STELLENBOSCH – The Junior Springboks finished the inaugural U20 International Series in style with an impressive 57-14 victory over a physical Georgian side on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Paul Roos Gymnasium’s Markötter Stadium in Stellenbosch.

The Georgians were impressive earlier in the tournament, beating both Fiji and Chile, but they struggled against the forward power and backline finesse of the South African Under-20s.

With their pack yet again laying a strong foundation, especially in the scrums, the Junior Bok backs had the opportunity to express themselves, which they did, while the Georgians’ discipline let them down and allowed the hosts to dominate territory and possession.

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If it wasn’t for a few unforced errors due to over-eagerness, the half-time score could have been bigger than 38-7, but the six first-half tries were good reward for the Junior Boks’ enterprising play.

Yaqeen Ahmed opened the scoring with typical slick footwork from an attacking lineout and although Georgia levelled the scores at 7-7 six minutes later with a converted maul try, that was the last shot they fired.

Kebotile Maake scored twice from well-worked attacking lineout moves close to the Georgian tryline, and Luan Giliomee also bagged a first-half brace from good attacking backline moves.

Vusi Moyo, who converted four of the tries, also helped himself to a five-pointer from another great play by the backs.

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Georgia started the second half much better and tested the South African defence by keeping the ball in hand, while they also had the hosts under pressure in the scrums. The visitors drew first blood when Luka Tabatadze crossed for a converted try on the right-hand side after a period of sustained pressure to push their score into double figures.

Four minutes later, Ahmed got his second try when the Junior Boks went blind after another strong lineout maul.

Gert Kemp, playing on the field of his former high school, scored a superb try from a turnover deep in the South African half before Jack Benade, who was denied by a TMO call in the first half, grabbed his chance out on the right-hand side after another slick attack.

Ahmed converted both to push the Junior Boks’ lead out to 57-14, and although Georgia finished with a strong attack, not giving up, they were kept out by some resolute South African defence.

• Source: KickOff.com