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IOL News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Slick backs, physicality sees Junior Springboks edge out Argentina in U20 Rugby Championship
Gino Cupido Gino Cupido scored the final try for the Junior Springboks against Argentina. Photo: World Rugby Image: World Rugby It took the Junior Springboks a wake-up call in the second half to get going in their Under-20 Rugby Championship opener against Argentina in Gqeberha on Thursday. A try shortly after the break by the Pumitas opened a double-score advantage to them to place pressure on the South Africans in front of their fans. But three additional tries by the home team, thanks to some enterprising play between the backline and forwards, secured a 36-25 victory at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. SA are atop the Championship standings with four points after New Zealand and Australia drew 29-29 in the first clash on Thursday. While the visitors were first to score in the second half, it was the South Africans who comfortably dominated proceedings as their opposition tired as the match went along. Despite not dominating at scrum-time, the South African Under-20s made up for it with their physicality, and it allowed the backline to get running. Tries by scrumhalf Haashim Pead, his second of the match, after some entertaining play through the middle from captain Riley Norton and winger Gino Cupido out wide brought the hosts back into the game. For all three scores, the Junior Boks did well to use their mobility to get the better of their opponents. Pead and centre Demitre Erasmus got on the scoreboard in the first half. He did it for the Blitzboks and now he does it for the Junior Boks 🤌🇿🇦 Gino Cupido knows his way around a try line ⚡ 📺 Stream #TRCU20 on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) May 1, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ A crucial penalty win went against Argentina in the 78th minute when they were right in front of the SA tryline. A score there would've set the sides up for an intense finish. But against the run of play, the South Africans won a scrum penalty, and it allowed them to exit comfortably to see out the final minute-and-a-half of play, despite Argentina not backing down as they went looking for their fourth try. The opening 10 minutes were a cagey affair between the two southern-hemisphere sides as they tried to feel each other out. The Junior Boks opened the scoring via a penalty before the equaliser came after they could not exit from the kickoff. A South African score afterwards gave them the lead again before the Argentines hit back with one of their own to tie things up once more. The home side's inability to exit was one of the areas that gave the Pumitas easy territory. They had a couple of nearly tries in the first half when some desperate defence by the Junior Boks secured a knock on over the tryline and another knock-on just as speedy Argentina winger Bautista Lescano stripped away to score was caught by the TMO. It was the perfect clash for the Junior Springboks and coach Kevin Foote to see where they are and what needs fixing ahead of the final two clashes. They struggled in the scrums and had some lapses in concentration on the attack. But it was the first competitive game, and they performed well when put under pressure in the first half. Points-Scorers Junior Springboks 36 – Tries: Haashim Pead (2), Demitre Erasmus, Riley Norton, Gino Cupido. Conversions: Kyle Smith (3), Vusi Moyo (1). Penalty: Smith (1). Argentina U20 25 – Tries: Pascal Senillosa, Bautista Lescano, Felipe Ledesma. Conversions: Rafael Benedit (2). Penalties: Benedit (2).
IOL News
25-04-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Blitzboks' Cupido, powerful Hlekani can spark Junior Springboks charge in Rugby Championship
Bathobele Hlekani Bathobele Hlekani will add real grunt to the Junior Springbok pack in the Rugby Championship. Photo: BackpagePix Image: BackpagePix Bathobele Hlekani, Haashim Pead and JC Mars will be returning for their second Under-20 Rugby Championship with the Junior Springboks after being included in the squad announced on Thursday. New Junior Bok coach Kevin Foote picked 31 players for the tournament against New Zealand, Australia and Argentina, which will take place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha from May 1-11. The event serves as ideal preparation for the World Under-20 Championship from June 29-July 19 in Italy, where South Africa have been drawn in Pool A alongside defending champions England, Australia and Scotland. The Junior Boks will be aiming for a much more successful Rugby Championship campaign after a difficult time in last year's competition in Gold Coast, Australia, where they could only beat Argentina after drawing with New Zealand and losing to the hosts. South Africa will begin their Rugby Championship run against on May 1 against Argentina (4.10pm start). Barnstorming Sharks loose forward Hlekani will hope to lead the charge for the South Africans with his powerful ball-carries and big hits in defence. At the back, Western Province fullback Mars will hope to utilise his pace and silky skills to spark the attack, along with recent Blitzboks debutant Gino Cupido, a centre from WP. In a blow to the pack, impressive WP loose forward Divan Fuller has been ruled out with injury. 'The Rugby Championship is a great opportunity for our players to test their abilities against quality opposition from New Zealand, Australia, and Argentina and we are looking forward to the challenge to play quality opposition in front of our passionate Eastern Cape fans,' said Foote. Ready for more of this when the Rugby Championship U20 comes to South Africa next month 💪 🇿🇦#JuniorBoks #JourneyToGreatness — SA Junior Rugby (@SAJuniorRugby) April 16, 2025 'We worked with 80 players during our various training camps, which gave us a fantastic opportunity to test and assess our depth. 'I believe we have selected a competitive Junior Bok squad, consisting of players who have really put up their hand during the camps. 'A few missed out due to injury, while there are also a couple who were retained from last year. 'The players all did their part, and I am pleased with their effort. We could only announce a 31-man squad, but that doesn't mean those players who will not play in Nelson Mandela Bay are out of the reckoning for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.' Junior Springbok Squad Props: Ranon Fouché (Bulls), Jean Erasmus (Bulls), Simphiwe Ngobese (Sharks), Herman Lubbe (Western Province), Oliver Reid (Western Province). Hookers: Siphosethu Mnebelele (Bulls), Jaundré Schoeman (Bulls), HB Odendaal (Lions). Locks: Neil Hansen (Lions), Morné Venter (Lions), Riley Norton (Western Province), JJ Theron (Bulls). Loose forwards: Bathobele Hlekani (Sharks), Xola Nyali (Western Province), Matt Romao (Sharks), Wandile Mlaba (Western Province), Thando Biyela (Lions). Scrumhalves: Ceano Everson (Sharks), Haashim Pead (Lions), Elrich Visser (Cheetahs). Flyhalves: Vusi Moyo (Sharks), Kyle Smith (Western Province). Centres: Albie Bester (Sharks), Gino Cupido (Western Province), Demitre Erasmus (Bulls), Dominic Malgas (Western Province). Outside backs: Scott Nel (Sharks), Gilermo Mentoe (Lions), Siya Ndlozi (Western Province), Cheswill Jooste (Bulls), JC Mars (Western Province). Rugby Championship Under-20 Fixtures (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium): Thursday, 1 May – 2pm: New Zealand v Australia, 4.10pm: South Africa v Argentina Tuesday, 6 May – 2pm: New Zealand v Argentina, 4.10pm: South Africa v Australia Sunday, 11 May – 2pm: Argentina v Australia, 4.10pm: South Africa v New Zealand
