The Junior Springboks successfully defended their crown, defeating France 16-05 in a grueling World Rugby Junior World Championship Final in Tbilisi, Georgia.
A pre-match thunderstorm delayed the kickoff by 30 minutes, setting the stage for a classic wet-weather arm wrestle. Despite heavy French pressure, the South African defense held firm to secure back-to-back global titles.
The opening stanza turned into a tactical territorial battle as France controlled the bulk of possession. However, the Junior Boks capitalised on early discipline errors. Flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed stepped up in the 8th minute to slot two penalties, giving South Africa a hard-earned 06-00 lead at the halftime interval.
Les Bleuets emerged from the break with high intensity. Just six minutes into the second half, eighthman Raphael Audenert crashed over the whitewash following a sustained attack. The conversion missed, but the try cut the Junior Boks' lead to just a single point at 06-05.
South Africa responded instantly, crossing the line six minutes later, only for the television match official (TMO) to disallow the score.
The defining moment came in the 67th minute. Off a dominant driving maul, Markus Muller hit a brilliant line to slice through the French defense for a spectacular try. Ahmed added the crucial conversion to push the lead to 13-05.
With momentum completely on their side, the Boks ran amok in the closing stages. Cheswill Jooste looked to have put the final nail in the coffin, though it was Ahmed’s accurate boot that iced the game. With four minutes remaining on the clock, Ahmed coolly slotted his third penalty of the night, securing the 16-05 victory.
Scorers:
Junior Springboks: Try: Markus Miller. Conversion: Yaqeen Ahmed. Penalties: Yaqeen Ahmed (3).
France: Try: Raphael Audenert.
Teams:
Junior Springboks: 15 Alzeadon Felix, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Ethan Adams, 11 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Hendré Schoeman, 8 Wasi Vyambwera, 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 Thomas Beling, 21 Gert Kemp, 22 Jayden Brits, 23 Samuel Badenhorst.
France U20: 15 Axel Guillaud, 14 Paul Zwiler, 13 Adrien Drault, 12 Bastien Rasal, 11 Melvyn Rates, 10 Luka Keletaona, 9 Baptiste Tilloles, 8 Elyjah Ibsaiene, 7 Lucas Andjisseramatchi (c), 6 Raphael Audebert, 5 Romeo Bonnard Martin, 4 Baptiste Veschambre, 3 Alexandre Langlois, 2 Gabin Garault, 1 Matheo Frisach. Replacements: 16 Elia Masi, 17 Edouard Jabea Njocke, 18 Mael Turpin, 19 Leo Michaux, 20 Bobby Bissu, 21 Valentin Hutteau, 22 Diego Jurd, 23 Hugo Avogardo.