Rugby
Baby Boks show class, character against England─── MORGAN PIEK 07:17 Sat, 05 Jul 2025
The Junior Springboks showed character and class as they came from behind to beat England 32-22 in a crucial Pool A clash at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Rovigo on Friday.
The result keeps them unbeaten in Italy and firmly on course for a semi-final spot.
South Africa were 14 points down in the opening stages and trailed 22-19 at half-time. But a dominant second half, built on solid defence and composed attacking play, saw them turn the match around with a 13-point unanswered blitz and a second-half shutout.
England made a flying start, scoring twice in the first 12 minutes through Jonny Weimann and Connor Treacy, both converted by Josh Bellamy, to race into a 14-0 lead. The Junior Boks, guilty of poor decision-making and defensive lapses early on, responded strongly after the first water break.
Junior Springboks vs. England. Photo: World Rugby
Wing Cheswill Jooste was electric, stepping through defenders to score a brilliant solo try, converted by Vusi Moyo. Moments later, Jooste was again involved in a sharp move that ended with scrumhalf Haashim Pead diving over. Although the conversion was missed, South Africa were back in it.
A costly error in their own 22 allowed England to briefly reclaim the lead with a third try, but Gilermo Mentoe’s score after a break from Gino Cupido levelled things again. A late penalty put England 22-19 ahead at the break.
South Africa came out firing in the second half. Moyo kicked two penalties – one from 58 metres – to give the Junior Boks the lead for the first time. Then Pead pounced on a gap near his own 22 and ran 78 metres for a sensational solo try, converted by Moyo, to push the lead to 32-22.
Junior Springboks vs. England. Photo: World Rugby
Despite losing Cupido to a yellow card late on, the Junior Boks defence held firm. England threw everything at them, but South Africa’s grit at the breakdown and dominance in the tackle sealed a deserved win.
It was a powerful statement of intent from Kevin Foote’s team – one that won’t go unnoticed by the rest of the tournament.
Scorers:
Junior Springbok: Tries - Haashim Pead 2, Gilermo Mentoe, Cheswill Jooste Conv. - Vusi Moyo 3 Pen. - Moyo 2
England: Tries - Jonny Weimann, Connor Treacey, Jack Bracken Conv. - Benjamin Coen, Josh Bellamy Pen. - Bellamy
