By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa U20 have won the World Rugby U20 Championship after beating New Zealand 23-15 in Rovigo on Saturday.
The victory sees the Junior Springboks take home their first U20 crown since 2012 following a campaign where they looked the strongest side throughout.
The Junior Boks opened the scoring in just the third minute with a try from the powerful No 8 Wandile Mlaba. Flyhalf Vusi Moyo – who’s been in fine form from the kicking tee throughout the tournament – added the extra two points.
The Junior All Blacks hit back with a try of their own 12 minutes later, courtesy of lock Jayden Sa.
The clash had a real final feel, with the South Africans not wasting an opportunity to take the points on offer. Moyo popped over two penalties to ensure the Junior Boks go into the sheds with a healthy but not insurmountable 13-5 lead.
Both teams had a player sent off in the first half. The Junior All Blacks lost loosehead prop Sika Pole to a 20-minute red card for a shoulder charge on JJ Theron, while the Junior Boks had to go without centre Albie Bester for ten minutes after a no-arms clear out at the ruck.
The second half was equally tight, with flyhalves Rico Simpson and Moyo exchanging penalties. A crucial moment in the match came in the 62nd minute, when tournament top try scorer Haashim Pead was denied a seventh of the Championship when the TMO had ruled an infringement at the scrum enabled Pead to score.
Scorers:
Junior Springboks 23 (13) – Tries: Xola Nyali, Gilermo Mentoe. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (2). Penalty goals: Moyo (3).
New Zealand 15 (5) – Tries: Jayden Sa, Maloni Kunawave. Conversion: Will Cole. Penalty goal: Rico Simpson.