Junior Boks make light work of Fiji to kick off U20 Championship in style

The South Africans scored eight tries in a strong showing of their intent and bar some second half lapses in concentration and a yellow card, played with good commitment and purpose throughout.

The Junior Boks secured their four-try bonus point in the first half, and each of those five pointers were things of beauty.

All four were scored by the backs, but the first two had a massive Bathobele Hlekani stamp on them. The big lock produced two very strong runs in quick succession and on both occasions, the momentum created by those bursts opened gaps on the outside.

The opening try came after Fiji were penalised after a Hlekani burst. The Junior Boks quick tapped and via a number of dummy runners, Jurenzo Julius got his hands on the ball to dot down nine minutes in. Liam Koen converted and the Junior Boks were up and running after ten minutes.

Another strong burst by Hlekani had Fiji on the ropes again and when the ball was worked wide, fullback Michail Damon slid through a gap to score in the corner. Koen converted for a 14-0 lead after as many minutes.

The home side's forward pack were starting to call the shots in the tight phases as well and a massive scrum 20 minutes in resulted in a penalty to the Boks. Koen slotted his first penalty of the tournament from metres out to push the lead to 17-0.

Koen fluffed a second attempt from 50 meters out five minutes later, but converted a delightful try by Joel Leotlela 30 minutes in. Fiji conceded a yellow card and South Africa opted for a scrum. A strong right shoulder gave Julius some space and once he turned the Fijian defence around and offloaded to Leotlela, the winger went over in the corner. Koen slotted the conversion from a tight angle to push the lead to 24-0.

It became 31-0 three minutes later when Julius scored under the sticks after some delightful interplay amongst the outside backs and the burly centre finishing the move with an equally impressive swan dive. Koen converted.

Julius turned villain soon after though for a tip tackle and he was yellow carded on the stroke of half-time.

The second half delivered more green and gold dominance. Hooker Luca Bakkes scored early after coming around the corner at a ruck and Koen pushed the lead to 38-0.

Fiji finally got on the board with a try by prop Anare Caginavanua. Fiji managed to break the SA defensive line for once and following some good interplay amongst the forwards, the prop crashed over from close range.

Coach Bafana Nhleko called on his bench early in the second stanza and it took the replacements some time to find their rhythm.

The local favourites conceded several penalties at the breakdown, which added to their stutter.

They finally found their groove 65 minutes in. Flanker Sibabalwe Mahashe crashed over after several strong runs by his team mates. Fiji conceded another yellow card in the process for a high tackle and immediately paid the price.

Mahashe first scored and then created the next try. A strong burst by the flank had Fiji in trouble and when his offload was gathered by Likhona Finca, the replacement winger crashed over in the corner.

Asad Moos then instigated a break down the blindside from a scrum and after some good interplay was the final receiver of a try-scoring pass as well. The scrumhalf scored in the corner and his try was superbly converted from the touch line by Tyler Sefoor, who had replaced Koen earlier in the half.

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