JUNIOR SPRINGBOKS CROWNED WORLD CHAMPS
It’s official! The Junior Springboks are the World Rugby U20 champions. This makes them the third South African team to win a rugby world championship alongside the Springboks and the Blitzboks.
The Junior Springboks managed to win New Zealand by 22 – 16 in Italy, where the tournament was held.
This was the seventh time in a row that the South Africans beat the Kiwis in this tournament, and the second time in a final. The previous final, which South Africa beat New Zealand, was in 2012.
The Junior Boks were in the winning seat right from the start with a great defence pack and a halftime score of 13 – 5.
Although the New Zealanders’ attack might have worked really well for them in previous matches, the South Africans were ready for them.
Kiwi Sika Pole got a 20-minute read card due to a high tackle with South African Albe Bester getting a yellow card for a dangerous ruck entry.
Although Maloni Kunawave scored in the dying seconds of the match, it wasn’t enough for New Zealand to beat the mighty Junior Springboks, which led to captain Riley Norton holding the cup high.
Image credit: The Citizen