PAARL – The South African Under-18 rugby team capped off a flawless international series campaign with a convincing 69-24 victory over England at Paarl Gimnasium on Saturday, maintaining their unbeaten record and showcasing the depth of talent in South African schoolboy rugby.
The brilliant win marked the third consecutive victory for the SA Under-18s in the U18 International Series, following impressive victories over France (43-21) and Ireland (45-5) earlier in the tournament.
The young Springboks burst out of the blocks with devastating effect, racing to a commanding 21-0 lead within the opening quarter. Speedster Jadriaan Afrikaner opened the scoring inside the first five minutes, finishing off a slick backline movement that highlighted the team’s attacking prowess.
The early momentum continued when powerful No 8 Gert Kemp crashed over just two minutes later, capitalising on sustained pressure in England’s half. With flyhalf Liyema Nela converting both tries, the SA Under-18s had firmly seized control of the encounter.
Captain Markus Muller extended the lead further when he pounced on a charged-down kick, with Nela’s successful conversion from an acute angle making it 21-0 before England had registered a meaningful attack.
England showed character in the face of the early onslaught, finally opening their account through Hugh Shields’ penalty goal at the halfway mark of the first half. The visitors gained momentum when tighthead prop Lawrence Ogbonnaya barged over for a converted try, reducing the deficit to 21-10.
After the SA Under-18s responded with a penalty goal to maintain scoreboard pressure at 24-10, England struck again through flanker Henry Horsfall’s converted try, ensuring a competitive 24-17 halftime scoreline despite the home side’s dominance.
The second half belonged entirely to the SA Under-18s, who added seven more tries while displaying defensive resilience that kept England scoreless until the final moments. The young Springboks’ forward pack found their rhythm, with the scrum providing a solid platform for attacking opportunities.
Muller and midfield partner Ethan Adams combined effectively for Adams’ try, before right wing Junaide Stuart collected a perfectly weighted cross-field kick to score in the corner. The forwards then took center stage, with tighthead prop JG Badenhorst, Altus Rabe, Josh Neill, and replacement centre Christian Vorster all adding their names to the scoresheet.
Replacement flyhalf Ruben Groenewald maintained the high conversion rate, ensuring the scoreboard accurately reflected the home side’s dominance as they reached 69 points.
England captain Declan Treacey managed a consolation try in the dying moments, but it did little to diminish the scale of the SA Under-18s’ achievement.
The comprehensive series victory demonstrates the continued strength of South African schoolboy rugby and provides encouraging signs for the future of Springbok rugby. The team’s ability to maintain intensity across three matches while showcasing both attacking flair and defensive solidity bodes well for the players’ development.
SA U18 69 (24) – Tries: Jadriaan Afrikaner, Gert Kemp, Markus Muller (2), Ethan Adams, Junaide Stuart, JG Badenhorst, Altus Rabe, Josh Neill, Christian Vorster. Conversions: Liyema Nela (4), Ruben Groenewald (4). Penalty goal: Nela.
England 24 (17) – Tries: Lawrence Ogbonnaya, Henry Horsfall, Declan Treacey. Conversions: Hugh Shields, Oscar Talbot. Penalty goal: Shields.
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