If the senior England set-up was at all anxious about the lack of big, nasty forwards in the production line, this was a reassuring reminder that reinforcements are on their way.
The finale could not have been more symbolic. In the 87th minute of a game played in wet and windy conditions, on a pudding of a Cape Town pitch that was barely deemed fit, James Isaacs dotted down at the tail of a rumbling maul to seal victory.
England did not need a win to secure a passage to the semi-final of the World Under-20 Championship, where they will face Ireland, but their pack, led by relentless skipper Finn Carnduff, evidently fancied one.
Following a series of penalties, after their scrum had caused the Junior Springboks to creak, England changed tack and put their faith in the maul. Backs piled in and Isaacs rewarded his team’s physical superiority. South Africa, reduced to 14 men due to Divan Fuller’s yellow card, were beaten.
It's celebration time for @EnglandRugby 🏴#WorldRugbyU20s | #RSAvENG pic.twitter.com/vTkcAyLRZH
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 9, 2024
Zachary Porthen, the home side’s skipper, who had barged over to put his team ahead early in the first period, admitted the result was “heart-breaking”. In truth, requiring a bonus-point triumph to leap-frog their opponents, South Africa were always up against it.
England gradually settled and levelled matters through Carnduff’s opportunistic pick and go close to the half-hour mark. Mark Mapletoft’s charges then went in front in the 45th minute when Exeter Chiefs lock Joe Bailey profited from another maul.
Likhona Finca, the Junior Springboks right wing, tied things up once more. Chasing a neat grubber from Jurenzo Julius, his outside centre, he kicked ahead twice and defied scrambling defenders to finish. In teeming rain and a blustery wind, Liam Koen could not convert.
For an idea of how difficult the elements were to handle, the game between Ireland and Australia earlier in the day at the same Athlone venue had been cancelled. France’s meeting with Wales was waved on, and cut up the field further. Notwithstanding inevitable errors, both South Africa and England deserve immense credit for the spectacle they delivered.
There were impressive individual displays across the England side. Carnduff, a rangy blindside flanker regarded as a Rolls Royce of a prospect at Leicester Tigers, topped the tackle count and ruled the line-out. Nathan Michelow, excellent at No 8, jackalled and carried effectively.
Craig Wright is a bustling hooker. Henry Pollock buzzed around. Asher Opoku-Fordjour lasted the course at loosehead prop and Junior Kpoku, the Racing 92 lock, has a mighty future. An injury to Billy Sela, the starting tighthead, was a shame.
There was clever kicking from both scrum-halves, Ollie Allan and Lucas Friday, and classy touches in the back-field, too, particularly from Jack Bracken and Alex Wills. Sean Kerr, the Harlequins inside centre, is building on a fine Six Nations.
South Africa go into the play-offs for lower places, but hooker Luca Bakkes and full-back Michail Damon acquitted themselves well.
“First of all, I want to credit South Africa,” said Carnduff at the end. “It was an incredible battle out there for 80 minutes. They really tested us, but to come out with a win at the end there, really sticking to what we believe we’re good at and getting over the line, I’m really proud of the boys.
“We’ve spoken previously about the brotherhood this squad has built. The boys that have worn the shirt have put so much effort in. I don’t think anything changes now. Our mind-set has been to win every game and that doesn’t change going into a semi-final.”
And what a semi-final that could be. England and Ireland met in March at The Rec and played out an absorbing 32-32 draw. They renew hostilities on Sunday, competing for a shot at either New Zealand or France in the decider.
After a statement win over the host nation, Carnduff and co will be licking their lips. Steve Borthwick, will have woken up in New Zealand impressed, and assured that the future for England’s forward play looks bright and belligerent.
Live Reporting
Charlie Morgan, Senior Rugby Writer
England captain Finn Carnduff
“First of all, I want to credit South Africa. It was an incredible battle out there for 80 minutes. They really tested us, but to come out with a win at the end there, really sticking to what we believe we’re good at and getting over the line, I’m really proud of the boys.
“We’ve spoken previously about the brotherhood this squad has built. The boys that have worn the shirt have put so much effort in.
“I don’t think anything changes. Our mind-set has been to win every game and that doesn’t change going into a semi-final”
Junior Springboks captain Zachary Porthen
“It’s heart-breaking. We’cve worked very hard for the last couple of weeks and we didn’t get the result we wanted.
“We didn’t play in the right areas of the field [in the first half], maybe over-worked our forwards a bit. We didn’t get enough points to play against the wind.”
86 mins: SA 12 ENG 17 TRY! England win it
It’s the maul that breaks the Junior Boks! England cap an arduous war of attrition by driving their hosts over the whitewash. Absolutely no idea who scored it, but referee Vedovelli is happy.
James Isaacs is credited with the try. The conversion is a skewed one, but that does not matter.
74 mins: SA 12 ENG 12
Asher Opoku-Fordjouris still out there for England at loosehead prop and has just helped march back South Africa. The scrum is re-set, though.
When it is, Friday breaks down the blindside and feeds Wills, who chips ahead and finds touch inside the opposition 22. Four minutes remaining, that should be enough for England to make the semi-final.
72 mins: SA 12 ENG 12
Good defence from England. There will be some huge numbers on their tackle-count. They’ve repelled South Africa back to the 10-metre line, with Kerr pressing up to stop a runner well behind the gain-line. Then Kerr’s opposite number, Joshua Boulle, cannot control a looping pass close to the touchline.
Match action
Here is Likhona Finca’s score, the latest in this tense contest. Wet and wild.
Likhona Finca's fancy footwork levels the score! 🤩#WorldRugbyU20s | #RSAvENG pic.twitter.com/GRZ76qQkKC
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 9, 2024
60 mins: SA 12 ENG 12
Very close for England. Ben Redshaw and Alex Wills conjure an opening from the back-field as the latter chips ahead with his left foot. Ben Waghorn chases and all he has to do is gather cleanly... but Bathobele Hlekani tracks back doggedly. There’s a spill and South Africa have a scrum put-in, five metres from their own line.
50 mins: SA 12 ENG 12 TRY! Finca levels it again
The rain is teeming down now and we are back level. It’s a crazy finish from Likhona Finca on the right wing. He follows the grubber of Jurenzo Julius and hacks through twice, the ball somehow evading the cover defence. It’s very skilful from Finca to finish after dribbling in-field. Koen cannot convert but South Africa have a lifeline.
Match action
Here’s the South Africa try at the start of the game. Power and precision to puncture England:
South Africa power forward to grab the opening try in this crucial contest! 🇿🇦#WorldRugbyU20s | #RSAvENG pic.twitter.com/QNRSVv0T32
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 9, 2024
Some bonus handbags there as well, quickly defused by referee Federico Vedovelli.
34 mins - SA U20 7-7 ENG U20
England have found another gear here. Jack Bracken slips down the right touchline and, all of a sudden, the Junior Springboks look a bit ragged and tired in defence. The ball is recycled quickly and Casper Badenhorst is penalised for a no-arms tackle on the marauding Michelow. England hit the corner.
They’re backing their maul... and have a scrum put-in five metres out following a knock-on from South Africa.
28 mins: SA 7 ENG 7TRY! Carnduff levels
It was Craig Wright who pulled in the errant South Africa line-out. The hooker bustled close to the line and England were awarded a penalty.
Henry Pollock took it quickly and the forwards stayed patient, with Nathan Michelow shunting close and Carnduff reaching over. Assured conversion from Kerr. We’re level.
11 mins - SA U20 7-0 ENG U20
Michail Damon, the South Africa full-back, looks very classy. He makes some space on the left and then there’s a clever kick through from Koen. The Junior Springboks pile through to force a breakdown penalty and, once again, they are camped in England’s 22.
Carnduff pounces for the jackal. That feels important.
7 mins: SA 7 ENG 0 TRY! Porthen opens the scoring
Zachary Porthen picks, goes and scores to cap a pummel-fest from South Africa’s forwards.
England were stout enough, but breached. At least now they will be able to escape their half. The referee brought together the captains, Porthen and Carnduff, for a chat before Koen’s successful conversion. No more needle was the message.
One to watch
This is an obvious one, but England need some props to push through into the senior ranks and assert themselves. Billy Sela of Bath has a lot of admirers, and goes up against a South African pack, away from home, on a stodgy surface tonight.
It is 4.47am in Auckland, so Steve Borthwick might not be awake. But he will be sure to catch up with this game.
Wales go down
France have won that game 29-11, which should be enough to put them through. Wales, meanwhile, go into the 5th-8th play-offs.
Hugo Reus, the France captain, who has played for La Rochelle at senior level already, has just laughed in his post-match interview, describing the conditions as “very, very hard”.
Huge result for Georgia U20
They have overturned Italy 28-17. Earlier in the tournament, they were so close to beating Ireland, who needed a last-gasp try.
For mine, Georgia should be integrated into the U20 Six Nations somehow. It should be said that Italy U20 won against Australia in the same group.
Team news
Kick-off is about 35 minutes away and, barring any late changes, these are the line-ups:
South Africa U20
15. Michail Damon
14. Likhona Finca
13. Jurenzo Julius
12. Joshua Boulle
11. Litelihle Bester
10. Liam Koen
9. Asad Moos
1. Casper Badenhorst
2. Luca Bakkes
3. Zachary Porthen (captain)
4. Thomas Dyer
5. JF van Heerden
6. Sibabalwe Mahashe
7. Bathobele Hlekani
8. Thabang Mphafi
Replacements
16. Ethan Bester
17. Liyema Ntshanga
18. Herman Lubbe
19. Jaco Grobbelaar
20. Tiaan Jacobs
21. Divan Fuller
22. Tylor Sefoor
23. Phillip-Albert van Niekerk
England U20
15. Ben Redshaw
14. Jack Bracken
13. Ben Waghorn
12. Sean Kerr
11. Alex Wills
10. Benjamin Coen
9. Ollie Allan
1. Asher Opoku-Fordjour
2. Craig Wright
3. Billy Sela
4. Joe Bailey
5. Junior Kpoku
6. Finn Carnduff (captain)
7. Henry Pollock
8. Nathan Michelow
Replacements
16 James Isaacs
17 James Halliwell
18 Afolabi Fasogbon
19 Olamide Sodeke
20 Kane James
21 Lucas Friday
22 Angus Hall
23 Ioan Jones
Hotshots
It is always interesting to scour these games in search of future stars, because individuals can be fast-tracked pretty quickly. Just last year, Chandler Cunningham-South represented the England team that made it to the semi-final. Twelve months on, the back-rower has six caps and a start against the All Blacks.
Past winners
As mentioned, France have been on a purple patch in this tournament of late. Before the bluewash, 10 previous editions were shared between New Zealand (2008-2011, 2015, 2017), England (2013, 2014, 2016) and South Africa, who prevailed in 2012, another year that they hosted.
A couple of promising members of that Junior Springboks side were Paul Willemse, who became a bopping tighthead lock for France, and Handré Pollard. The latter has done pretty well, especially in World Cups.
Good evening everyone
Hello everyone and welcome to our live text commentary of South Africa Under-20’s meeting with England at the Under-20 World Championship. It is the third and final group match for both teams, which each of them aiming to seal qualification for the semi-finals.
England, who landed the Six Nations title earlier this year, beat Argentina 40-21 in their opener before dismissing Fiji 48-11. The Junior Springboks have found life tougher. They thrashed Fiji 57-7 but were beaten 31-12 by los Pumitas.
Those results mean that England, led by head coach Mark Mapletoft and captained by rangy Leicester Tigers back-rower Finn Carnduff, are top of Pool C with 10 points and a healthy points difference of +56.
I think South Africa would have to overturn their opponents by at least 13 this evening, while scoring four tries and denying England any sort of bonus, to hit the summit. There are three pools, which allows for one best runner-up to progress. We will be at permutation stations later on, no doubt.
A quite important thing to say is that this game was in grave danger of being called off. Ireland’s encounter with Australia at the same venue, which was scheduled for earlier in the day, was cancelled due to a dangerously wet surface at Athlone in Cape Town.
Somehow, the pitch drained sufficiently over the afternoon for World Rugby to be satisfied that players would be safe. But one quirk of these Under-20 tournaments is that multiple games are played at the same venue consecutively. France and Wales are going at it as we speak in a windswept encounter and the surface looks seriously cut up.
France, who have won the past three Under-20 World Championships to have been completed, in 2018, 2019 and 2023, after a Covid-enforced hiatus, are currently leading 26-6.
Related Topics
- England Rugby Union Team,
- South Africa Rugby Union Team
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