The Junior Springboks are on fire! South Africa have clinched their spot in the semi-finals of the World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 after a dominant performance. They secured a 32-22 victory against defending champions England in Rovigo, Italy, following a record-breaking win over Australia.
Captain Riley Norton made it clear that the team is determined to end a 13-year wait for a second title, and their recent displays have only reinforced that belief. Could this be the team to emulate the success of Handre Pollard and Pieter-Steph du Toit's class of 2012?
A Thrilling Encounter
The match against England lived up to the hype. England started strong with tries from Jonny Weimann and Connor Treacey, giving them a commanding 14-0 lead within the first 11 minutes. However, the Junior Boks showed incredible composure.
Boks Fight Back
South Africa gradually gained control, utilizing their dangerous backline to close the gap. By halftime, the score was a tight 22-19 in favour of England. A long-range penalty put the Boks in the lead, followed by a fantastic solo try from Hassiem Pead. Despite England having a man advantage in the final 10 minutes, they couldn't find a way back.
By denying England a bonus point, South Africa secured their position at the top of Pool A with a perfect 10 points. Australia, who defeated Scotland 34-24, are also in the mix, but South Africa has already beaten both rivals.
- Pool A: South Africa (10 points)
- Pool B: France (10 points), Argentina (10 points)
Other Matches
France and Argentina also have 10 points in Pool B and are set to battle for the top spot in Verona. Argentina overcame a massive deficit against Spain, trailing 30-7 at halftime before staging a remarkable comeback to win 33-30. France also secured a victory, setting up a thrilling contest against Argentina.