The Junior Springboks wrapped up their Georgian odyssey in emphatic fashion, dispatching the hosts 35-5 in atrocious conditions on Friday afternoon in Tbilisi to complete a clean sweep of their short tour.
Playing in driving rain and bitter cold, the SA U20s showed composure to back up their 35-0 demolition job from last week with another clinical display that showcased both their attacking prowess and defensive steel.
Head coach Kevin Foote could not hide his satisfaction with how his charges handled the challenging circumstances.
“The conditions were tough with all the rain. Playing in Georgia is always difficult for different reasons, but I thought the guys showed a lot of maturity today,” he said after the match.
The statistics tell a compelling story. Across two matches on Georgian soil, the Junior Boks conceded just one try whilst running in 10 of their own. It is the kind of defensive record that lays the foundation for championship-winning campaigns.
ALSO READ: Junior Boks coach delighted with pack’s Georgian demolition
Ahmed’s boot proves flawless
If there is a star to emerge from this tour, it is flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed. The pivot contributed 15 points in the second test through a try and five conversions, maintaining his perfect record from the tee. Ahmed slotted all 10 conversion attempts across the two matches, the sort of reliability that wins tight matches when margins matter.
“We didn’t get a lot of possession, but when we did, we made use of it, especially in the first half,” Foote explained, highlighting his team’s ruthless efficiency in the opening 40 minutes.
First-half blitz sets the tone
The Junior Boks established their dominance early, racing to a 21-0 halftime lead despite Georgia’s physical pack making life difficult at the breakdown. Lindsey Jansen opened the account after some slick midfield interplay from Ethan Adams and Markus Muller carved open the Georgian defence, allowing the speedster to finish with typical aplomb.
Scrumhalf Hendré Schoeman burrowed over for the second before Zekhethelo Siyaya, outstanding in the No 15 jersey, showcased his attacking instincts to score the third converted try before the break.
Second-half grind tests character
The hosts emerged from the sheds with renewed intent, and Nika Khalvashi capitalised on a beautifully executed cross-kick to breach the Junior Bok defence shortly after the restart. It was Georgia’s only moment of joy in an otherwise frustrating afternoon.
The wet ball made handling a lottery, and the match descended into a stop-start affair that tested patience and discipline. The South Africans struggled on this front, conceding too many penalties and having two players sent to the sin-bin. Yet their defensive line held firm when it mattered most.
Ahmed crossed for his try before Risima Khosa added the final score as the Junior Boks eased to a deserved victory that maintained their unbeaten record on tour.
Eyes on bigger prizes
This Georgian expedition was not just about winning two matches, it was reconnaissance work for the Junior World Championship, which Georgia will host later this year. Foote acknowledged the value of experiencing these unique challenges first-hand.
“The second half was very stop-start, so there were some great learnings for us here in Georgia, as we’ll be playing here again during the Junior World Championship, which they will host,” the coach noted.
“It was a good effort for us to only concede one try, which is important and shows our character, but we still have a long way to go as we head towards the U20 Rugby Championship.”
The squad will return to South Africa over the weekend before enjoying a well-earned break. They will reconvene next month at their Stellenbosch training base to begin preparations for the U20 Rugby Championship, where the real work begins.
For now, though, Foote and his coaching staff can be satisfied with a job well done. Two wins from two, minimal damage conceded, and valuable experience banked in conditions that would have broken lesser teams. The Junior Springboks are building something special.
