Baby Boks take home the bronze
The Baby Boks achieved a hat trick of bronze medals in the IRB Junior World Championship on Monday after they defeated England 27-22 in Rosario.
Wing Nico Scheepers opened the scoring for the South Africans after diving in the corner to score the first try of the match. Fullback Patrick Lambie added the conversion to steer the Boks to a 7-0 lead after eight minutes.
England though hit back five minutes later when winger Marcus Watson broke the Baby Boks’ defence to score his first five-pointer of the game. Flyhalf Freddie Burns, who converted Watson’s try, stretched England’s lead to 14-7 when he scored a converted try in the 23rd minute of the match.
The Baby Boks though hit back two minutes later when Sibusiso Sithole crashed his way over the try line to score his first of two tries on the evening (14-12).
England stretched their lead over the South Africans when Joe Marler scored his side’s third try of the game seven minutes before the break (19-12).
However the Baby Boks immediately hit back after the break when Lambie scored South Africa’s third try of the game (19-17).
The SA U20s regained the lead in the 17th minute of the second half when Sithole scored his second try of the match. Lambie converted Sithole’s five-pointer to hand the Boks a 24-19 lead.
With 12 minutes remaining in the match utility back Rory Clegg kept England in the game thanks to a penalty kick he converted when the Baby Boks were penalised for offside (24-22).
However the South Africans sealed the victory with seven minutes remaining in the game when Lambie kicked his first penalty of the match to hand the Boks a 27-22 result.
England though had one final attempt to snatch victory at the death, but tigerish defence from the South Africans ensured that they ended the game as victors and bronze medal winners in the 2010 IRB Junior World Championships.
"We very pleased to come away from this tournament with at least the bronze medal," said coach Eric Sauls afterwards.
"This was the first time we beat England in the U20 format. The guys showed great courage and character to come from behind and achieve this victory. We were naturally disappointed about our defeats against New Zealand and Australia, but this was an important win as it means that we end the tournament off on a high.
"This third finish in the IRB Junior World Championship is something people need to take into perspective. All teams have upped their games and the standard of rugby has most definitely improved during the last 12 months.
"This result also means now that the three southern hemisphere teams are the three strongest U20 teams in the world."
The scorers:
For South Africa
Tries: Scheepers, Sithole 2, Lambie
Cons: Lambie 2
Pens: Lambie
For England
Tries: Watson, Burns, Marler
Cons: Burns 2
Pens: Clegg
The teams:
South Africa: 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Wandile Mjekevu, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 CJ Stander (captain), 7 Hendrik van der Walt, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Sebastian de Chaves, 4 Keny Okafor, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Monde Hadebe, 1 Wessel du Rand.
Replacements: 16 Francois du Toit, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Mlungisi Bali, 19 Lubabalo Mtembu, 20 Luaan Jacobs, 21 Branco du Preez, 22 Sibusiso Sithole.
England: 15 Tom Homer, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Jonny May, 12 Tom Casson, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Freddie Burns, 9 Sam Harrison, 8 Jamie Gibson, 7 Jacob Rowan (captain), 6 Will Welch, 5 George Kruis, 4 Calum Green, 3 Mako Vunipola, 2 Jamie George, 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Rob Buchanan, 17 Shaun Knight, 18 Charlie Matthews, 19 Alex Gray, 20 Charlie Davies, 21 Rory Clegg, 22 Sam Smith.
Referee: Francisco Pastrana (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Federico Anselmi (Argentina), Luis Caviglia (Uruguay)
Assessor: Tappe Henning