Junior Boks cap off U20 Championship with dominant win over Wales

The South African U20s scored seven tries at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town - six of them by the forwards - with No 8 Sibabalwe Mahashe celebrating a busy afternoon and prop Zachary Porthen playing a captain's innings by scoring a brace of five-pointers each.

There were still a few soft moments, but overall the Junior Boks can be satisfied with their performance, probably their best of the Championship, as they really made a step up after disappointing results against Argentina and England.

The SA U20s made the most of their opportunities and scored three tries in the first half, all of them by forwards, followed by four more after the break. They played with intent and patience, which forced Wales to make a lot of energy-sapping tackles.

The Welsh missed three tackles on Porthen though, as the big Junior Bok prop stepped his way through the defence to score the opening try in the 10th minute, with Tylor Sefoor adding the extras to give the hosts a 7-0 lead.

Mahashe scored the second try, 10 minutes later, going over in the left corner after a patient build-up by the Junior Bok pack. The conversion was not successful, but the Junior Boks were in control at 12-0.

Another 10 minutes later, lock JF van Heerden scored the Junior Boks' third try, with Mahashe again prominent, and this time Sefoor was spot-on to make it 19-0, but it was a 14-point game at the break after Wales hit back late in the first half with a Walker Price try in the corner from an attacking scrum.

Mahashe added his second try six minutes into the second half, catching the Welsh defence flat-footed with a superb running line from an attacking lineout. Sefoor had no problem adding the extras to push the Junior Boks' lead to 26-5.

Wales hit back almost immediately when their other wing, Aidan Boshoff, went over in the left corner, but the Junior Boks regrouped quickly and secured possession in their opponents' half.

Hot on the attack, centre Jurenzo Julius first hit a half-gap before putting a deft grubber through for flanker Bathobele Hlekani to score. Sefoor nailed the sideline conversion to increase the SA U20s' lead to 33-10 with just over 20 minutes left in the match.

Wales replacement back Steffan Emanuel scored an intercept try from his own 22 in the 63rd minute to make it 33-17, but five minutes later, scrumhalf Asad Moos, from a tap-and-go penalty, and Porthen, barging over from close range for his second, made it 47-17, with replacement flyhalf Liam Koen converting both.

Price and Owen Conquer scored late tries for Wales as the Junior Boks lost a bit of concentration on defence, but the men in green and gold will be satisfied as they did more than enough to seal a deserved victory and finish the tournament on a high note.

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