Sizzling Junior Boks crowned U20 champs after thrashing Aussies

The on-fire Junior Boks were crowned U20 Rugby Championship winners for the first time with a match to spare when they beat Australia 56-17 in the second round of the four-team tournament in Gqeberha on Sunday.

Thanks to the commanding bonus point win, the Boks opened an unbeatable lead at the top of the log ahead of the final round of matches on Saturday.

After beating Australia in their opening match, New Zealand crashed to a shock 25-17 loss against Argentina in Sunday’s early second-round match.

Bustling Junior Springbok centre Ethan “The Tank” Adams, who crashed over for two scintillating tries against Argentina on Monday, has a long and bright future ahead of him, SA coach Kevin Foote says. Adams, who hails from Kareedouw in the Eastern Cape, was an unstoppable force when the Baby Boks downed Los Pumitas 48-21 in SA’s opening game of the U20 Rugby Championship tournament. Every time the barnstorming centre got the ball in his hands, there was an expectant roar of excitement from the 11,000 crowd who cheered the Boks to victory at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Adams, who shone for Free State at the U18 Craven Week and was selected for the SA Schools team while at Grey College in Bloemfontein, has joined the Lions in Johannesburg. Before linking up with the United Rugby Championship club, Adams was one of the most sought-after young players in SA rugby. Known for his ability to crash through defences, Adams has a low centre of gravity and massive legs, which make him difficult to tackle. Coach Foote said Adams had a long and bright future ahead of him. “We see the talent in this country, and we often talk about how lucky the guys are coming through great schools and unions,” he said. “Ethan went to Grey Bloem, and he was well developed there, and now he is at the Lions. “I do believe he has been born to play this game, and it is in all of our blood. “South Africans love rugby, and we love playing this game. “The job for all of us is not just about performance but about development. “Ethan has a long future ahead of him, and we must make sure we keep him grounded. “He is a really good guy and he is popular among the group, but he is still learning. “Ethan is also coachable, which is a great skill factor.” Adams terrorised the Los Pumitas defence at the start of the game, scoring tries in the second and 25th minutes as the Boks raced into a match-winning 36-0 halftime lead. Skipper Riley Norton says the Baby Boks may have to master strong, blustery winds which often swirl inside the bowl of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in their remaining games. The Boks’ skills were tested by windy conditions in their first game at the four-team tournament. Norton said if the Boks are confronted by similar conditions in their second game against Australia on Sunday (kickoff 4.10pm), they must ensure they execute fundamentals correctly and keep their eye on the ball. “Luckily we came a week earlier to Gqeberha ahead of the tournament so we had a week to train in the weather here,” he said. “The Boks train at Pearson High School, which has unbelievable facilities. “But it is open [at Pearson], but the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium covers it [the wind]. “The backline struggles with the swirl when it goes up in the air. “Inside the stadium when we warmed up, it was not bad at all. “This Junior Bok side has character, and we are a close team, and I think defence is all about that. “Even if you don’t have the greatest technique, this team always fights for the guy next to him, and that is important.” Remaining fixtures: Sunday: 2pm: New Zealand vs Argentina; 4.10pm: Junior Boks vs Australia. May 9: 2pm: Argentina vs Australia; 4.10pm: Junior Boks vs New Zealand. Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

SA will next face New Zealand in the third round of the tournament at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday (kickoff 4.10pm).

The Baby Boks and Australia got the second game off to a blistering start with both sides showing their attacking intent in the opening minutes of the clash.

It was SA who struck the first blow of the contest when they spread the ball wide and wing Jack Benade dotted down in the 13th minute.

The Wallabies were down to 14 men after 15 minutes when Leo Jaques was on the receiving end of a yellow card from referee Gonzalo de Achaval for a high tackle.

Composure under pressure and retaining possession will be vital ingredients in the Junior Boks’ recipe for success in their remaining two matches against Australia and New Zealand at the U20 Rugby Championship tournament, says coach Kevin Foote. The mentor said important lessons were learnt during the final 20 minutes about the importance of looking after the ball when the Junior Boks ran out 48-21 winners over Argentina in Gqeberha on Monday. After running up a 36-0 lead at halftime, the Boks lost momentum, and Argentina hit back with three second-half tries to take some of the fizz out of the Bok win. SA lead the standings after the opening round on five points, followed by New Zealand on four and Australia on one, while Argentina have still to open their account. Bok skipper Riley Norton said character, heart and a spirit of togetherness had helped the Junior Springboks to power their way to a commanding win at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium A delighted Norton also praised the Boks for fronting up for 80 minutes against a physical Los Pumitas outfit, which ended strongly in front of a passionate crowd of 11,000 fans. They never stopped fighting for 80 minutes ... I am proud of the guys for fronting up because playing Argentina is always intense and physical, and it was no different this time Norton will be looking for more of the same from the Junior Boks in their second outing against a dangerous Australian side at the same venue on Sunday (kickoff 4.10pm). The Bok try scorers against Argentina were Jack Benade (3), Ethan Adams (2), Hendre Schoeman, Yaqeen Ahmed and Oliver Reid. Despite going down 34-29 in their opening clash against defending champions New Zealand, the Junior Wallabies impressed with their slick handling skills and all-round play. “Our composure and control were huge, and that is Test match rugby,” Norton said. “You have to keep yourself composed under pressure, and also you have to keep the ball. “When we did keep ball, we were very good on attack — but when we turned it over, the Argentinians always came back with passion and heart, and we had to defend well. “There were good lessons for us in the last 20 minutes to just look after the ball. The Junior Boks want to play an exciting brand of rugby, and when you start falling into the trap of not playing Test match rugby, you can maybe make mistakes. “We never want to stop the guys from expressing themselves. The main thing is understanding when the pass is on and when it is time to carry the ball. Our journey is just starting now, and the reality is we will grow from this, and we are grateful for the experience.” Norton praised Argentina for staying in the fight until the final whistle. “Credit to Argentina, and they are a very passionate team with a strong set piece. As a forward I know they have an awesome scrum, and their set piece is their bread and butter, and they like to attack you there. Their maul is also great, so it was an intense game, and credit to them,” he said. “They never stopped fighting for 80 minutes and they never hung in the boot. I am proud of the guys for fronting up because playing Argentina is always intense and physical, and it was no different this time. “This Junior Bok side has character and we are a close team, and I think defence is all about that. Even if you don’t have the greatest technique, this team always fights for the guy next to him and that is important.” Remaining fixtures Sunday: 2pm: New Zealand vs Argentina; 4.10pm: Junior Boks vs Australia. May 9: 2pm: Argentina vs Australia; 4.10pm: Junior Boks vs New Zealand. Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

Showing plenty of pace and strength, the Boks were over for a second try when Wasi Vyambwera cut the Australian defence wide open to give his team a 12-0 lead.

At this point, the Boks were rampant against an Australian side who were struggling to match the speed and physicality of the home team.

Matters got worse for Australia after 25 minutes when referee De Achaval awarded a penalty try after a maul was collapsed.

That indiscretion resulted in Australia having Isaac Fonua sent to the sin bin as SA took a firm grip on the contest with a 21-0 lead after 25 minutes.

Eight minutes before halftime, inventive Australian flyhalf Finn Mackay darted his way through the Bok defence to score his team’s first points.

Australia’s discipline was letting them down, and they had a third player yellow-carded and a second penalty try awarded against them to leave SA with a commanding 28-7 lead.

Despite only having 13 players on the field, Australia hit back with a try by Riley Whitfeld, which cut the Boks’ lead to 28-12 at halftime.

The Junior Springboks lit up the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium with a feast of sizzling first-half tries when they beat Argentina 48-21 in their opening match at the Sanzaar U20 Rugby Championship tournament on Monday. Though they lost momentum in the second half, it was an enterprising start for the next generation of Bok stars at the second edition of the four-team tournament to be held in Gqeberha. In the opening game of a double-header, defending champions New Zealand beat Australia 34-29 in an entertaining encounter to set the tone for the late game. Backed by a partisan 11,000 crowd, the ruthless Baby Boks showed the sort of form that saw them crowned world champions in 2025 during a commanding first-half display. The Boks, who led 36-0 at half-time, outscored Argentina by eight tries to three. SA made a blistering start when dynamic centre Ethan Adams powered his way through Argentina’s defence to crash over for the first try in the second minute. The Baby Boks continued to swarm onto the attack, and the pressure paid off when scrumhalf Hendre Schoeman was over for SA’s second try after eight minutes. Flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed made no mistake with the conversion to give the Boks a handy early 12-0 lead. Seven minutes later, Ahmed jinxed his way through the Pumas’ defence to register SA’s third try to push the lead up to 17-0. SA’s opening try-scoring blitz continued when wing ⁠Jack Benade latched onto a perfectly directed cross-field kick from the ever-present Ahmed to put the Boks 24-0 ahead. The try fest continued when the powerful Adams scored a second try to add to Argentina’s misery in the 25th minute. At this stage it was one-way traffic, with Argentina struggling to match the Boks’ high-tempo game. Try predator Benade lifted the Boks into a 36-0 lead after 33 minutes with his second try to round off an impressive first half. Early second-half tries from replacement prop Oliver Reid and a third for try-hungry Benade put the Boks 48-0 ahead after 55 minutes. Despite being outplayed, Argentina never threw in the towel and punctured the SA defence for the first time in the 62nd minute when Federico Torre crossed the line. They added further respectability to the scoreline when Tomas Dande and Torre went over for further late tries. Scorers: SA 48: Tries: Ethan Adams (2), Hendre Schoeman, Yaqeen Ahmed, Jack Benade (3), Oliver Reid. Conversions: Yaqeen Ahmed (4). Argentina 21: Tries: Federico Torre (2), Tomas Dande. Conversions: Manuel Giannantonio (3). The opening game got off to a bright start, with New Zealand and Australia scoring early tries to set the tone for the match. The Baby Blacks scored the first five-pointer after four minutes when fullback Cohen Norrie dived over after enterprising play by his back division. Two minutes later, Australia hit back with a try of their own from loose forward Marshall Le Maitre after strong play among the forwards. The sides continued trading blows, and New Zealand had a second try when prop Henry Stuart powered his way over the tryline. Both teams were full of running, and Australian wing Riley Whitfield danced his way through the New Zealand defence and put his team on level terms at 12-12 after 20 minutes. Further tries by Taione Taka and Finn Mackay allowed Australia to grab a useful 24-12 halftime lead. New Zealand struck the first blow of the second half when the lively Norrie crossed for his second five-pointer. When Australia went down to 13 men after cards to Cooper Watters and Angus Grover, New Zealand surged into a 34-29 lead with 13 minutes remaining. Scorers: New Zealand 34: Tries: Cohen Norrie (2) , Henry Stuart, Haki Wiseman, Caleb Woodley, Logan Williams. Conversions: Mika Muliaina (2). Australia 29: Tries: Marshall Le Maitre, Riley Whitfield, Taione Taka, Finn Mackay, Leo Jaques. Conversions: Finn Mackay (2). Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

Australia came charging out of the starting blocks in the second half, but they were unable to breach the Boks’ water-tight defence.

It was Ethan “The Tank” Adams who stretched SA’s lead to 35-12 with a bulldozing run which splintered the Aussie defence after 51 minutes.

Further tries from Hendre Schoeman, Luke Cannon and Yaqeen Ahmed sealed the deal for the Baby Boks.

Scorers:

South Africa 56: Tries: Jack Benade, Wasi Vyambwera, Penalty Tries (x2, each worth seven points), Ethan Adams, Hendre Schoeman, Luke Cannon and Yaqeen Ahmed. Conversions: Yaqeen Ahmed (4), Vusi Moyo (2).

Australia 17: Tries: Finn Mackay, Riley Whitfeld, Taione Taka. Conversion: Mackay.

In the opening match, it was Argentina who enjoyed early territorial advantage.

The pressure eventually paid off for Los Pumitas when flyhalf Federico Serpa went over for a try in the corner after slick play by scrumhalf Juan Preumayr in the 15th minute.

Argentina continued to keep New Zealand on the back foot, and their dominance was rewarded when Serpa slotted a penalty to push their lead out to 8-0 after 24 minutes.

New Zealand clawed their way back into the contest when skipper Haki Wiseman crashed over for a try after 32 minutes.

Shortly afterwards, the Baby Blacks were down to 13 men after referee Ella Goldsmith carded Jake Frost and Ethan Webber.

Undeterred by their numerical disadvantage, JD van der Westhuizen crossed the whitewash for New Zealand’s second try to leave Argentina with a 15-12 halftime advantage.

Argentina extended their lead to 20-12 when wing Luciano Avaca scored an intercept try in the 55th minute.

Scorers:

Argentina 25: Tries: Federico Serpa, Penalty Try (worth seven points), Luciano Avaca, Ramon Fernandez. Penalty: Serpa.

New Zealand 17: Tries: Haki Wiseman, JD van der Westhuizen, Finn McLeod. Conversion: Cohen Norrie.

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