The Junior Springboks moved a step closer to the Junior World Championship semifinals with a 33-5 bonus-point victory over Georgia in Tbilisi, their second successive bonus-point result in the tournament.
Georgia troubled South Africa early, scoring first through winger Luka Tabatadze off a lineout set move in the eighth minute. Captain Siphosethu Mnebelele steadied the Junior Boks with two first-half tries — the second in the 32nd minute — both from lineout maul drives, with Luan Giliomee converting the second to put South Africa ahead 12-5 at the break.
The match turned decisively in the 39th minute when Georgia tighthead Levani Ezieshvili received a yellow card for a head-on-head clash with Giliomee, subsequently upgraded to a 20-minute red card at halftime. Georgia were further reduced when Tabatadze was sinbinned just 27 seconds into the second half for a deliberate knock-on, leaving the hosts momentarily down to 13 men.
Despite holding a two-player advantage, South Africa could not breach Georgia's defence during that stretch. Cheswill Jooste eventually crossed from a Giliomee crossfield kick, and Giliomee sealed the bonus point in the 59th minute with a quick-tap penalty to score and convert his own try. Luke Cannon added a fifth try in the 79th minute. Giliomee finished with three conversions, with Alzeadon Felix — who temporarily replaced the HIA'd Giliomee in the first half — adding a fourth.
A third yellow card came Georgia's way when scrumhalf Daviti Tsiklauri was sinbinned for repeatedly collapsing the maul.
Scorers — Georgia: Try: Tabatadze. South Africa: Tries: Mnebelele 2, Jooste, Giliomee, Cannon; Conversions: Giliomee 3, Felix.
Teams: Georgia U20: 15 Nikoloz Khalvashi, 14 Luka Tabatadze, 13 Data Akhvlediani, 12 Davit Barbakadze, 11 Leonide Saldadze, 10 Mate Makharadze, 9 Daviti Tsiklauri, 8 Mikheil Shioshvili, 7 Luka Narsia (capt), 6 Giorgi Zazadze, 5 Nikoloz Chkhortolia, 4 Giorgi Meparishvili, 3 Levani Ezieshvili, 2 Giorgi Agniashvili, 1 Luka Iaseshvili. Replacements: 16 David Archvadze, 17 Nikoloz Balanchivadze, 18 Saba Nozadze, 19 Andria Bilanishvili, 20 Irakli Kolbaia, 21 Temuri Dzodzuashvili, 22 Demetre Devdariani, 23 Davit Arobelidze.
South Africa U20: 15 Akahluwa Boqwana, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Samuel Badenhorst, 12 Markus Muller, 11 Jack Benade, 10 Luan Giliomee, 9 Hendré Schoeman, 8 Kebotile Maake, 7 Luke Cannon, 6 Wasi Vyambwera, 5 JD Hattingh, 4 Heinrich Theron, 3 Danie Kruger, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele (capt), 1 Oliver Reid. Replacements: 16 Liam van Wyk, 17 Rambo Kubheka, 18 Luan van der Berg, 19 Jaythen Orange, 20 Risima Khosa, 21 Jayden Brits, 22 Jordan Steenkamp, 23 Alzeadon Felix.
Referee: Morgan White (HKCR). Assistant referees: Kevin Bralley (FFR) & Ben Connor (WRU). TMO: Aled Griff.