Junior Boks Clinch Series Style with Dominant Victory Over Georgia

The Junior Springboks concluded the inaugural U20 International Series with a flawless record, dispatching a physical Georgia side 57-14 in front of a packed crowd at Paul Roos Gymnasium's Markötter Stadium in Stellenbosch. Having already registered heavy victories over Chile and Fiji earlier in the tournament, the South African Under-20s completed a clean sweep of three wins from three matches to finish the series in style.

Georgia entered the final round full of confidence after impressive wins against Fiji and Chile, but they ultimately had no answer for the host nation's ruthless combination of forward dominance and backline flair. A powerhouse performance at scrum time laid a rock-solid platform for the Junior Bok backline, capitalising heavily on Georgian disciplinary lapses to dominate both territory and possession from the outset.

Enterprising First-Half Onslaught

The Junior Boks wasted no time asserting themselves on a sunny afternoon, running in six spectacular tries before the break. Yaqeen Ahmed opened the scoring with a brilliant display of footwork from an attacking lineout. While Georgia briefly leveled the score at 7-7 through a converted maul try by Levani Ezieshvili, it proved to be a rare moment of celebration for the visitors.

South Africa quickly went through the gears, delivering a masterclass in set-piece execution and expansive rugby. Hooker Kebotile Maake crossed the whitewash twice from well-orchestrated lineout moves close to the line, while the lethal Luan Giliomee continued his rich vein of form by bagging a first-half brace. Flyhalf Vusi Moyo also joined the scoring spree, dotting down after a slick backline move and converting four tries to push the halftime score to a commanding 38-7.

Sealing the Clean Sweep

The European outfit started the second stanza with renewed vigor, applying sustained pressure on the South African defense and testing their resolve at the scrum. Their efforts were rewarded when Luka Tabatadze crashed over for a converted try, pushing the visitors into double figures. However, the Junior Boks quickly extinguished any thoughts of a comeback.

Ahmed soon drifted down the blindside to secure his second try of the match following another powerful lineout drive. Local favorite Gert Kemp, playing on his former high school ground, then brought the crowd to their feet by finishing off a sensational counter-attacking try originating deep within the South African half. Wing Jack Benade completed the nine-try rout, capitalizing on slick handling to score in the right corner. Ahmed converted both late scores to seal the emphatic 57-14 scoreline, with the Junior Boks' defense standing firm in the final minutes to deny Georgia a consolation score.

Final Whistle

Three matches, three commanding victories, and an unbeaten crown safely secured. The Junior Springboks have wrapped up the inaugural U20 International Series in the best possible fashion, blending brutal forward power with clinical finishing out wide. With over 230 points scored across their three outings against Chile, Fiji, and Georgia, Kevin Foote’s charges have laid down a massive marker and built crucial winning momentum as they enter the final stretch of preparation for the upcoming Junior World Championship.

All image credits: SA Junior Rugby

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