The SA U19 Academy team was tested by a committed Ireland U20 side, and had to work hard to secure a 32-22 win.
The Bokkies enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half, and Ireland would have been happy to go into the second half trailing by 10-03 and a strong wind at their back. The Bokkies played a lot better in the second half and managed to stay in front to secure a 32-22 win.
The Bokkies started like a house on fire, with a strong wind at their back, and only the determined defence from Ireland kept the Bokkies from scoring. After six minutes of play, Vusi Moyo edged the Bokkies into a 03-00 lead with a converted penalty.
As the match continued, Ireland started to physically dominate the Bokkies, and Tom Wood converted a penalty with twelve minutes still to play, to level the scores at 03-03.
The Bokkies replied immediately with a fifteen-meter maul off, which Siphosethu Mnebelele broke away to score the Bokkies’ first try. Moy converted to extend the Bokkies’ lead to 10-03, which was also the halftime score.
Ireland made a perfect start to the second half when inside centre James O’Leary crashed past two “tackles” to score next to the poles. Wood converted to level the scores after two minutes of play in the second half.
Three minutes later, Heinrich Theron scored off the back of a five-meter lineout-maul to extend the Bokkies' lead 15-10.
Quickly thereafter, the Bokkies were awarded a penalty try, to extend their lead to 22-10.
After fifteen minutes of play, lock Donnacha McGuire bulldozed his way over the Bokkies' tryline to cut the Bokkies' lead to 22-15.
Following twenty-five minutes of play in the second half, the Bokkies tricked Ireland from a penalty, hooker Mahle Sithole crashed over to extend the Bokkies' lead to 29-15 following a Moyo conversion.
Minutes later, Johnny O’Sullivan charged down a kick from the Bokkies to score Ireland’s third try to cut the Bokkies’ lead to seven points following the conversion by Conor O’Shaughnessy.
Moyo converted a late penalty to extend the Bokkies' lead to 32-22, which was the final score.
Teams:
Ireland U20: 15. Noah Byrne, 14. Charlie Molony, 13. Sean Walsh, 12. James O’Leary, 11. Daniel Ryan, 10. Tom Wood, 9. Christopher Barrett, 8. Diarmaid O’Connell, 7. Arthur Ashmore, 6. Joe Finn, 5. Dylan McNeice, 4. Donnacha McGuire, 3. Sami Bishti, 2. Lee Fitzpatrick, 1. Max Doyle. Replacements: 16. Rian Handley, 17. Christian Foley, 18. Blake McClean, 19. Sean Walsh, 20. Michael O’Sullivan, 21. Fergus Callington, 22. Conor O’Shaughnessy, 23. Johnny O’Sullivan.
SA U19 Academy: 15 Dylan Miller, 14 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 13 Janco Purchase, 12 Pieter van der Merwe, 11 Lindsey Jansen, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Luan Giliomee, 8 Vuyo Gwiji, 7 Riley Norton (c), 6 Junior Rasima, 5 JD Hattingh, 4 Heinrich Theron, 3 Danie Kruger, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Oliver Reid. Replacements: 16 Mahle Sithole, 17 Phiwayinkosi Kubheka, 18 Ulrich van der Merwe, 19 Tom Barnard, 20 KB Maake, 21 Liam van Wyk, 22 Brooklyn Newman, 23 Akahluwa Boqwana.