Junior Boks have to pull up their socks

Perpignan – Junior Springbok assistant coach Bafana Nhleko said the team had to make a massive step up in their second World Rugby Under-20 Championship pool match against Ireland after a second-half fightback against Georgia earned them a 33-27 victory on Wednesday.

The South Africans will meet Ireland on Sunday in Narbonne at 4.30pm.

“The most important thing is that we got the result against Georgia,” Nhleko said looking back at Wednesday’s match.

“It was obviously not how we wanted to play, especially the way we started in the first half with the handling errors and some disciplinary issues that might have let us down. But we still left a lot of opportunities out there.

“We created chances, but our decision-making at the best of times didn’t go our way. If we were patient and earned the rewards from our initial efforts, it may have boosted our confidence and changed the game.

“That said, it is something we can learn from going forward.”

With Ireland coming off a heartbreaking 26-24 defeat against hosts France, Nhleko said their performance will be fuelled by desperation, especially with the top team in every pool and the next best-placed team in the competition advancing to the semifinals.

The Junior Springboks currently top Pool C on points difference, as France also earned a bonus point win against Ireland.

“In a sense it is going to be semifinal for one side and a final for the other because every game is important in this tournament. And how a team moves on with a short turnaround means a lot.”

The Junior Boks took on France in their final group match last night.