Junior Boks battle to bronze

The Junior Springboks turned in a defensive masterclass in Cape City on Friday evening to beat England within the third-place playoff and safe a fourth consecutive World Rugby U20 Championship bronze medal.

Having taken a slim seven-point lead into the break, the Junior Boks held out in a scoreless second half to beat England 22-15 and end in third place at Athlone Stadium.

Ending with a win on residence soil 🇿🇦@JuniorBoks safe a third-place end!#WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/YI0zaqxExY

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 14, 2023

The win was primarily based on the Junior Boks’ defence and work-rate on the breakdown, as the house aspect made sort out after sort out, forcing England into errors and capitalising within the first half to take an all-important lead at half-time.

It was a nervous opening 5 minutes for the Junior Boks as they misplaced their first lineout and conceded a penalty from the primary scrum, permitting England to take a 0-3 lead.

Nevertheless, the house aspect appeared to settle after that, scoring the opening attempt by debutant flank Hennie Sieberhagen, who over after a fast faucet from a penalty received due to a strong driving maul.

Whereas the Junior Boks struggled with their kick-off receives, they had been much better on the set-piece, which laid their platform for his or her second attempt, scoring by No 8 Corne Beets after a robust carry by inside centre Damian Markus.

England hit again by a surprise attempt by hooker Cameron Wright, who confirmed his tempo after a sensational linebreak from Cassius Cleaves from contained in the 22.

The 2 groups traded maul tries in the direction of the top of the primary half, establishing an exhilarating second interval.

The second half turned a battle of wills as England threw every part they may on the hosts, creating linebreaks and threatening to overwhelm the Junior Boks. Nevertheless, in a present of pure character, the younger South Africans arrange an iron wall to say the victory.

A giant early second within the battle for third…

Corne Beets squeezes his method over for @JuniorBoks second attempt within the opening 20#WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/ugHWsacdPn

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 14, 2023

Cassius Cleaves, that’s 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗲.

Craig Wright goes over after a break you’ll need to watch greater than as soon as!#WorldRugbyU20s | @EnglandRugby pic.twitter.com/RnWOKIT1zB

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 14, 2023