Despite a nail-biting 29-29 draw, the Junior Springboks claimed their first SANZAAR Under-20 Rugby Championship title at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday, dethroning New Zealand in the 2026 version of this highly entertaining tournament, where a number of close results showed the competitive nature of this this age-group showpiece.
The Junior Boks needed only one log point from the contest to take the title and did that when Samuel Badenhorst crossed for their four try in the 41st minute. The finished on 13 log points, with New Zealand second on eight.
Australia, who edged Argentina 32-30 in the earlier match on Saturday, finished third and Los Pumitas, who beat New Zealand last Sunday, in fourth, with both earning seven log points.
The Junior Boks held a 22-15 lead at the break and looked to have the game locked in when they extended their lead to 29-15 with their fourth try, but New Zealand finished strong, keeping the huge crowd of 18,138 on the edge of their seats.
The Junior Boks started best, despite losing their first lineout. They recovered in the second, using inside centre Ethan Adams on an angled run which resulted in a penalty to his team. Flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed immediately called for the tee and 60 seconds later, the Junior Boks were up 3-0 with five minutes played.
From the restart though a high tackle by South Africa gave the team in black an attacking lineout. They outfoxed the home side with a drive at the front and prop Dane Johnston scored. The conversion was wide, but New Zealand were in front after seven minutes.
Not to be outdone, the next lineout by the Junior Springboks opened up their opponents and Akahluwa Boqwana scored. A strong drive from the lineout had New Zealand in trouble and from the resulting feed to the backs, Boqwana jumped into the line from fullback to score in the corner, which gave his team an 8-5 lead with 10 minutes played.
The Kiwis scored next and, in a way, the Junior Boks only have themselves to blame. They won their feed at the scrum, but somehow the ball was kicked towards the New Zealand side who pounced on this freebie. The ball was put through the hands and kicked ahead, and wing Ollie Guerin found the bounce to his favour. The conversion was wide, but New Zealand took a 10-8 lead.
They extended that lead to 15-8 with their third try, this time captain and flanker Caleb Woodley the man at the back of the maul. With 22 minutes played, it was clear to the crowd that they were in for an exciting afternoon.
The South Africans were starting to squeeze, and New Zealand did not react well. They conceded three penalties in a row and from the third, a lineout drive by the Junior Boks resulted in a try by prop Rambo Kubheka. When Ahmed converted, the scores were ties at 15-15 after 30 minutes played.
Another Adams bust up from a lineout resulted in SA No 8 Kebotile Maake going over, but the TMO ruled it wasn’t a try. Unfortunately, Adams was also injured in the play, so it was a double blow for South Africa as he had to leave the field. Vusi Moyo came on and slotted in at flyhalf, with Ahmed shifting to the midfield.
The momentum was now on the South Africans’ side and after a couple of good runs, Moyo injected himself in the game with a lovely foot pass, with Boqwana scoring his second try of the match.
That try gave South Africa a 22-15 lead and they needed only one more try to seal the Championship, with a full half of rugby to play.
The crucial moment happened one minute into the second half when Badenhorst went over in the corner, with Ahmed adding the conversion. This time, a high kick, fielded superbly by Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, handed the Junior Boks the momentum they needed, with the overlap utilised and the fourth try handing the SA U20s the one log point they needed to secure the title.
With that shackle broken, the Junior Boks had a free play for the remainder of the match. Instead, it was New Zealand who scored next, again after a good maul by the pack as flanker Finn McLeod dotted down for their bonus point. The conversion was good and the Junior Boks’ lead cut to seven at 29-22.
New Zealand thought they had their fifth try when Guerin dotted down following a kick ahead, but the TMO could not verify that there was downward pressure and the try was disallowed.
The Kiwis had a sniff now and attacked from all angles, but credit to the home side, who defended stoutly.
Moyo attempted a long-range penalty to extend the lead, but it came up short. New Zealand were not off the hook though as soon after, Siale Pahulu, was red carded for a high tackle with 13 minutes to play, meaning the 20 minute red card would rule him out for the rest of the match.
South Africa attacked the space left in the midfield and gained another penalty. A kick to the corner delivered a good maul, but when the ball was moved into the centres, it was spilled and the opportunity lost.
A lapse in concentration by the new champions resulted in New Zealand coming back into their half and attacking strongly. A penalty try – when Jack Benade slapped the ball down with the Kiwis on the attack – levelled scores with three minutes to go.
The last three minutes were dramatic and intense, but a draw somehow seemed the right result in a game that brough a well organised and attended tournament to the close.
Scorers:
Junior Boks 29 (22) – Tries: Akahluwa Boqwana (2), Rambo Kubheka, Samuel Badenhorst. Conversions: Yaqeen Ahmed (3). Penalty goal: Ahmed.
New Zealand U20 29 (15) – Tries: Dane Johnston, Ollie Guerin, Caleb Woodley, Finn McLeod, Penalty Try. Conversion: Cohen Norrie.
