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The Junior Springboks kicked off their two-match series against Georgia with a hard-fought 38-29 victory at the Avchala Stadium in Tbilisi on Sunday afternoon.
Despite a strong start, the South African Under-20 team had to dig deep to secure the win after leading 26-17 at halftime.
The SA Under-20s outscored their hosts by six tries to five, with four conversions proving crucial in keeping Georgia at bay. The home side, who displayed physicality and determination in responding with five tries of their own, were at a disadvantage with only two being converted.
A Strong Start but Sloppy Discipline
Junior Bok coach Kevin Foote acknowledged the challenges faced by his squad, particularly playing in unfamiliar conditions.
"It was a fantastic hit-out for us, considering that we played in conditions that we’re not used to," Foote said from a cold Tbilisi. "We started really well, but then the penalty count started going against us, which is something we need to address from a disciplinary perspective."
The Junior Boks raced into an early 19-0 lead within the first 16 minutes, thanks to tries from fullback Gilermo Mentoe, left wing Chijindu Okonta, and centre Dominic Malgas. Flyhalf Matthew Coetzee converted two of the three tries.
However, lapses in concentration allowed Georgia to claw their way back into the game, with three forward-dominated tries reducing the deficit to 19-17 before halftime.
Loose forward Divan Fuller, a returning member from last year’s SA Under-20 team, scored just before the break to re-establish a nine-point lead for the visitors at 26-17.
A Hard-Fought Second Half
The second half saw Georgia take advantage of Junior Bok ill-discipline, with a yellow card to Jaundré Schoeman in the 56th minute proving costly. The Georgians capitalised, scoring two tries and a conversion to edge ahead 29-26 with 15 minutes remaining.
However, the Junior Boks’ replacements provided fresh energy, swinging momentum back in their favor. Late tries from Cheswill Jooste and Xola Nyali, along with a conversion from JT Kapank, sealed a hard-fought but deserved 38-29 victory.
Key Takeaways for the Junior Boks
Coach Foote took positives from the match, highlighting the team’s resilience and set-piece improvement.
"We came here with objectives in mind, and that was to be really good in our set piece. I think our lineouts are starting to take shape, our mauls are looking good, and our scrums as well," he noted. "However, a big work-on for us is our maul defense, ensuring we get our roles right and maintain consistency."
He also praised his team’s defensive structure and game management under pressure.
"I thought our defence was good overall. The guys handled the general defensive play well, and I think we understood when to kick and when to keep the ball in hand. Playing against a team accustomed to these conditions made it even more challenging, particularly after we went down to 14 men."
Looking Ahead
The Junior Boks will now turn their attention to the second and final match of the series, set for Friday. With a few areas identified for improvement, particularly in discipline and defensive structure, the South African squad will aim for a more complete performance to close out the series on a high.
Scorers:
Georgia Under-20 (29) – Tries: Shota Kheladze, Saba Laghedze (2), Beka Neparidze, Nugzar Kevkhisvili. Conversions: David Tsiklauri, Giorgi Sesiashvili.
Junior Springboks (38) – Tries: Gilermo Mentoe, Chijindu Okonta, Dominic Malgas, Divan Fuller, Cheswill Jooste, Xola Nyali. Conversions: Matthew Coetzee (3), JT Kapank.
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