A powerful second-half performance from the South African under-20s saw them claim a dominant 59-19 victory over Japan in their opening game of the U20 Championship in Manchester, England last night.
It was however a tale of two halves as the team, much like their senior counterparts in last year’s World Cup, seemed to underestimate the Japanese threat and were duly punished, going into the half-time break 19-14 down.
A few harsh words must have been spoken during the interval because the Baby Boks came out all guns blazing in the second half, with three converted tries in the first 10 minutes setting the tone, before they powered away scoring 45 points in the half and 52 unanswered points in total.
“The first half was a bit of a shock for the guys and I think they didn’t really expect that, but I told them that this is a World Cup, you have to convert your opportunities into points,” said Junior Bok coach Dawie Theron.
“We probably were a little shell-shocked when they scored those three tries, but I am proud of the way the players fought back. Japan played well and they targeted the rucks.
“It was a tough lesson for us, but we adapted quickly. I think we regrouped very well as a team after a hard team talk at half-time.”
The bonus point win sees the Baby Boks take an early one point lead over Argentina in group C after the South Americans claimed a 24-15 triumph over France in their match.
The opening match was a solid debut for ex-Border schools star Tango Balekile, who generally threw well at the line outs, scrummed well, especially in the second half when the pack asserted its dominance and controlled the ball well at the back of the Baby Boks’ powerful driving maul on numerous occasions.
Powerful flank and Man of the Match Zain Davids and SA U20 captain Jeremy Ward (centre) both scored a brace of tries, while fullback Curwin Bosch was flawless with the boot as he slotted all eight conversions and a long-range penalty goal for a personal tally of 19 points.
Davids opened the scoring in the ninth minute, with Bosch adding the extras, before a fantastic hat-trick from exciting Japanese right winger Ataata Moeakiola turned the game on its head.
The second half was then a free for all as the Boks took the lead in the 43rd minute and then motored away with five further tries and a penalty to seal the win.
Baby Boks win after early scare
It was however a tale of two halves as the team, much like their senior counterparts in last year’s World Cup, seemed to underestimate the Japanese threat and were duly punished, going into the half-time break 19-14 down.
A few harsh words must have been spoken during the interval because the Baby Boks came out all guns blazing in the second half, with three converted tries in the first 10 minutes setting the tone, before they powered away scoring 45 points in the half and 52 unanswered points in total.
“The first half was a bit of a shock for the guys and I think they didn’t really expect that, but I told them that this is a World Cup, you have to convert your opportunities into points,” said Junior Bok coach Dawie Theron.
“We probably were a little shell-shocked when they scored those three tries, but I am proud of the way the players fought back. Japan played well and they targeted the rucks.
“It was a tough lesson for us, but we adapted quickly. I think we regrouped very well as a team after a hard team talk at half-time.”
The bonus point win sees the Baby Boks take an early one point lead over Argentina in group C after the South Americans claimed a 24-15 triumph over France in their match.
The opening match was a solid debut for ex-Border schools star Tango Balekile, who generally threw well at the line outs, scrummed well, especially in the second half when the pack asserted its dominance and controlled the ball well at the back of the Baby Boks’ powerful driving maul on numerous occasions.
Powerful flank and Man of the Match Zain Davids and SA U20 captain Jeremy Ward (centre) both scored a brace of tries, while fullback Curwin Bosch was flawless with the boot as he slotted all eight conversions and a long-range penalty goal for a personal tally of 19 points.
Davids opened the scoring in the ninth minute, with Bosch adding the extras, before a fantastic hat-trick from exciting Japanese right winger Ataata Moeakiola turned the game on its head.
The second half was then a free for all as the Boks took the lead in the 43rd minute and then motored away with five further tries and a penalty to seal the win.
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