The Junior Springboks have booked their place in the World Rugby Junior World Championship final with a 53-37 demolition of England in Georgia, a match defined by England forward Seb Kelly's red card for a headbutt on full-back Luan Giliomee in the 32nd minute.
Kelly's dismissal came at a moment when England led 17-7 and appeared in control of the semi-final. The impact was immediate: fly-half Yaqeen Ahmed's cross-field kick found winger Khuthadzo Rasivhaga in the left corner for an unopposed finish, and South Africa turned the deficit into a rout across the second half.
Rasivhaga finished with a hat-trick, with Giliomee central to much of the damage before the full-back himself was red-carded late for a contact in the air. Flanker Kebotile Maake crossed twice, and Luke Cannon also scored, with England's replies from Jonny Weimann, Tate Williams and Shields coming too late to threaten.
Kelly was widely condemned. Former Sunday Times rugby writer Stephen Jones described his headbutt as disgraceful while noting that the final scoreline "does no justice to the Baby Boks' vast superiority and their sheer talent behind the scrum." South African journalist Brenden Nel called it "absolute stupidity," while social media reaction was swift and near-unanimous in condemning the act, with several observers noting Kelly's culpability in costing England a potential final berth.
South Africa now face France in the final after Les Bleuets beat New Zealand 26-22 through a 76th-minute try from centre Adrien Drault at Avchala Stadium.