The Junior Springboks scored five tries in a convincing win in Tbilisi on Friday afternoon to clinch the series against Georgia 2-0.
The South Africans triumphed 27-12 in their second international against the Georgian U20s in less than a week, and in freezing conditions at the Lelo Arena.
“The tour was fantastic for many reasons,” said head coach Kevin Foote. “We came here to ensure we connected as a group, and it was great to see the team bonding so well.
“The time we spent together was invaluable, laying a strong foundation as we move into the rest of the season.”
Foote praised the players’ character to adapt to the conditions and to compete against a strong Georgian side.
“Our goal was to play games and test ourselves, and training against the Lelo Saracens and playing two matches against Georgia provided just that,” he said.
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“They challenged us physically, and it was crucial for us to understand our game better. I thought our game management in the second half today was particularly impressive.
“We focused on our set piece, scrum, maul, and maul defence, and I want to thank all the coaches for their excellent work in these areas. Overall, there were many positives, but there’s still a lot to work on. I can’t wait to get together again in two weeks’ time again.”
The match was again played in chilly winter conditions, with snow next to the field. The two teams tried to out fox each other with their kicking game in the first half. There were many errors on both sides, especially at the breakdown area, which made for a stop-start affair in the opening stanza.
It was the visitors who grew in confidence as the first half progressed as they managed to secure more possession and territory.
Georgia started the second half on a very positive note and opened the scoring with a converted try in the 43rd minute. However, this sparked the SA U20s into action as they dominated proceedings to score 12 more points, via two tries and a conversion.
The South Africans also had to play with a man short when prop Simphiwe Ngobese was yellow carded for an illegal tackle.
The Junior Boks return home on Sunday to continue their preparations in Stellenbosch.
Scorers:
Georgia U20 – Tries: Shota Kheladze, Andro Dvali. Conversion: Buba Nozadze.
Junior Boks – Tries: Chijindu Okonta, Divan Fuller (2), Siphosethu Mnebelele, Haashim Pead. Conversion: Dominic Malgas.
Photo: @SAJuniorRugby/Twitter
