Corne Beets scored a second half brace as the Junior Springboks rallied to beat Argentina at Athlone Stadium on Tuesday night to advance to the World Rugby U20 Championship semi-finals.
Having trailed 16-7 after a poor first half playing against the wind, the Junior Boks scored 17 unanswered points in the second period to claim a 24-16 win.
A huge result for the @JuniorBoks! 🔥
They make it through to the semi-finals thanks to an impressive comeback! 🇿🇦#WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/cmuadBqpaD
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 4, 2023
South Africa went into the match on the back of a humbling loss to Italy, but needed only a win to progress to the semi-finals after Georgia claimed a bonus-point victory over the Italians earlier in the day.
The victory drew the tournament hosts level with Georgia on log points, but South Africa advanced due to the first tie-breaker being head-to-head results.
A shoddy start to the match saw the hosts struggle to secure any sort of set-piece possession against the physical Argentinians, who took a 9-0 lead thanks to the boot of flyhalf Valentino di Capua.
While hooker Juan Else finished off a rare attack for the Junior Boks’ first try, Argentina took advantage of some poor discipline, which saw lock JF van Heerden yellow-carded, to dot down through tighthead prop Renzo Zanella.
Staring at a potential early exit from the tournament, the Junior Boks made a far better start to the second half and narrowed the scores through a Jean Smith penalty.
While the home side dominated possession playing with the wind, they wasted a number of opportunities, including one from a spectacular linebreak from Jurenzo Julius.
One of the greatest non-tries you will ever see ðŸ˜
A foot on the line costs @Springboks after an incredible move#WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/6NgXbDDspw
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 4, 2023
However, after being held up over the tryline minutes earlier, South Africa found the much-needed breakthrough when No 8 Beets forced his way over after Smith sent wing Michael Annies on a run down the left with an excellent flat pass.
Beets got his second try a couple of minutes later to give the Junior Boks enough of a buffer to see out the match and secure a playoff place.
South Africa will face Ireland in the semi-finals on Sunday.
Those home crowd celebrations! #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/CJNZcQvKN8
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 4, 2023
Photo: World Rugby