Baby Boks overpower Wales to clinch title
BULLS hooker Tiaan Lange scored a hattrick as South Africa overpowered Wales in Treviso to lift the U20s Six Nations Summer Series title and finish as the only unbeaten side in the competition.
The replacement hooker touched down for three of the Baby Boks’ seven tries.
Junior Springboks captain Sacha Mngomezulu said winning the competition was a dream come true for his team.
“The boys worked extremely hard, and they deserve this,” said Mngomezulu.
“Credit must also go to the coaches who made us work hard and put in such a good effort for us to be ready.
“It’s an amazing feeling standing here unbeaten after four games. Not too long ago, we didn’t even play rugby, so credit to World Rugby and the Six
Nations for staging this excellent tournament. They allowed the boys to create lifelong memories.
“This group put in so much work right from the start and I am so pleased they got their reward, as they’re a great group.”
Following dominant pool victories over England, Ireland, and France, Bafana Nhleko’s team were impressive in the opening half, dominating the kicking game and possession, while the Welsh struggled with the South African physicality.
No.8 Louw Nel went over in the corner after a quick tap penalty for the first try just six minutes in.
Wales skipper Joe Hawkins landed his first points when he nailed a penalty just after the restart, but in the next move, Wales prop Nathan Evans was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle.
From the ensuing lineout, Lange scored the second try to stretch the Junior Boks’ lead.
Shortly after, inside centre Suleiman Hartzenberg scored a brilliant try
when he sliced though the defence from a lineout to score under the posts.
The Baby Boks went further ahead a few minutes later with Lange burrowing over for his second score.
However, South Africa were reduced to 14 men when Nel was yellow carded for foul play and Wales utilised their
numerical advantage as Mason Grady outpaced the opposing defence to score out wide at the start of the second half.
But South Africa hit back with Lange completing his hat-trick from close quarters and Hartzenberg grabbed his second when he won the foot race to a brilliant grubber by Nico Steyn.
Five minutes later an embarrassing defeat looked on the cards as
Ethan James waltzed through to score under the posts and made it 47-8.
But Wales finished strongly with three late resillient tries, the first by reserve full-back Joe Westwood who touched down Joe Hawkins’ grubber kick.
Flanker Ethan Fackrell and Cameron Jones scored late tries to add some respectability to the scoreline and outscore South Africa in the second half.
Wales can hold their heads high having restored plenty of pride in the jersey through pool victories over Scotland, Georgia and Italy, after what was a disappointing Six Nations campaign that saw them finish fifth earlier this year.