Latest news with #SAJuniorRugby
IOL News
06-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Junior Springboks fall to Australia Under-20s in thrilling Rugby Championship clash
The Junior Springboks matchday 23 that will face Australia in Gqeberha on Tuesday. Photo: SA Junior Rugby on X Image: Photo: SA Junior Rugby on X The Junior Springboks were unable to cope with a second-half onslaught from the Australia Under-20 side as they went down 29-24 in their second match of the Rugby Championship Under-20 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Tuesday afternoon. The SA U20s managed to fight back and grab a 36-25 win in the opening round on Thursday. This time, they led at the break before surrendering the lead in the second half to a Junior Wallabies team that drew with New Zealand U20s in their opener. A composed and clinical first half from the #JuniorBoks at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. #TRCU20 #JourneyToGreatness — SA Junior Rugby (@SAJuniorRugby) May 6, 2025 The Junior Springboks stole the first line-out ball and were playing with early intensity, with powerful runner Batho Hlekani prominent. They earned a penalty a few phases later and found touch close to the Aussie tryline. The line-out was perfectly executed and the SA U20s rumbled over the line and loose forward Xola Nyali dotted down. Flyhalf Vusi Moyo added the extra two points (7-0). The Australians slowly started to gain a foothold in the match and were patient as they built some phases. But the Junior Boks maintained their defensive composure and the pressure led to some errors from the visitors. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading A big positive for the Baby Boks was their strong work in the scrums and line-outs. The Junior Wallabies were warned about repeated infringements at the breakdown as the penalty count mounted in South Africa's favour. The Australians were still struggling to cope with the power of the South African pack in the scrums. Errors, however, started to creep into South Africa's play, and the Junior Wallabies began to win the territorial battle. But they were also let down by errors at crucial times. South Africa then got a lucky break when Ndlozi pounced on a loose pass in midfield to sprint clear and score the second try of the match, against the run of play. Moyo landed the conversion to extend the Baby Boks' lead to 14-0. South Africa's defence was perfectly organised as they snuffed out any danger posed by their rivals. Trevor King of Australia was shown yellow for a scrum infringement in the Baby Boks' 22. Nyali thought he had scored his second try after another rolling maul off the line-out but it was ruled out by the the TMO. The score remained 14-0 at the break. SA pounced on another Australian mistake despite a promising start to the second half. SA drove the ball up into the Australian half and were awarded a penalty, which Moyo landed (17-0). The Junior Wallabies finally got on the scoreboard off a maul of their own from the line-out six minutes into the second half, skipper Eoman Doyle going over the whitewash. Sid Harvey kicked the conversion (14-7). SA were strangely subdued in the second half. The Australians made the most of a line-out feed before sucking in the SA defence, allowing Edwin Langi in to score. Harvey kicked the conversion. The Junior Wallabies had their tails up and their forwards again punched holes in the SA defensive lines, with Lipina Ata scoring the try. Harvey was on target with the boot as Australia took a 21-17 lead. The Junior Boks had work to do. Round 2 of #TRCU20 saw New Zealand pile on the points and Australia claim a hard-earned win at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. #JourneyToGreatness — SA Junior Rugby (@SAJuniorRugby) May 6, 2025
IOL News
05-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Coaches shake up line-ups as Junior Springboks face Australia U20s
The Junior Springboks matchday 23 that will face Australia in Gqeberha on Tuesday. Photo: SA Junior Rugby on X Image: Photo: SA Junior Rugby on X The Junior Springboks and Australia Under-20 team will be hardly recognisable from the sides that opened their Rugby Championship Under-20 campaign at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, with both coaches ringing the changes for Tuesday's match. Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote has made several rotational changes to his starting line-up and included four players who played for the SA U20 side last year. The SA U20s managed to beat Argentina 36-25 in the opening round on Thursday, having trailed at half-time. Australia forced a late draw against New Zealand, scoring the equallising try after the hooter had sounded Foote has handed starts to JC Mars, Wandile Mlaba, Batho Hlekani and Herman Lubbe, all of whom played for the Junior Boks last year. Scrumhalf Hashim Pead, the scorer of two tries against Los Pumitas, is rested. The SA U20 coach said it is important to keep their momentum going, manage the load of the players while also building squad depth by giving the players exposure to international rugby. 'We play three internationals against quality teams in just 11 days, and with the short turnaround time between matches, we must be smart with our player load management," Foote said. 'We have good squad depth and it's important for the players to get a taste of international rugby, while we also want to build on our performance against Argentina, knowing that Australia will pose a huge challenge for us.' Australia U20s coach Chris Whitaker made eight changes to the starting side that drew with New Zealand U20s as both injury cover and to add more bulk, opting for a new-look backline. "There are a couple of forced changes but we've also picked a bit of size up front, two second rowers on the bench," he told "We've picked a five-eighth (flyhalf) with a big kicking game. There's some tactical changes, but it's also about giving some guys some opportunities. "The Boks, they're a big pack, very physical. We need to take our opportunities, be really solid around the contact area, be really accurate, and take our opportunities when they come." In the Junior Bok front-row, Simphiwe Ngobese and Lubbe will pack down as props on either side of hooker Juandre Schoeman. Riley Norton is retained at lock and will captain the team again, partnering Morne Venter. The loose forward combination sees Xola Nyali coming onto the side of the scrum at flanker. He teams up with Hlekani, who made a strong impact off the bench in the second half against the Pumitas, while Mlaba is retained at No 8, to complete the loose trio. Among the backs there is a new halfback pairing consisting of scrumhalf Ceano Everson and flyhalf Vusi Moyo, while the midfield comprises of Dominic Malgas and Scott Nel. Cheswill Jooste will start again at right wing, and he will be joined in the back three by Siya Ndlozi (left wing) and Mars (fullback). Gino Cupido scored the final try for the Junior Springboks against Argentina. Image: World Rugby
