The Junior Springboks booked their place in the World Rugby U20 Championship final with a commanding 53-37 victory over England at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi on Tuesday evening, recovering from a 12-20 half-time deficit to set up a title defence against France.
Khuthadzo Rasivhaga crossed three times and Yaqeen Ahmed contributed 23 points as the South Africans found their attacking rhythm after the interval, though the opening 40 minutes had been marked by handling errors and poor option-taking. A knock-on at their first maul set the tone for a frustrating first half in which the Junior Boks squandered try-scoring opportunities, including a held-up effort from Oliver Reid and a Cheswill Jooste linebreak that went unconverted despite numbers out wide.
England capitalised early, with Ollie Streeter crashing over in the fourth minute before Hugh Shields added a penalty and a try of his own to push the visitors into a 17-7 lead after half an hour. Ahmed had briefly levelled the scores at 7-7 following a surge by Ethan Adams from an attacking lineout, but the Junior Boks trailed by eight at the break despite England flanker Seb Kelly receiving a permanent red card for a headbutt on Giliomee in the 32nd minute. Rasivhaga scored in the corner a minute later from an Ahmed cross-kick, though the conversion drifted wide and Shields added a second penalty on the stroke of half-time.
Second-half blitz seals progression
The Junior Boks scored three times in quick succession after the restart, leaving England stunned and unable to recover. The defending champions showed what they are capable of on attack, though discipline concerns remain after Giliomee's yellow card for a challenge in the air was upgraded to a 20-minute red, which could rule him out of Saturday's final.
South Africa will meet France in the championship decider following the latter's 26-22 victory over New Zealand in the first semi-final. The Junior Boks' ability to overturn a significant deficit against 14 men will offer encouragement, though the coaching staff will demand greater accuracy in the opening exchanges if they are to retain the title. The final represents an opportunity to cap a campaign that has showcased the depth of South African age-grade rugby, provided Giliomee's availability can be confirmed and the side can marry their second-half intensity with first-half composure.