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  • Vrystaat se tempo te veel vir Griekwa-platteland

    Vrystaat se tempo te veel vir Griekwa-platteland

    NuusG VrystaatDie tempo waarteen die Vrystaatse o.18-rugbyspan gespeel het, het aan hom die deurslag in sy sege van 43-3 oor sy eweknie van Griekwa-platteland op Diamantveld se hoofveld hier gegee.

    Vrystaat het met ‘n voorsprong van 12-3 gaan rus na ‘n eerste helfte waarin sake baie gelyk verloop het. Die Vrystaters se tempo het egter die deurslag in die tweede bewerkstellig.

    As daar een aspek van die spel is waaroor die plattelanders vandag breebors oor sal rondloop is dit oor hulle lynstane wees. Die span het gehalte besit vanaf die afdeling van die spel gekry. Albei die hakers, Dick Taliesen en Dolf Zandberg, se ingooiwerk in die lynstaan was van hoogstaande gehalte.

    Die span se SA Skole-flank, Cobus Wiese, het ook goed in die lynstane gerank. Hy het in die vastelos ook probleme vir die Vrystaters besorg. Indien hy op dié vertoning kan voortbou sal hy gewis weer ‘n sterk aanspraakmaker wees om die nasionale skolespan te haal.

    Sy tweestryd met sy direkte teenstander, Jurie Burger, was wel baie na aan ‘n gelykopstryd. Burger wat ook oorspronklik van Upington is, is soos Wiese eintlik ‘n slot wat na die kant van die skrum geskuif het. Burger was ongetwyfeld een van die Vrystaters se beste spelers op die veld. Sy ouer broer, Junior Burger, het Griekwa-platteland se span na die Cravenweek in 2013 aangevoer.

    Daar moet ook genoem word dat die Vrystaat se ander twee losvoorspelers die agsteman Dian Schoonees en plaasvervanger-flank Siya Luwaca ook ‘n reuse aandeel in die sege gehad het. Albei het met die bal in die hand en sowel as op die verdediging uitgetroon.

    Schoonees het met sy drie ‘n losbal naby die middellyn opgepik en vir al Griekwa-platteland se verdedigers hakskene gewys. Nie eers die verloorspan se heelagter, Benna Nieuwoudt, kon hom inhaal nie.

    Die Vrystaat sal gewis hierdie week aan hulle lynstaanspel aandag gee. Die span het heelwat in die afdeling gesukkel.

    Agterlangs was die binnesenter, PR Serfontein, uitstaande. Hy het ‘n hele paar keer bresse in die verdediging geslaan en ook op die verdediging was hy rotsvas gewees. Hy en Francois Aggenbach het ook goed in die middelveld gekombineer.

    Puntemakers:

    Vrystaat o.18 43 (12): Drieë: Luciano Jones, Kian Skippers, Siya Luwaca, George Rossouw, Dian Schoonees, PR Serfontein, Gideo Beukes. Doelskoppe: Tiaan Schutte (2), Niel Durow (2). Griekwa-platteland 3 (3): Strafdoel: Benna Nieuwoudt.

  • Griffons met 27-10 oor Griekwas baas

    Griffons met 27-10 oor Griekwas baas

    NuusG GriffonsDie Griffons se o.18-rugbyspan gaan gewis weer ‘n gedugte span op die 52ste Cravenweek-toernooi vir hoërskole in Stellenbosch wees. Die Perses het gister met hulle sege van 27-10 oor sy eweknie van Griekwaland-Wes op Diamantveld se hoofveld hier heelwat redes gehad om oor te glimlag.

    Die span se heelagter, Marco Labuschagné, het waarskynlik die beste vertoning deur ‘n agterspeler op die Bondedag gelewer. Hy was rotsvas onder die hoë bal en het ook op die aanval verskeie kere ‘n hele paar verdedigers na lug laat gryp. Hy het egter ook ‘n geelkaart van die skeidsregter, Nico Smahl, gekry na Griekwas se vleuel, Cameron Hufke, na ‘n hoë hangskop teen Labuschagne gebots het en hard terug aarde toe gekom het. 

    Die span van die Noord-Vrystaat se lynstane het ook goed vertoon en veral die haker, Duke Jantjies, met sy akkurate ingooiwerk verdien hier vermelding. Hy het ook in die los saam met die twee slotte, Michiel Bosman en Ettienne O’Donovan, gewoel.

    Die Poubloues het met die omdraaislag met 7-0 voorgeloop na sy flank Rian Kotze vanaf ‘n rolmaalbeweging oorgeval het. Die tuisspan het egter nie as ‘n span saamgespeel nie en dit het hom duur te staan gekom.

    Griekwas se flank, Janco Cloete, was ongetwyfeld sy span se beste speler op die veld. Hy het nooit moed opgegee nie en ook by die afbreekpunte ‘n hele paar keer of daarin geslaag om die Perses se besit te vertraag om omgekeerde besit te bewerkstellig. Die agsteman, Johan Joubert, kan ook maar tevrede met sy vertoning voel.
    Griekwas se loskopstut, Boan Venter, het ook in die skrums vir Relebohile Sekhobo opgedons.

    Eintlik verdien feitlik al die Perses se spelers ‘n klop op die skouer, maar die skrumskakel Jason Olivier verdien ook vermelding vir sy flinke diens agter die oond. Sy skakelmaat, Luan James, het in die tweede helfte met ‘n goed getrefde skepdoel sy span vir die eerste keer laat voorloop.

    Die plaasvervanger-vleuel, Richman Gora, het vandat hy op die veld gekom het ook gelyk asof hy lus was vir hardloop. Hy het ook dan met ‘n systap of twee verby ‘n paar verdedigers geglip om die Griffons se derde drie te gaan afrond.

    Puntemakers:

    Griffons o.18 27 (0): Drieë: Ettienne O’Donovan, Johan Steyn, Richman Gora. Doelskoppe: Luan James (3). Strafdoel: James. Skepdoel: James. Griekwas o.18 10 (7): Drie: Rian Kotze. Doelskop: Gerco Nortjé. Strafdoel: Nortjé.

  • Junior Boks go down to England U20 in Calvisano

    Junior Boks go down to England U20 in Calvisano

    The Junior Springboks on Monday evening lost 28-20 to defending champions England in their World Rugby Under-20 Championship semi-final in Calvisano and will now contest the bronze final on Saturday against France, who earlier lost against New Zealand in the other semifinal.
     
    South Africa left themselves with too much to do after two of their players were yellow carded for high tackles in the opening 30 minutes, handing England the advantage upfront.
     
    The Junior Bok rallied with two tries in the closing minutes, but it was unfortunately too late.
     
    The first few minutes were characterised by both teams seeking to gain the advantage by testing each with long kicks up field. South Africa were penalised for a ruck offence and England flyhalf Rory Jennings kicked the first points of the match to put England 3-0 ahead after four minutes.
     
    Two minutes later England were caught offside and Brandon Thomson slotted the 45 m kick to level the scores at 3-3.
     
    Joseph Dweba was then penalised for a high tackle offering Jennings his second successful attempt at kick to regain the lead at 6-3. Hanro Liebenberg, the SA captain and No 8, then received a yellow card for another high tackle. Jennings hit the upright with his third penalty kicking attempt as England tried to pile on the pressure.
     
    Warrick Gelant tested the English defence with a surging run and moments later the South Africans, showed great strength and courage to push England off their own scrum to gain a penalty, which Thomson sent wide.
     
    England were caught off guard with a scrum on their try line and conceded a penalty for an early hit. Thomson hit the target from close range and the team enjoyed the water break at the 20 minute mark level on 6-points each.
     
    In the 22nd minute lock Jason Jenkins was yellow carded for another high tackle and sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes, two minutes after captain Liebenberg had returned to the field.
     
    With a lock off missing, England scored a pushover scrum try when James Chisholm controlled the ball at the back off the scrum to dot down to put England 11-6 in front after 26 minutes.
     
    SA replaced hooker Joseph Dweba in the 32 minute with Jan van der Merwe and he took the field with Jenkins who have served his 10 minutes in the sin bin.
     
    England were afforded a penalty try on the stroke of halftime and when Jennings slotted the easy conversion the English were 18-6 in front at halftime.
     
    SA started the second half better, more assured in the scrum and much better in control of their ball. Coach Dawie Theron sent on Dan du Preez on for Rikus Bothma in the 49 minute in an effort to beef up the pack.
     
    South Africa elected not to kick for poles on two occasions as their forwards got back into the battle. 
     
    Jennings landed another penalty with a half hour left to play to stretch the English lead to 21-6 after the SA wing Leolin Zas was called back from an intercept when a team mate was penalised for offside.
     
    A minute later Thomson steered his first penalty of the second half wide.
     
    With nine minutes left on the clock the English outside centre Nick Tomkins went over for to score England’s third try and with Jennings slotting the kick England were now comfortably ahead by 28-6. Tomkins was yellow carded moments later for an illegal tackle but by that time England was out of reach, with four minutes left to play and SA needing more than three tries.
     
    Substitute Malcolm Jaer crossed the line for the first Junior Bok try, which Thomson converted from a difficult angle to reduce the deficit to 28-13.
     
    South Africa the worked their way back into English territory and Daniel du Plessis then finished off a slick movement to score again (28-20). England kicked out the ball seconds later to advance to their third successive final.
     
    The point scorers:
     
    Junior Springboks:
     
    Tries: Malcolm Jaer; Daniel du Plessis; Conversions: Brendon Thomson (2); Penalties: Thomson (2);
     
    England Under-20
     
    Try: James Chisholm; Penalty Try, Nick Tomkins; Conversions Jennings (2); Penalties: Rory Jennings (3.)
     
    Issued by SARU Corporate Affairs
     

  • Voorskou – Griekwa Bondedag

    Die Vrystaatse Cravenweek-afrigters, Wessel du Plessis en Corné Erasmus, sal na vandag se kragmeting teen Griekwaland-Wes Platteland op Hoërskool Diamantveld se veld hier ‘n beter idée hê oor waaraan hulle die volgende paar weke gaan moet skaaf.

    Du Plessis (Grey-kollege) en Erasmus (Louis Botha) ken feitlik al die spelers in die Vrystaatse span baie goed want buiten die losskakel, Tiaan Schutte, is al die spelers vanuit hulle skolespanne.

    Die Plattelanders se SA Skole-flank, Cobus Wiese, sal ‘n goeie toets wees vir die lostrio van die Vrystaat wat uit Dian Schoonees, Jurie Burger en Jabulani Mtshatsheni bestaan. Burger maak ‘n terugkeer vanaf ‘n besering en sal na verwagting nie die volle wedstryd ingespan word nie. Hy behoort egter een van die Vrystaat se staatmakers op die 52ste Cravenweek in Stellenbosch te wees.

    Die Plattelanders het in sy opwarmingsstryd teen Griekwas in die eerste meer as sy man gestaan, maar ‘n insinking in die tweede helfte beleef.

    Die hoofwedstryd van die dag tussen die Cravenweek-spanne van Griekwas en die Griffons behoort vir heelwat vuurwerk te sorg. Griekwas se losskakel, Gerco Nortjé, sal met sy skopskoen ‘n belangrike rat in sy span se spelpatroon wees. Daar kan egter ook verwag word dat hy die bal lug kan gee om die span se twee haastige vleuels, Cameron Hufke en Jacques Beukes, soveel as moontlik in besit te stel. Hufke het vanjaar al gewys dat hy sekerlik onder die voorste vyf aanvallende vleuels in Suid-Afrika tel.

    Die Perses behoort hulle kaarte styf teen hulle bors te hou, maar sal steeds nie ‘n span wees wat sonder handskoene gepak kan word nie. Veral die kombinasie van Danie Hendriks en Siyamamkela Nxgesha in die middelveld kan die Poubloues hoofbrekens besorg. Die slotpaar van die Afrikaanse Hoërskool Kroonstad, Michiel Bosman en Ettienne O’Donovan, sal graag op hulle goeie vertonings vir hulle skoolspan vir die Griffons wil voortbou.

    Die kragmetings tussen die onderskeie Akademie-spanne sal ook deur die keurders van die onderskeie unies met valkoë dopgehou word. Dié kragmetings dien nog as finale proewe en spelers in die spanne kan met uitstaande vertonings nog vir hulle plekke in hulle unies se Cravenweek-spanne oopspeel.

  • Bepalings vir die 18de VKB-week in Reitz

    Bepalings vir die 18de VKB-week in Reitz

    VKBDie VKB-rugbyweek se verdedigende kampioen, Noord-Natal, sal sy aanslag om dié titel te behou vanjaar teen Suid-Vrystaat afskop.

    Die week sal vanjaar vir die 18de keer vanaf 28 Junie tot 3 Julie op Piet Geyer-park in Reitz aangebied word. Die Lammergeiers het verlede jaar in die eindstryd vir die Valke met 17-3 verslaan. Die Valke was toe die verdedigende kampioen.

    Ná afloop van vanjaar se toernooi sal daar weer ‘n verteenwoordigende span gekies word wat oorsee sal toer. Die span sal later vanjaar deur Italië toer. Die vorige ses jare se panne het suksesvolle toere onderneem na onder andere Italië, Argentinië, Engeland en Skotland, Ierland, Frankryk en Engeland (2014). Die toerspan staan algemeen bekend as die SA Plattelandspan. Tydens hierdie toere word ook amptelike wedstryde teen soortgelyke spanne gespeel.

    Altesaam 10 spanne neem vanjaar aan die VKB-week del. Die spanne sluit in Luiperds, Oos-Vrystaat, Valke, Suid-Vrystaat, Vrystaat Kiewiete, Suid-Natal, Sandveld, Lynx, Noord-Natal en Pretoria Privaatskole, in.
    Die spanne gaan om ‘n trofee en goeie medaljes vir die span wat die toernooi wen meeding, asook die aanskoulikste rugby gespeel en die voortreflikste span, meeding. Daar gaan ook na elke wedstryd ‘n speler van die wedstryd aangewys word, wat ook ‘n medalje ontvang. Aan die einde van die toernooi word die beste speler in elke posisie aangewys, asook die beste voor- en agterspeler.

    Die amptelike opening vind plaas op Sondag, 28 Junie in die skoolsaal. Elandré Hugget (oud-VKB speler en lid van die SA Universiteitespan) sal vanjaar optree as gasspreker. Hugget het reeds die verdedigende kampioen op die week verteenwoordig en was vanjaar lid van die Shimlas se span wat as kampioen van die Varsitybeker gekroon is.
    Hierdie rugbyweek was ook die voorloper vir spelers soos Juan Smith (Springbokke en Cheetahs, asook Toulon in Frankryk) en Deon Stegman (Springbokke en Blou Bulle).

    Die bepalings van die eerste dag is:

    09:00: Pretoria Privaatskole t. Sandveld; 10:20: Lynx t. Vrystaat Kiewiete; 11:40: Valke t. Luiperds; 13:00: Noord-Natal t. Suid-Vrystaat; 14:20: Oos-Vrystaat t. Suid-Natal.

     

  • Kempies maklik baas teen Florida

    Die Hoërskool Kempton Park is ’n gunsteling om die uitspeelronde van die Beeldtrofee as die derde beste makroskolespan in die Noordvaal-streek te haal.

    Kempies het Florida Vrydag in sy agterplaas met 47-15 verslaan – met die tuisspan se losskopstut, Joe Meyer, en losskakel, Francois Erasmus, aan die spits.

    Meyer het hom ’n hele paar keer uit die greep van verdedigers losgewoel en só etlike meter veld gewen.

    Op sy beurt het Erasmus, heelagter van die Valke se Cravenweekspan, een van sy span se sewe drieë gedruk en ook met ses doelskoppe geslaag.

    Sou Kempies, soos verwag, die uitklopronde haal, sal hy met Eldoraigne swaarde kruis.

    Dié Pretoriase span het vroeër sy plek as die Blou Bulle se vierde kwalifiseerder bespreek deur Wonderboom met 23-13 te klop.

    Die wenner van dié kragmeting sal straks in die kwarteindronde van die reeks teen Monument van Krugersdorp te staan kom.

    ■ Monnas het sy jaarlikse kragmeting met King Edward VII maklik met 52-22 gewen en veral die Wit Bulle se kantman Bakkies Potgieter was op sy stukke.

    Hy het twee keer gaan druk, terwyl die heelagter, Ivan Smit, oudergewoonte met sy teenaanvalle skade aangerig het.

    Smit het ook twee keer afgerond.

    EG Jansen min moeite met die Hoërskool Rustenburg ondervind.

    Die Oos-Randers was met 73-12 baas. Die binnesenter, Erich Cronjé, en vleuel Bran­don Swartz het albei twee keer agter die doellyn gekuier het.

    ■ Potchefstroom Gimnasium het die Luiperds se grootskole-liga onoorwonne afgesluit, danksy ’n sege van 44-28 oor Lichtenburg.

    Dié spanne sal weer in die halfeindronde slaags wees – met Potchefstroom Volkskool en die Hoërskool Klerksdorp wat mekaar in die ander wedstryd pak.

    ■ In Grahamstad het Kingswood College ’n naelskraapse sege van 20-19 oor St. Andrew’s College behaal in dié twee skole se jaarlikse derby.

    Die verloorspan het met die omdraaislag ’n voorsprong van 7-3 geniet.

    ■ Danksy ’n strafdoel deur losskakel Manie Libbok kon die Suidwestelike Distrikte se Cravenweekspan die Westelike Provinsie op die eerste dag van die Suidelike Bondedag in Oudtshoorn met 24-23 troef.

    Die Volstruisboere pak die Boland môre, terwyl die hoofwedstryd van die laaste dag van die toernooi tussen die Westelike Provinsie en Oostelike Provinsie beslis sal word.

    Die nie-amptelike kampioen van verlede jaar se Cravenweek, die Oostelike Provinsie, se twee Suid-Afrikaanse skole-spelers – losskakel Curwin Bosh en senter Hein Bezuidenhout – het blink vertonings in dié span se oorwinning van 34-21 oor die Boland gelewer.

    ■ ​Blou Bulle: Hoërskool Tuine 23, Pretoria-Noord 10; HTS Tuine 24, Gerrit Maritz 0; Eldoraigne 23, Wonderboom 13.

    ■ Leeus: Monument 52, King Edward VII 22; Jeppe Boys’ High 39, St. John’s College 24; Randburg 38, Riebeeckrand 19; St. Benedict’s College 61, St. Stithian’s College 0; Bastion 31, Hoërskool Alberton 12; Marais Viljoen 52, Noordheuwel 22.

    ■ Luiperds: Potchefstroom Volkskool 28, Wesvalia 7; Potchefstroom Gimnasium 44, Lichtenburg 28; Christiana 24, Koster 22.

    ■ Pumas: Ligbron 35, Generaal Hertzog 13; Secunda 32, Standerton 24; Piet Retief 21 Ermelo 19.

    ■ Valke: Kempton Park 47, Florida 15; EG Jansen 73, Hoërskool Rustenburg 12; Oosterlig 41, Hans Moore 19; Hugenote (Springs) 39, Dr. Malan 5; Transvalia 26, Driehoek 26; Heidelberg Volkskool 52, Benoni High 13; Parys 43, Kempton Panorama 0; Brandwag (Benoni) 43, Suiderlig 0.

    OOS-KAAP
    ​Kingswood College 20, St. Andrew’s College 19; Woodridge College 14, Cillie 13; Dale College 38, Cambridge 15.

    BONDEDAG
    ​Suidwestelike Distrikte o.18 24, Westelike Provinsie o.18 23; Oostelike Provinsie o.18 34, Boland o.18 21.

  • Arende en Griffons o.19 se stryd die beste van die B-veld

    As daar ‘n wedstryd op Diamantveld se B-veld is wat nie misgeloop moet word nie is dit die een tussen die Vrystaatse Arende en Griffons se o.19-span. Albei die spanne neem jaarlikse aan die Pukke-week in Potchefstroom deel.

    Die Arende se senterpaar van Jaco Wessels (Grey) en Kosie Brand (Jim Fouché) kan amok maak indien hulle mekaar vind. Albei is spelers wat oor goeie vaardighede beskik, boonop is Louis Botha se opwindende losskakel, Jeandré Christiaan, aan hulle binnekant.

    Die span se lostrio van Thulani Njenje, Hanno Spies en Dawid Theron behoort ook meer as ‘n handvol vir die Perses te wees. Njenje het verlede jaar vir Griekwas op die Cravenweek verteenwoordig.

    Daarby het die Perses in verlede jaar se Cravenweek heelagter, Ezrick Alexander, een van die opwindendste heelagters op skolevlak in sy geledere. Die senter Jonathan April en vleuel Benji Muller is ook opwindende spelers. April wat vir Goudveld-Hoërskool speel was verlede jaar een van die voorste driedrukkers in die Griffon-liga. Henties se opwindende losskakel, Dominic Smit, maak dié span se skrum skroon. Smit het al verskeie spanne se verdediging behoorlik met sy dartellopies beproef.

    In die hoofwedstryd van die B-veld pak Sandveld en die Suid-Vrystaat mekaar. Die span van Sandveld se senterpaar van Bultfontein, Arno Taljaard en Erik Helm, weet hoe op gapings in teenstanders se verdedging te bewerkstellig. Boonop is die heelagter, Wanga Shumi (Riebeeckstad), en die vleuel Thato Majoki (Bothaville) van die beste afronders in die Vrystaatse en Noord-Kaapse platteland.

    In die vernaamste voorwedstryd op die B-veld sê die Vrystaatse Kiewiete en Oos-Vrystaat mekaar die stryd aan. Die Kiewiete met President Steyn as vernaamste voedingsbron behoort die kragmeting te wen. Die Oos-Vrystaters word jaarliks heelwat verswak deur die feit dat baie van hulle spelers die Griffons se plattelandse Akademie-span haal.
    Gepraat van die plattelandse Akademie-span van die Perses. Hy kom teen die Vrystaatse LSOB-span (vir spelers met spesiale onderwysbehoeftes) te staan.

    Vandag se bepalings is:

    A-veld: 08:30: Griekwa-Akademie t. Vrystaat-Akademie; 09:20: Griekwas o.19 t. Vrystaat Arende XV-tal; 11:00: Griekwa-platteland Akademie t. Griffons-Akademie; 12:20: Griekwa-platteland o.18 t. Vrystaat o.18; 13:40: Griekwas o.18 t. Griffons o.18.

    B-veld: 08:30: Griffons-platteland Akademie t. Vrystaat LSOB; 09:20: Griffons o.19 t. Vrystaat Arende; 11:00: Oos-Vrystaat t. Vrystaat Kiewiete; 12:20: Suid-Vrystaat t. Sandveld.

  • Junior Boks in good shape ahead of England World Under20s semifinal

    Junior Boks in good shape ahead of England World Under20s semifinal

    After enjoying a training-free day on Thursday, the Junior Boks resumed their World Rugby Under-20 preparations on Friday in Parma, Italy, for their semi-final clash against defending champions England. The evening match takes place on Monday 15 June in Calvisano.

    The South Africans defeated Australia 46-13 in their final group fixture at the same venue two days ago to book their place in the last four. The clash is also a rematch of the 2014 Junior World Championship final, which England won 21-20 after an enthralling battle at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand.

    Coach Dawie Theron gave his entire squad off on Thursday so they could recover from their gruelling schedule, which saw them winning three pool matches in ten days.

    According to Theron his medical and conditioning team reported no injuries, apart from the usual bumps and bruises, after the customary check-ups on Friday morning. All 28 players are thus available for selection for the much-anticipated semi-final.

    On Saturday morning the squad will have a recovery activity followed by a late training session.

    “Our players are in very good shape and I must praise the conditioning and medical staff for doing a sterling job so far. To report no injuries after three matches at such a tough tournament is unbelievable,” said Theron.

    According to the coach, the challenge now for them is to keep the players fresh and mentally stimulated.

    “The spirit in the camp is very good and we have managed to find a good balance in terms of our preparations. The heat, humidity and travel time between matches meant we had to adjust our activity schedule according to the local conditions.

    “The players had a quiet time on Friday and we will have one video session before our team dinner in the evening. It is summer and the days are much longer over here, so you have to strike a good balance between the activities. That means you always have to be mindful of not keeping them busy for too long periods of time,” explains Theron.

    The semi-final draw for 15 June at Calvisano are as follow:

    18h30 New Zealand vs France

    20h30 South Africa vs England

    Both semi-finals will be televised live on SuperSport.

    Issued by SARU Corporate Affairs

  • South Africa storm into World Rugby U20’s semi-finals

    South Africa storm into World Rugby U20’s semi-finals

    The Junior Springboks are through to the semi-finals of the 2015 World Rugby Under-20 Championship after they scored a comprehensive 46-13 victory over Australia.

    The bonus-point win placed the South Africans top of Pool B and they also finished first on the overall points table thanks to their third successive bonus point win at the tournament.

    South Africa will now play England on June 15 at 20h30 at the same venue in Calvisano while New Zealand and France will cross swords in the earlier semi-final slot at 18h30.

    Dawie Theron, the Junior Boks coach, said afterwards he was very pleased with his side’s execution of the game plan.

    “This was our best performance so far. We did not start well against Italy, improved a bit against Samoa and tonight we gave a much more convincing display. We did our homework on Australia and knew that they could be dangerous off quick ruck ball, so we contested well in that area,” said Theron.

    He added that the medical team will assess fly half Brendan Thomson in the morning after the No 10 left the field in the second half because of a knock on the shoulder.

    Captain and No 8 Hanro Liebenberg praised his forwards for a huge performance.

    “We dominated upfront and that allowed our backs to come into the game. We scored some very good tries and I think the backs can be pleased with the platform that the pack created for them. There were still a few errors that we not happy about, but we now have a couple of days to prepare for our next match,” said Liebenberg.

    The top four teams on the overall standings are:

    1. South Africa 15 points (93 point difference)
    2. New Zealand 14 (83)
    3. France 13 (61)
    4. England 10 (-5)

    The semi-final draw for 15 June at Calvisano are as follow:

    18h30 New Zealand vs France
    20h30 South Africa vs England

    Issued by SARU Corporate Affairs

  • Junior Boks overwhelm Aussies to reach semi-finals

    Junior Boks overwhelm Aussies to reach semi-finals

    The Junior Springboks scored their third consecutive bonus-point win on Wednesday evening at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship when they overpowered Australia Under-20 by 46-13 to qualify for the semifinals of the world event. 

    The South Africans, who led 20-3 at halftime, finished first overall on the combined points table and will play fourth-placed England on Monday 15 June in the semi-finals.  New Zealand will play France in the other semi-final.

    South Africa started the match in dominant fashion when they overpowered Australia in two early scrums. After having worked their way towards the Aussie tryline, flanker Jacques Vermeulen broke through untouched to give his team a 7-0 minute lead in the third minute.

    Australia got their first points on the board through an Andrew Deegan penalty after Leolin Zas was penalised for an illegal tackle (7-3).

    Flyhalf Brandon Thomson hit the mark in the 12thminute with a penalty after the Aussies were caught on the wrong side of a ruck (10-3) as South Africa piled on the pressure and their accurate kicking game gaining good ground deep into Australian territory.

    In the 18th minute prop Ox Nche was on hand to take a final pass and dive over for the second try of the evening. Thomson kicked the two points on offer from an acute angle to stretch the SA lead to 17-3.

    The two teams enjoyed the water break at the 20 minute mark with South Africa well in control.

    With just four minutes left on the clock Thomson kicked his second penalty of the evening to put South Africa 20-3 ahead.

    After the restart, right wing Khanyo Ngcukana ran in to score from 30m meters out after prop Nche had executed a brilliant hit on Deegan. Thomson converted and SA was now 27-3 in the lead after 49 minutes.

    With Cameron Orr (prop) yellow carded for a repeated offense in the scrum,  Thomson scored South Africa’s bonus point try after 61 minutes to take the score to 34-3.

    Jason Jenkins, the No 4 lock, showed a mean burst of speed to outflank the cover defence and slide over in the left hand corner and score try number five (39-3). Australia hit back with their first try through inside centre Duncan Paia’uau to cut the deficit to 39-8.

    A cancelled Leolin Zas try, adjudged from a forward pass did not dampen the attacking effort and Zas was rewarded minutes when he score under the posts (46-8).

    The Aussie captain, Andrew Kellaway (left wing) scored out wide after Dan du Preez was yellow-carded for illegal play, leaving SA with only 13 players until the end of the match.

    Scorers:

    Junior Springboks: Tries: Jacques Vermeulen, Ox Nche, Khanyo Ngcukana, Brandon Tomson, Jason Jenkins, Leolin Zas; Conversions: Thomson (4), Tinus de Beer; Penalty: Thomson (2). Australia Under-20: Try: Duncan Paia’uau, Andrew Kellaway; Penalty: Andrew Deegan. 

    Issued by SARU Corporate Affairs