The South African Under-20 rugby team, also known as the Junior Boks, kicked off their two-match series against the Georgian Under-20s with a 38-29 victory on Sunday afternoon at Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi.
Despite a strong performance from Georgia, which saw them close the gap late in the game, the Junior Boks managed to hold onto their lead, finishing the match with a nine-point advantage.
South Africa led 26-17 at halftime, having scored six tries and four conversions. Meanwhile, Georgia responded with five tries, two of which were converted.
Match Highlights: Fast Start and Mid-Game Challenges
The game began under bright sunshine but with very cold temperatures, which tested both teams.
The Junior Boks wasted no time, quickly racking up three tries in the first 16 minutes – two of them successfully converted – to take a commanding 19-0 lead.
However, lapses in concentration allowed the Georgians to fight back, with their forwards scoring three tries to narrow the gap to 19-17 by the final minute of the first half.
Just as Georgia seemed to be gaining momentum, Junior Bok loose forward Divan Fuller, who had been part of last year’s U20 team, crossed over for South Africa’s fourth try right before halftime, pushing their lead to 26-17.
A Tough Second Half but Junior Boks Regain Control
The second half started poorly for the Junior Boks after Jaundré Schoeman received a yellow card in the 56th minute.
This gave Georgia the opportunity to capitalize, and they took full advantage, scoring two tries and a conversion to briefly lead 33-29 with just 15 minutes remaining.
However, the Junior Boks made crucial substitutions, which turned the tide in their favor.
Cheswill Jooste and Xola Nyali each scored a try, with Nyali adding a conversion, ultimately sealing the victory for South Africa.
Coach Kevin Foote’s Post-Match Reflection
After the match, Junior Bok coach Kevin Foote expressed his satisfaction with the team’s resilience, despite the challenges they faced.
He pointed out that the cold conditions, which the team was unaccustomed to, had an impact, but they had learned valuable lessons from the encounter.
“We started really well, but the penalty count started going against us, and that’s something we’ll need to address from a disciplinary point of view,” Foote explained.
While there were mistakes, Foote also saw plenty of positives.
“Our set-piece work, especially the lineouts, scrums, and mauls, is coming together.
However, we need to improve our maul defense and ensure we maintain attention to detail throughout the game,” he added.
Areas for Improvement Moving Forward
Foote highlighted two key areas for improvement: “First, we need to work on our maul defense to ensure we can stop our opponents from gaining ground in that area.
The second thing is our clean-out technique; we need to be more clinical in those situations.”
I think our defense was solid, and we showed a good understanding of when to kick and when to keep the ball in hand,” Foote said.
Looking Ahead: The Final Match of the Series
The Junior Boks will now look to build on this win in their second and final match of the series against Georgia, which will take place this Friday.
As always, the team’s progress will be closely watched as they continue their development, aiming to refine their skills and prepare for bigger challenges ahead.
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