The Junior Springboks booked their place in a second consecutive World Rugby Under-20 Championship final with a 53-37 semi-final victory over England in Tbilisi on Tuesday evening, rallying from an eight-point half-time deficit to set up a title defence against France on Saturday.
England led 20-12 at the break after a first half marred by South African handling errors and wayward decision-making in the Georgian capital. Ollie Streeter crossed in the fourth minute before Hugh Shields added a penalty and a converted try to push the English into a 17-7 lead after half an hour. Yaqeen Ahmed's converted try from an attacking lineout and Khuthadzo Rasivhaga's first score from a pin-point cross-kick kept the Junior Boks within range, but Shields' second penalty stretched the margin to eight at the interval.
Composure at the break
SA U20 head coach Kevin Foote praised the maturity his squad displayed in regrouping during the break. "At half-time, it was really about us looking after the ball a little better and making sure we could keep applying pressure on England consistently," said Foote. "England showed the spirit we expected from them and there were times when we probably started a little slowly again. The conditions weren't easy and perhaps didn't suit the style of rugby we always want to play, but what pleased us most was the maturity the players showed. They went back after half-time, stuck to our processes and executed very well in the second half."
The second-half performance vindicated that composure. Rasivhaga completed his hat-trick and Ahmed finished with 23 points as the Junior Boks found their attacking rhythm, though the performance was not without blemish. Luan Giliomee's yellow card for a challenge in the air was upgraded to a 20-minute red, a sanction that could rule him out of Saturday's final. England's task was complicated when flanker Seb Kelly received a permanent red card for a headbutt on Giliomee three minutes before the interval.
Forward foundation
The victory was once more built on a tireless effort from the pack, who laid the platform for the exciting threats out wide. Foote praised the work ethic and leadership displayed by his forwards throughout the tournament campaign. "The forwards have worked incredibly hard since this group first came together, and players in our leadership group have really stepped up, but all our forwards are putting in a huge amount of hard work," said Foote. "This was our fourth game in three weeks, so everyone is feeling it physically. The fact that they keep going and keep pushing is very impressive."
The Junior Boks now face France in Saturday's final, with the opportunity to become the first side to retain the U20 crown since the tournament adopted its current format. The challenge will be to replicate the second-half intensity from the opening whistle, particularly if Giliomee's disciplinary hearing does not go in South Africa's favour.