Junior Boks secure U20 World Cup final berth with 53‑37 victory over England
South Africa’s Under‑20 side, the Junior Boks, defeated England 53‑37 in the second semi‑final of the World Rugby U20 Championship held in Tbilisi, Georgia. The win, achieved at Avchala Stadium on Monday, 26 June 2023, booked the Young Springboks a place in the final against France, who had earlier edged New Zealand 26‑22 in the first semi‑final.
Head coach Kevin Foote highlighted three core elements that guided the team’s performance: staying calm under pressure, maintaining discipline (“sticking to your guns”), and progressively building pressure on the opposition. “Half‑time was really about us guarding the ball a bit better and making sure we could continue to put pressure on England,” Foote said after the match.
How the Junior Boks turned the game around
- Second‑half attack: After a tentative start, the Boks scored 31 points after the break, with fly‑half Yaqeen Ahmed contributing 23 points (six conversions, two penalties and a try).
- Forward dominance: The forwards’ relentless work rate provided clean ball and created the platform for the backs to exploit space.
- Impact of the bench: Replacements injected fresh energy and maintained intensity, a point Foote repeatedly emphasized throughout the tournament.
Foote also noted the physical toll of playing four matches in three weeks, praising the squad’s resilience: “Everyone is feeling it physically. The fact that they keep going and pushing is very impressive.”
Individual performances
Khuthadzo Rasivhaga was the standout try‑scorer, touching down three times. Kebotile Maake added two tries, while Luke Cannon and Ahmed each crossed for a single try. England’s reply came from Ollie Streeter, Hugh Shields (two), Jonny Weimann and Tate Williams, with Shields responsible for three conversions and two penalties.
Goal scorers – detailed breakdown
- Junior Boks (53)
- Tries: Yaqeen Ahmed, Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (3), Kebotile Maake (2), Luke Cannon
- Conversions: Ahmed (6)
- Penalties: Ahmed (2)
- England (37)
- Tries: Ollie Streeter, Hugh Shields (2), Jonny Weimann, Tate Williams
- Conversions: Shields (3)
- Penalties: Shields (2)
Looking ahead to the final
The final will be played at Tbilisi’s Mikheil Meskhi Stadium on Saturday, 30 June 2023, with kick‑off scheduled for 18:30 local time. France, reigning Six Nations champions, proved their mettle by defeating New Zealand in the first semi‑final, setting up a formidable challenge for the Junior Boks.
Foote summed up the team’s immediate focus: “For us it’s about recovering well, enjoying the opportunity to spend another week together as a group and then looking forward to the final.” The squad’s depth, leadership and collective composure will be tested as they aim to defend the U20 World Cup title they won in 2022.
