The Junior Springboks secured their place in the 2026 World Rugby Under-20 Championship final with a thrilling 53-37 victory over a resilient England side. Following their semi-final triumph, South Africa will now face France this Saturday in Tbilisi at 18:30 SA Time.
England wasted no time asserting their physical dominance. Just four minutes into the match, prop Ollie Streeter bulldozed his way over the tryline. Flyhalf Hugh Shields added the extras to give England an early 07-00 lead.
The Junior Boks hit back in the 12th minute when flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed used his own power to burst through England's defence. Ahmed converted his own score to level the game at 07-07. Both teams traded brutal physical blows on defence and attack before Shields slotted a 17th-minute penalty, edging England back ahead 10-07.
England continued to dominate physical clashes, setting up camp deep inside the South African red zone. With ten minutes left in the first half, England launched wave after wave of attack until Shields crashed over for a self-converted try, extending the lead to 17-07.
The momentum shifted dramatically when England’s Seb Kelly received a red card for headbutting with eight minutes left in the half. Capitalising on the extra man, Ahmed delivered a brilliant cross-field kickpass to winger Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, who scored in the corner to narrow the gap to 17-12. However, Shields had the final say of the half, slotting his second penalty to send England into the locker room leading 20-12.
The Junior Springboks started the second half like a house on fire, executing a ruthless 28-point blitz in the first 14 minutes.
41st Minute: Luan Giliomee released Rasivhaga down the touchline for his second try. Ahmed converted (20-19).
46th Minute: Kebotile Make crashed over in the corner to give South Africa their first lead of the match. Ahmed converted (26-20).
49th Minute: Brilliant work by Ahmed set up Make for his second try. Ahmed converted (33-20).
52nd Minute: Rasivhaga completed his hat-trick, with Ahmed adding the extras (40-20).
England tried to fight back when Jonny Weimann scored after 15 minutes of the second half, but the Junior Boks responded immediately through a Luke Cannon try. Ahmed then slotted a penalty to break the 50-point barrier for South Africa.
Despite receiving a 20-minute red card of their own, South Africa held firm against relentless English pressure. England's Tate Williams did manage to crash over, with Shields converting, but Ahmed sealed the game with his second penalty to put South Africa out of reach at 53-32.
Shields crossed for a late consolation try for England in the dying moments, but it was too little, too late as South Africa marched into the final.
Scorers:
Junior Springboks: Tries: Yaqeen Ahmed, Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (3), Kebotile Make (2), Luke Cannon. Conversions: Yaqeen Ahmed (6). Penalties: Yaqeen Ahmed (2).
England U20: Tries: Ollie Streeter, Hugh Shields, Jonny Weiman, Tate Williams. Conversions: Hugh Shields (3). Penalties: Hugh Shields (2).
Teams:
Junior Springboks: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Ethan Adams, 11 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Hendré Schoeman, 8 Gert Kemp, 7 Luke Cannon, 6 Kebotile Maake, 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 Risima Khosa, 22 Jayden Brits, 23 Alzeadon Felix.
England U20: 15 George Pearson, 14 Tylor Offiah, 13 Nick Lilley, 12 Will Knight, 11 Sam Winters, 10 Hugh Shields, 9 Lucas Friday, 8 Connor Treacey (c), 7 Seb Kelly, 6 Tate Williams, 5 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, 4 Elliot Williams, 3 Ollie Streeter, 2 Jimmy Staples, 1 Oliver Scola. Replacements: 16 Jerold Gorleku, 17 Oliver Spencer, 18 Sonny Tonga’uiha, 19 Patrick Hogg, 20 George Marsh, 21 Jonny Weimann, 22 Finn Keylock, 23 F Cunnison.