Junior Boks fight back to secure playoff place

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Corne Beets scored a second half brace because the Junior Springboks rallied to beat Argentina at Athlone Stadium on Tuesday night time to advance to the World Rugby U20 Championship semi-finals.

Having trailed 16-7 after a poor first half taking part in in opposition to the wind, the Junior Boks scored 17 unanswered factors within the second interval to assert a 24-16 win.

An enormous end result for the @JuniorBoks! 🔥

They make it via to the semi-finals because of a powerful comeback! 🇿🇦#WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/cmuadBqpaD

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 4, 2023

South Africa went into the match on the again of a humbling loss to Italy, however wanted solely a win to progress to the semi-finals after Georgia claimed a bonus-point victory over the Italians earlier within the day.

The victory drew the event hosts stage with Georgia on log factors, however South Africa superior because of the first tie-breaker being head-to-head outcomes.

A shoddy begin to the match noticed the hosts battle to safe any type of set-piece possession in opposition to the bodily Argentinians, who took a 9-0 lead because of the boot of flyhalf Valentino di Capua.

Whereas hooker Juan Else completed off a uncommon assault for the Junior Boks’ first attempt, Argentina took benefit of some poor self-discipline, which noticed lock JF van Heerden yellow-carded, to dot down via tighthead prop Renzo Zanella.

Looking at a possible early exit from the event, the Junior Boks made a much better begin to the second half and narrowed the scores via a Jean Smith penalty.

Whereas the house facet dominated possession taking part in with the wind, they wasted quite a lot of alternatives, together with one from a spectacular linebreak from Jurenzo Julius.

One of many best non-tries you’ll ever see 😭

A foot on the road prices @Springboks after an unimaginable transfer#WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/6NgXbDDspw

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 4, 2023

Nonetheless, after being held up over the tryline minutes earlier, South Africa discovered the much-needed breakthrough when No 8 Beets compelled his means over after Smith despatched wing Michael Annies on a run down the left with a wonderful flat go.

Beets acquired his second attempt a few minutes later to present the Junior Boks sufficient of a buffer to see out the match and safe a playoff place.

South Africa will face Eire within the semi-finals on Sunday.