Dawie Theron and Brenden Venter will have seen their lives flash before there eyes a number of times at the Cape Town Stadium yesterday, as their patchwork SA Under 20 side at first faltered, before rallying in the second half to record a resounding win over the England juniors. In picking up a try bonus point in the 28-15 win, the Junior Springboks booked a place in the semi-finals of the IRB Junior World Championship in the process.
Not that the 10 000 or so who poured into the stadium would have had much indication of the final result at half time, though. With the Bokkies getting smashed up front and their set piece in disarray, it was the English who took a 3-0 lead into the break and with just 40 minutes left to play, most fans justifiably felt that a win itself was most unlikely, far less so the bonus point required to prevent yet another JWC collapse for South Africa. Theron had been forced to rejig his side just before kick-off, with tournament captain Wiaan Liebenberg crying off injured, replaced at blindside flank by Sharks lock Pieter-Steph du Toit.
To say that the pack that started the match was bested by the English would be somewhat of an understatement. Props Steven Kitshoff and (particularly) Oliver Kebble were under the cosh at scrum time, whilst hooker Jason Thomas wouldn’t have been able to find his line-out jumpers even if he’d had a GPS device. Some shrewd front-row replacements on the half hour mark, though, seemed to stem the tide, with Maks van Dyk and Mark Pretorius taking over from Kebble and Thomas respectively, but it was undoubtedly the half-time team talk that proved instrumental in this win.
Simply put, the Junior Springboks came out a different side and proceeded to play with a direction , purpose and accuracy that belied their frankly non-existent first-half showing. Stand-in skipper William Small-Smith set the tone with a great try 2 minutes into the half, with flanks Shaun Adendorff and du Toit going on to steal the show from there. Adendorff played a truly massive innings, scoring twice in the half, with the other going to du Toit who began to relish the unaccustomed blind side flank role as the pack started to settle. Locks Paul Willemse and Ruan Botha also deserve much praise for their robust, yet controlled play in the second half that saw both regularly set up as ball-carrying targets to bash their way over the English defence.
It may have been the forwards scoring the bulk of the tries, but to underestimate the role the backs played – particularly on defence – would be massively unfair. After a hesitant performance against the Irish in the opening round, it was Sharks centre Paul Jordaan – playing in the unfamiliar right wing position – who led the charge and turned the English back time and again with accurate and effective tackles, while his former schoolmates Small-Smith and Jan Serfontein followed his example. While Adendorff walked away with the plaudits – and deservedly so – I think the records need to show that the SA Under 20 side would not have won on this day without the efforts of Paul Jordaan.
The Junior Springboks will now play Argentina in the semi-finals, with Wales and the All Blacks set to clash on the other side of the draw.
SCORERS
South Africa under-20: Tries: Shaun Adendorff (2), Pieter-Steph Du Toit, William Small Smith; Conversions: Handre Pollard (4).
England under-20: Penalties: Tommy Bell (5)
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What an incredible half of rugby !
I now get the hype around Jordaan and there are a few youngsters that various Unions are going to have to get their cheque books warmed up to hold on to them.
Wonder what was said in the training room..
@csb (Comment 1) : that boy must be used in currie cup..come nexts years super rugby we going to have a nice headache with whitehead,jordaan,fransie.
@shaniboi (Comment 3) :
To quote Megatron: ‘You forgot the human revolving door Meyer Bosman!!’ 😈
@shaniboi (Comment 2) :
What I gathered from the fulltime interview with Small-Smith they were told to go out play their heart and soul out at such a great venue and at home …
Must be said a very well spoken Chap Small-Smith.
I did kringe at Toks questioning of the England Captain.
@csb (Comment 1) : I’m starting to buy into the line of thinking that the Sharks should make a play for Paul Willemse. Really like that kid a lot… reckon in a better team than the Lions he could be pushing Etzie for that green number 4 jersey in time.
@robdylan (Comment 6) :
Agree
Its gonna be open season on Lions players, infact I suspect its already started …I’d add Ruan Botha also.
Have to say, I was worried about having a schoolboy in the team, but he surprized the living sheot out of me. Cool, calm AND most importantly, accurate goal kicking. I think he did flippen awsome! Craven week is gonna be a “downer” for him now! 😆
@robdylan (Comment 6) : He’s certainly big enough. Pieter-Steph was great last night too.
I only saw part of the first half, and the highlights of the second half. Adendorf at 6 looks to be one hot prospect too.
Oh and Small-Smith’s pace is insane, I still have no idea how he bust through the line and beat all the cover defense for that try.
@molly (Comment 9) : in the second half, yes. Finally started to see what some of the hype was about, if I’m honest.
I have to ask is the 2 scrummies we have the best at this age group that SA have to offer ?
Also alot of 9’s in SA with the bad habit of taking 2-3 steps before passing.
@molly (Comment 11) :
It was a beautiful pass on the angle …the kinda tries I’d love to see from the senior sides …
Fantastic try.
Well done Baby Boks…I didn’t think you had it in you. I hope this wasn’t your ‘final’ though.
Great comeback….I really hope you can maintain it!
@robdylan (Comment 6) : A while ago someone said the Sharks should make a move for the Lions’ young locks. I said we should back our own not knowing what the hype is about the Lions’ locks. I can see it now. Willemse looks a great prospect!
@csb (Comment 13) : It was a great pass and run, but he was slowed when he broke the tackle, and STILL managed to out-strip the cover, so impressive.
@molly (Comment 11) : He played sevens. His pace doesn’t come as much of a surprise.
Heart and soul,key words here,what a 2nd half performance
@robdylan (Comment 12) : What’s it like being a Saffer in Pomland this week?
@klempie (Comment 19) : I think you may overestimate the extent to which the man in the street cares.
They’re all thinking the soccball in Poland and the Ukraine.
@robdylan (Comment 20) : True. Poofs.
@klempie (Comment 21) : lucky you’re not judgemental much 🙂
You should come and stay with me for a few weeks… we’ll try introduce you to some people who don’t live in your little bubble… maybe you’ll grow as a person!
@robdylan (Comment 22) : I’ve spent enough time alongside Poms in their habitat thank you very much. 😎
@klempie (Comment 23) : funny, they told me the same thing.
@robdylan (Comment 24) : that they’ve spent enough time in their habitat? Can’t says I blame them. 😈
@klempie (Comment 25) : umm, no. They were quite happy, but wanted to send a strongly-worded letter to the High Commission in Pretoria… see where I’m heading with this one?
@robdylan (Comment 26) : Oh, you must be talking about England rugby fans. Yes, I’d be upset too. 😈
Lambie to start at fullback !
Pretty much same team with Basson added on the bench.
Aplon not considered due too not being involved enough this week ..Fullback to be covered by either Frans or Pienaar.
Timotei still in the squad as is Spies 🙄
Loved that come back. Turn point was definitely the change of front rowers Van Dyk & Pretorius as Kebble was getting handled at scrum time. BB No 8 was a few yards behind the pace IMO. I enjoyed Van Dyk, he’s like a pitt bull.
@Ernie (Comment 30) : actually a Lions no 8
@robdylan (Comment 31) :
Baby Bok … 😉
Robd you guys are slacking where is the Bok squad thread ?
@csb (Comment 32) : ask SARU’s new comms guy JJ Harmse where the email is!!!
ah ok – media release from SARU just came now.
I wish I had the time or energy to check the SA Rugby website every 5 minutes just in case there’s news…
@robdylan (Comment 33) :
oh dear
@robdylan (Comment 34) :
I come here every 5min for news 😀
Toks was embarrasing in his post match interviews.
I actually had to change the channel and wait for him to finish.
What a fat moron.
@John Galt (Comment 36) :
Me too ..it was well kringe worthy.
Shocking post match questioning.
@John Galt (Comment 36) : @csb (Comment 37) :
Please elaborate?? 😕
@John Galt (Comment 36) : @csb (Comment 37) :
Please tell, I’m also curious now.
@Pokkel (Comment 39) : @wpw (Comment 38) : did you guys expect to be beaten by four tries in the second half?”
“did your coaching stuff know you guys will be beaten by four tries in the 2nd half”
rubbish like this!
@Megatron (Comment 40) :
pretty frikken poor if you ask me. 😯
@Megatron (Comment 40) : @Pokkel (Comment 41) : LOOOOOOL I’m sorry I missed it.
@Pokkel (Comment 41) : @klempie (Comment 42) : the english lad was gracious enough to say something like “to lose to SA is not a disgrace, all his teammates gave their best and on the day it wasn’t good enough”
then toks peppered him some more about what his coaches and still the boy was polite…i would’ve told him to bugger off!
@Megatron (Comment 43) : Wow! This coming from the king of trolling…it must’ve been really BAD!
Lol @ klempie.
Hoor wie praat. klempie accusing Megatron.
Has the world gone mad?? 😈
@wpw (Comment 45) : Hou jou bek Pensie! 😈
@csb (Comment 35) : good man, good man 🙂
@wpw (Comment 45) : jealousy is a nasty trait… 🙂
Jordaan was awesome…
Willemse (Lions lock) was awesome as well….he bumped some people real hard…
The Eng were raving about the pace of their wings…but Jordaan cut them down and hauled them in time after time….
And he was awesome in defense….
With Frans Steyn back at the Sharks…I will play Steyn and Whitehead with Jordaan in place of Mvovo…