The Junior Springboks made a winning start to their two-match series against the Georgian Under-20s with a hard-fought 38-29 victory on Sunday afternoon in the Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi, after leading by 26-17 at halftime.
The SA U20s scored six tries and four conversions, while Georgia U20 managed to reply with five tries, while only two were converted.
Junior Bok coach Kevin Foote said afterwards his charges did well to pull through in the end, learning good lessons on the way.
“It was a fantastic hit out for us, considering that we played in conditions that we’re not used to,” said Foote from a cold Tbilisi.
“We started really well and then the penalty count started going against us, something we will have to look at from a disciplinary perspective.”
Although there were some lapses in concentration which led to the penalties and opening the door for Georgia to persist with the scoreboard pressure, Foote said he saw enough to be encouraged.
“We came here with objectives in mind, and that was to be really good in our set piece and think our lineouts are starting to take shape; our mauls are looking good and our scrums as well,” said Foote.
“However, a big work-on for us is our maul defence and making sure we get our roles right – and that goes through every aspect, making sure we don’t get those big spikes, where we are really good, and then falling off our detail.
“The second thing to work on is to carry clean and make sure we are nice and clinical with our cleanouts. Those are two things that really stood out for us.”
Foote was also pleased with his team’s defensive effort: “I thought our defence was good, the guys did well in general defensive play and I think we understood our game management when we had ball in hand, understanding when to kick and when not to kick.
“I am pleased and respectful of the effort in conditions that are foreign to us, against an opponent who are used to the conditions and being able to adapt its plan to make it difficult for us, especially when we got the yellow card in the second half.”
Playing in very cold conditions but in bright sunshine, the Junior Boks made a positive start and scored three tries – two of which were converted – inside the first 16 minutes for a 19-0 lead. Gilermo Mentoe (fullback), Chijindu Okonta (left wing), and Dominic Malgas (centre) each scored a try while Matthew Coetzee (flyhalf) added the extras.
However, lapses in concentration from the visitors and a determined fightback from the hosts, saw the Georgians claw their way back to 19-17 – with three tries by their forwards – with one minute to go in the opening stanza.
Junior Bok loose forward Divan Fuller, a member of last year’s SA U20 team, then managed to cross over for their fourth try on the stroke of halftime to enable his side to grab back the initiative and take a nine-point halftime lead.
A yellow card to Jaundré Schoeman in the 56th minute did not help matters for the visitors as Georgia made the better start to the second half. They grew in confidence and had the Junior Boks in retreat, scoring two further tries and conversion to take a 33-29 lead with a quarter of an hour to go.
However, the Junior Boks’ replacements made a telling impact as they wrestled back the momentum to also score two tries and a conversion – by Cheswill Jooste and Xola Nyali – to secure a hard-fought but deserved win.
The two teams will meet on Friday in the second and last meeting of the series.
Scorers:
Georgia U20 29 (17) – Tries: Shota Kheladze, Saba Laghedze (2), Beka Neparidze, Nugzar Kevkhisvili. Conversions: David Tsiklauri, Giorgi Sesiashvili.
Junior Springboks 38 (29) – Tries: Gilermo Mentoe, Chijindu Okonta, Dominic Malgas, Divan Fuller, Cheswill Jooste, Xola Nyali. Conversions: Matthew Coetzee (3), JT Kapank.