The Junior Springboks outplayed England 32-22 in a crucial Pool A match at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Rovigo on Friday, showing massive defensive grit and attacking prowess, which helped them overturn a 14-point deficit to remain unbeaten in Italy and in the process laying down a marker to other teams about their intentions.
The SA U20s were down 22-19 at the break, but in a blitz converted that into a 10-point lead early in the second half and then delivered a brilliant defensive display to secure a well-deserved win, which put them in a good position to secure a spot in the semi-finals.
England started like a house on fire and were up 14-0 in the opening 12 minutes, mainly due to poor option-taking and defence by their opponents, but South Africa came back with purpose after the first water break in a hot Rovigo.
They slowly but surely started dismantling the defending champions, and once they got their running game going, there was no stopping the Junior Boks.
Cheswill Jooste (wing) had a brilliant game on the attack, and his stepping proved decisive in a win that proved the credentials of Kevin Foote's side.
England started like a house on fire. Scrumhalf Jonny Weimann scored early after a poor kick chase defence by the SA U20s, and when Josh Bellamy converted, they led 7-0 in as many minutes.
That lead jumped to 14-0 soon after when Connor Treacy (flanker) scored from an inside pass that opened up the SA defence, with Bellamy hitting the mark again.
At this stage, the team in green and gold were not sharp on attack, forcing passes and dropping balls. The water break came just at the right time, and when play resumed, it was a different Junior Bok side.
Jooste scored a brilliant try when he beat numerous defenders to dot down. Vusi Moyo converted after 23 minutes the tide started to turn.
The speedy Jooste was involved in the next try as well, scored by scrumhalf Haashim Pead. The halfback started the move by going blind. Jooste again rounded his man, and from two quick recycles, Pead scored.
The conversion was wide, but after 28 minutes, the bad start was a thing of the past. An error in their 22 handed England a gift try after 33 minutes and stopped the good SA momentum, but that was just a fleeting setback.
Gilermo Mentoe (fullback) was put in space by a brilliant Gino Cupido break and pass. Moyo converted from out wide, and suddenly scores were level again. From the restart, though, SA went offside at a ruck, and Ben Coen kicked a penalty goal to put England ahead again going into the break.
The second half belonged to South Africa, and the foundation was laid in a brilliant 10-minute spell after the restart.
A Moyo penalty goal drew them level, and soon after another three-pointer, this time from 58m out, found the target again, and suddenly the Junior Boks were ahead for the first time, 48 minutes in.
That lead jumped to 10 points a minute later. Pead caught the England defence napping just outside the SA 22 and set off for a dazzling 78m run to score a try-of-the-year contender.
Moyo converted, and suddenly the pressure was on England to play catch-up. They tried their best but found a hard-hitting, smothering SA defence too much to deal with.
They had some respite when Cupido was yellow 10 minutes from time for a high tackle, but even with an extra player on the field, England could not penetrate the SA defence.
The Junior Boks refused to lose the tackle collisions and even without the ball, dominated England's attacking efforts. Credit to the defending champions, who played till the very last minute, but the SA side just had too much fire in the belly to be denied a crucial win.
Scorers:
Junior Springboks 32 (19) - Tries: Haashim Pead (2), Gilermo Mentoe, Cheswill Jooste. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (3). Penalties: Vusi Moyo (2).
England 22 (22) - Tries: Jonny Weimann, Connor Treacey, Jack Bracken. Conversions: Benjamin Coen, Josh Bellamy. Penalty: Josh Bellamy.
Teams
England U20: 15 Josh Bellamy, 14 Ben Redshaw, 13 Nick Lilley, 12 Nic Allison, 11 Jack Bracken, 10 Ben Coen, 9 Jonny Weimann, 8 Kane James, 7 Samuel Williams, 6 Connor Treacy, 5 Tom Burrow, 4 Olamide Sodeke, 3 Vilikesa Sela, 2 Kepu Tuipulotu, 1 Ralph McEachran. Replacements: 16 Alfie Longstaff, 17 Oli Scola, 18 Tye Raymont, 19 Junior Kpoku, 20 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, 21 Archie McParland, 22 Campbell Ridl, 23 Noah Caluori.
South Africa: 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Gino Cupido, 12 Albie Bester, 11 Siyabonga Ndlozi, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Bathobele Hlekani, 6 Xola Nyali, 5 JJ Theron, 4 Riley Norton (captain), 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Simphiwe Ngobese. Replacements: 16 Jaundre Schoeman, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Jaco Grobbelaar, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Dominic Malgas, 23 Jaco Williams.