The Junior Springboks secured their place in the 2026 Junior Rugby Championship with a comprehensive 52-33 win despite trailing 00-14 after 10 minutes of play in the first half.
Wales started like a house on fire and opened the scoring from the back of a lineout maul when Calo James crashed over. Carwyn Jones converted to extend Wales’ lead to 07-00.
Wales continued to apply pressure, and five minutes later, Steffan Emanuel ran a brilliant line to crash over for Wales’ second try. Carwyn Jones converted, extending Wales’ lead to 14-00.
Thereafter, the Junior Boks started to claw their way into the game, and following a brilliant scrum by the Junior Boks, Risima Khosa fed Hendre Schoeman to score the Junior Boks’ opening try. Yaqeen Ahmed was on target with the conversion, cutting Wales’ lead to 14-07 after 12 minutes of play in the first half.
Three minutes later, Ethan Adams toed the ball ahead, which was controlled by Yaqeen Ahmed, who fed Adams to score another great try. Ahmed was once again on target to level the scores (14-14).
With the Junior Boks in control, Captain Siphosethu Mnebelele scored off the back of a lineout-maul before
With time running out and the Junior Boks setting up camp in Wales’ red zone, the Junior Boks attacked off the back of a lineout maul before Heinrich Theron did the same. Following the conversion by Ahmed, the Junior Boks led 26-14 going into the second half.
The Junior Boks spread the ball wide, and Risima Khosa bulldozed his way over the tryline in the corner to extend the Junior Boks' lead to 33-14 following the conversion by Ahmed.
Wales upped their pace of attack, and following a disallowed try, Osian Lewis crashed over. Carwyn Jones converted to cut the Junior Boks’ lead to 33-21.
The Junior Boks struck back almost immediately when Liam van Wyk scored off the back of a lineout-maul to extend the Junior Boks' lead to 38-21.
However, Wales was not done yet, and Tom Bowen showed the Junior Boks defenders the true meaning of speed and scored a great try, cutting the Junior Boks' lead to just 12 points with 15 minutes played in the second half.
The Junior Boks attacked off the kick-off, and Liam van Wyk scored his second try off the back of a line-out maul, which Ahmed converted, extending the Junior Boks' lead to 45-26.
The Junior Boks were in complete control, and Siphosethu Mnebelele scored his second try off the back of a lineout maul, which Ahmed converted to extend the Junior Boks’ lead to 52-26 and 11 minutes still to play.
With the Junior Springboks reduced to 13 players, Wales spread the ball wide, and Steffan Emanuel scored Wales' 5th try, which was converted by Lloyd Lucas,
The Junior Boks won 52-33, securing their place in the semi-finals.
Scorers:
Junior Springboks: Tries: Hendre Schoeman, Ethan Adams, Siphosethu Mnebelele (2), Heinrich Theron, Risima Khosa, Liam van Wyk (2). Conversions: Yaqeen Ahmed (6), Lloyd Lucas.
Wales U20: Tries: Calo James, Steffan Emanuel, Tom Bowen, Osian Lewis, Steffan Emanuel. Conversions: Carwyn Jones (3).
Teams:
Junior Springboks: 15 Alzeadon Felix, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Samuel Badenhorst, 12 Ethan Adams, 11 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Hendré Schoeman, 8 Vuyo Gwiji, 7 Luke Cannon, 6 Risima Khosa, 5 JD Hattingh, 4 Heinrich Theron, 3 Danie Kruger, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele (c), 1 Oliver Reid. Replacements: 16 Liam van Wyk, 17 Rambo Kubheka, 18 Luan van der Berg, 19 Jaythen Orange, 20 Gert Kemp, 21 Jayden Brits, 22 Markus Müller, 23 Jordan Steenkamp.
Wales U20: 15 Lewis Edwards, 14 Rhys Cummings, 13 Osian Lewis, 12 Steffan Emanuel, 11 Tom Bowen, 10 Carwyn Leggatt Jones, 9 Sion James, 8 Evan Minto, 7 Caio James, 6 Deian Gwynne (c), 5 Tom Cottle, 4 Will Evans, 3 Jack Pritchard, 2 Tom Howe, 1 George Tuckley. Replacements: 16 Oscar Thomas, 17 Dylan James, 18 Eystyn Cook, 19 Luke Evans, 20 Osian Justin Williams, 21 Alex Ridgway, 22 Cai Gealy, 23 Lloyd Lucas.