The Junior Springboks claimed the 2026 U20 Rugby Championship with one game to spare after an emphatic victory in Gqeberha on Sunday.
Kevin Foote’s charge ran in eight tries, including two penalty tries, to beat Australia 56-17 at the Nelson Mandela Mandela Bay Stadium to put one hand on the U20 TRC trophy.
The young Australians started brightly and with plenty of intent, but struggled to break through the South Africans. Poor discipline from the visitors, however, handed the Junior Boks the foothold they needed, and from there it became one-way traffic.
Jack Benade opened the scoring for the hosts, finishing off a simple backline move after sustained pressure. It was the winger’s fourth try of the tournament after a hat-trick in the campaign opener. Flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed added the extras from the touchline to give the hosts a 7-0 lead after 15 minutes.
A minute later, disaster struck for the Junior Wallabies when centre Leo Jaques was sent to the sin bin.
It took the Junior Boks only five minutes to make the extra man count, with loose forward Wasi Vyambwera crossing the whitewash after a brilliant line break from winger Khutadzo Rasivhaga. Ahmed converted again to extend the lead.
As Jaques was about to return to the field, Australia suffered another blow when lock Isaac Fomua was shown yellow, with the Junior Boks awarded a penalty try.
Like a runaway train
Nobody can stop Ethan Adams in Gqeberha
Stream #TRCU20 on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/lTBGdrRW6K
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) May 3, 2026
Eight minutes later, the hosts were awarded another penalty try after winger Taione Taka deliberately knocked the ball down over the line to prevent a certain score. Taka was also yellow-carded, forcing the Aussies to briefly play with 13 men.
But the setback appeared to spark the visitors into life as winger Riley Whitfield crossed for a late try four minutes before half time.
The Junior Boks took a 28-12 lead into the break. The Australians showed some intent after the interval, and came close to breaching the SA line on a few occasions.
But it was the South Africans who were first to score, when centre Ethan Adams dived over for their fifth try of the afternoon. Ahmed again made no mistake from the tee.
Scrumhalf Hendré Schoeman was the beneficiary after the backs turned on the heat and finding space out wide. Ahmed’s perfect kicking performance continued as South Africa streaked to a 30-point lead.
Australian stayed in the fight and were rewarded in the 64th minute with Taka rounding off in the corner. Late tries from replacement forward JD Hattingh and Ahmed put the result to bed.
The Junior Boks next face New Zealand – on the receiving end of a 25-17 defeat by Argentina in the day’s earlier action– in their final match of the tournament next Saturday.
JUNIOR BOKS – Tries: Jack Benade, Wasi Vyambwera, Ethan Adams, JD Hattingh, Yaqeen Ahmed, Penalty tries (2). Conversions: Ahmed (4), Vusi Moyo (2).
AUSTRALIA U20 – Tries: Finn Mackay, Riley Whitfield, Taione Taka. Conversion: Mackay.
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
The post Junior Boks crush Aussies to clinch title appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
