Australia secured a 29-24 win over the Junior Springboks in Round 2 of the SANZAAR Rugby Championship at the Nelson Mandela Stadium. The Junior Springboks led 14-00 at the halftime break, however, four unanswered tries by Australia in the second half were enough to secure the win for Australia.
The Junior Springboks started like a house on fire, and flanker Xola Nyali scored off the back of a five-meter lineout-maul to lead 07-00 following the conversion by Vusi Moyo.
The following twenty minutes were error ridden and boring until Siya Ndlozi pounced on a ball dropped by the Australian backs to score a long-distance try to extend their lead 14-00.
The Junior Springboks were denied a try with the time up on the clock for the first half. The Junior Boks led 14-00 at the halftime break.
Vusi Moyo converted a penalty after two minutes of play in the second half to extend the Junior Springboks' lead to 17-00.
Australia struck back almost immediately when captain Eamon Doyle scored off the back of a five-meter lineout maul. Sid Harvey converted to cut the Junior Springboks' lead to 17-07.
Australia started to wrestle the momentum away on the back of the Junior Springboks' ill discipline. Australia attacked off the back of a five-meter lineout and spread the ball wide for prop Edwin Langi to bulldoze his way over the tryline.
Minutes later Australia attacked from within their half and following great interplay by forwards and backs, hooker Lipina Ata were the one crossing the Junior Springboks tryline. The conversion by Sid Harvey extended Australia's lead to 21-17 with twenty minutes to play.
Australia was on the rampage, and Xavier Rubens scored a brilliant team try that started in their half. Australia led 26-17 with nine minutes to play in the second half.
Sid Harvey converted a penalty for Australia, whereafter, the Junior Springboks had the final say when super star, Batho Hlekani, bulldozed his way over Australia's try to cut Australia's lead to 29-24, which was also the final score.
Scorers:
Junior Springboks: Try: Xola Nyali, Siya Ndlozi, Batho Hlekani. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (2), Kyle Smith. Penalty: Vusi Moyo
Australia: Tries: Eamon Doyle, Edwin Langi, Lipina Ata, Xavier Rubens. Conversions: Sid Harvey (3). Penalty: Sid Harvey.
Teams
Junior Springboks: 15 JC Mars, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Scott Nel, 12 Dominic Malgas, 11 Siya Ndlozi, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Ceano Everson, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Xola Nyali, 5 Morne Venter, 4 Riley Norton (c), 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Juandre Schoeman, 1 Simphiwe Ngobese. Replacements: 16 HB Odendaal, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Neil Hansen, 20 Thando Biyela, 21 Elrich Visser, 22 Kyle Smith, 23 Gino Cupido
Australia:15 Sid Harvey, 14 Nick Conway, 13 Xavier Rubens, 12 Malakye Enasio, 11 Cooper Watters, 10 Finn Prass, 9 Hwi Sharples, 8 Beau Morrison, 7 Eli Langi, 6 Luca Cleverley, 5 Eamon Doyle (c), 4 Joe Mangelsdorf, Trevor King, 2 Ollie Barrett, 1 Finn Baxter. Replacements: 16 Lipina Ata, 17 Nick Hill, 18 Edwin Langi, 19 Ollie Aylmer, 20 Charlie Brosnan, 21 James Martens, 22 Joey Fowler, 23 Boston Fakafanua