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Junior Springboks hand Australia U20 reality check in Calvisano
By Ian Cameron
Australia U20 were handed a sobering 73–17 defeat by a rampant South Africa U20 in their opening fixture of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Calvisano on Sunday.
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After a tightly contested opening quarter, the Junior Springboks exploded into life, punishing errors and dominating the wide channels to run in eleven tries in a blistering attacking display.
Scrumhalf Hassiem Pead opened the scoring early with a trademark sniping run after a chaotic sequence, and although Australia hit back through Sid Harvey’s sharp finish, the contest quickly unravelled.
Prop Herman Lubbe muscled over for South Africa’s second before three tries in the final ten minutes of the half turned the screw.
Two of those scores came from deep inside the Junior Springboks’ own half, with Pead orchestrating sweeping moves off set-piece ball. Cheswill Jooste’s corner finish on the stroke of half-time left Chris Whitaker’s men staring at a 33–5 deficit.
Pead’s second try came shortly after the restart, and South Africa continued to punish any loose play — fullback Gilermo Mentoe capitalised on a turnover to score, and Jaco Grobbelaar added another.
Despite two late consolation tries from winger Cooper Watters, South Africa fittingly had the final say, Jaco Williams intercepting and racing away after the siren.
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Australia must now regroup ahead of Friday’s pivotal clash with Scotland.
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