The Junior Springboks snuck into the World Rugby U20 Championship playoffs after a securing a nail-biting 24-16 win over Argentina in Cape Town on Tuesday.
ALSO READ: What the Junior Springboks must progress in U20 championship
In a recreation of two halves, the Junior Springboks confirmed their finest and worst qualities repeatedly. Fortunately for South Africa, their saving grace was that the dangerous got here first and good second.
The South African U20 facet launched a late comeback to beat an impressed Los Pumas outfit and a half-time deficit for a win which sees them end prime of their pool and thus undergo to the semi-finals of the World Rugby U20 Championship.
The Junior Springboks will now face Ireland in a final 4 showdown subsequent Sunday to find out who goes by way of to the ultimate.
POOR FIRST HALF HIGHLIGHTS JUNIOR SPRINGBOKS’ FLAWS
Inside a gap half an hour when the Junior Springboks had been bullied, bashed and banged up within the lineout, scrum, breakdown and open play, Argentina took full benefit of their dominance by preserving the scoreboard ticking over with three penalties.
By comparability, the younger South Africans appears to be like listless and directionless when in possession of the ball, executing a number of ineffective kicks which was primarily prompted by a lot of lateral working. Another one of many Junior Springboks’ flaws was the truth that they lacked workforce cohesion. They merely seemed like a gaggle of random amateurs assembled to do a job they’re not certified.
ALSO READ: Junior Springboks nonetheless in playoff hunt regardless of embarrassing loss
There was one second of brilliance for the house facet when inside centre Ethan Hooker made a telling line break to get into the 22, earlier than the transfer was completed off by hooker Juann Else.
But the workforce’s struggles have been solidified when JF van Heerden was despatched off for sacking the a monstrous maul in centre discipline. The man-over benefit aided Argentina to play an all-out attacking recreation and the tactic labored a appeal as they ran the Junior Springboks ragged earlier than touching for his or her first attempt to lead 16-7 on the break.
THE STUNNING CECOND HALF TURNAROUND
It was a totally totally different story after the interval: front-foot ball led to the carriers getting over the benefit line extra and the territorial dominance additionally sparked the beforehand subdued crowd to life.
Ethan Hooker was on the centre of the Junior Springboks’ epic turnaround, at all times making himself obtainable as a crash runner and standing his floor in defence as effectively.
Together with an early second half penalty, the Junior Springboks would add two late tries to lastly wrestle the momentum — and in the end the sport — away from the plucky Argentines.
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