scored two tries in the runaway victory over Scotland on Wednesday.
Image: Sabrina Conforti / World Rugby
There is no stopping the Junior Springbok juggernaut in the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy.
South Africa romped their way to another rousing victory on Wednesday, defeating Scotland 73-14 to equal the points tally they achieved in dispatching Australia in the opening round of the tournament.
The win brought 11 outstanding tries with winger Jaco Williams bagging a brace alongside scrumhalf Ceano Everson. Williams' first five-pointer opened the try-scoring fest of the South African U20s and his second, in the 16th minute, brought the bonus point before the first quarter of the match ended.
"An 80-yard scorcher" 🔥
Jaco Williams is a menace with ball in hand 🤯#WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/XFk1lM1LSo — World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 9, 2025
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Scotland didn't really see any of the possession in the first half and they were trapped in their half by the physicality of the Junior Springbok forwards, while the backs of the unbeaten side ran rampant even from their own half at times.
Williams was brilliant and his first try saw some great individual skill, running for 80 metres from his 22 m area to score a solo try. The five-pointers by captain Thando Biyela and prop Oliver Reid came from the forwards, so it was a good all-round game that SA coach Kevin Foote will be happy about.
After leading 45-7 at halftime, having scored seven of the 11 tries, the Junior Boks were made to defend by the Scots who came out firing in the second half on defence. They had a player in the sin bin and the South Africans struggled to get past 14 players. Eventually after 20 minutes of play in the second forty, the dam wall broke again.
The #JuniorBoks have scored more than a point per minute as they lead Scotland by 45-7 at half-time of their #WorldRugbyU20s pool clash in Calvisano 👏#JourneyToGreatness pic.twitter.com/gMvFgQLgX9 — SA Junior Rugby (@SAJuniorRugby) July 9, 2025
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