The Junior Springboks have booked their place in the Junior World Championship Final after coming from eight points down at halftime to defeat England U20 53-37 in the second semifinal. They meet France on Saturday, 18 July, after France beat New Zealand 26-22 in the first semifinal.
England made the brighter start, crossing through Ollie Streeter in the third minute before Hugh Shields added the conversion. South Africa hit back when Yaqeen Ahmed ran through three defenders to score under the posts and convert his own try, but England restored their advantage through a Shields penalty and then a Shields try on 29 minutes to lead 17-7.
The contest shifted dramatically in the 32nd minute when England's Seb Kelly was permanently red-carded for a headbutt on Luan Giliomee. South Africa responded almost immediately through Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, who finished in the corner from a crossfield kick by Ahmed, though the conversion was missed. Shields slotted a scrum penalty just before the break to send England in leading 20-12.
The second half was a different game entirely. Rasivhaga crossed again two minutes in following a Giliomee linebreak, with Ahmed's conversion reducing the deficit to one point. South Africa then scored twice in three minutes through Kebotile Maake — both converted by Ahmed — to turn an eight-point deficit into a 13-point lead. Rasivhaga completed his hat trick shortly after as the English defence buckled under the pace of the South African attack, with Ahmed's conversion extending the advantage to 20 points.
England pulled one back through Johnny Weimann before Luke Cannon added a fifth SA try from close range off a five-metre lineout, Ahmed again converting. Ahmed then slotted a 50-metre penalty to put 50 points on the board.
The match was briefly levelled numerically when Giliomee was sin-binned in the 63rd minute following an aerial collision with George Pearson — a decision subsequently upgraded to a 20-minute red card that may affect his availability for the final. England capitalised immediately with a Tate Williams try, converted by Shields, before Ahmed slotted a penalty to restore South Africa's 21-point cushion.
Shields had the final word for England with a late try in the 78th minute, finishing as arguably his side's best player in defeat. The Junior Boks held on to win 53-37.
Rasivhaga's hat trick and Ahmed's all-round contribution with ball in hand and boot were the standout individual performances. Giliomee's red card looms as the major selection concern ahead of next Saturday's final against France.