Junior Boks edge Varsity Cup Dream Team
The Junior Springboks scored a morale boosting 31-24 win over a powerful Varsity Cup Dream Team on Tuesday evening at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.
Playing in front of an appreciative crowd and in excellent weather conditions, the Varsity Cup selection lead 12-10 at the break after a dominant forward display in the opening half.
However, the Junior Springboks got stronger as the match progressed and they were rewarded for the excellent fightback with a well-deserved victory.
Dawie Theron, the Junior Springbok coach, admitted afterwards he was both relieved and encouraged by his team’s gritty performance.
“This match was exactly what we needed for our World Rugby Under-20 Championship preparations. The Varsity Cup side had several players who starred in previous years for the Junior Springboks, and they were a much more matured team,” explained Theron.
He added: “We started poorly and the Varsity boys dominated us in the first half. However, we grew in confidence especially in the second half, and the players also managed to play with more composure. The match proved that we are in need of much more work before we can be satisfied with our preparations for Italy,” cautioned Theron.
The national selectors will announce the Junior Bok squad for a two-match tour to Argentina early next week. Before that, the hopefuls will have another training workout against the Western Province Rugby Institute in Stellenbosch.
In a lively and entertaining match, a penalty try and an excellent effort by fullback Rhyno Smith gave the Dream Team a 12-10 lead at halftime. Dan du Plessis (centre) scored for the Junior Boks and Ernest Stapelberg (fly half) slotted a penalty.
Dillon Smit (scrumhalf ) and Elandre Hugget (replacement hooker) scored two more tries for the Varsity Cup Dream team, who also turned down several penalty kicks at goal.
The Junior Boks, led by number eight Hanro Liebenberg, kept the scoreboard busy through a penalty try and a well-worked five pointer by replacement hooker Jan van der Merwe. Kickers Ernst Stapelberg and Brandon Thomson added two penalties each to the tally.
The Junior Boks are currently attending a training camp at Stellenbosch in preparation for the 2015 World Rugby Under-20 Championship in June in Italy.
Point scorers:
Junior Springboks – Tries: Daniel du Plessis, Jan van der Merwe, penalty try. Conversions: Ernst Stapelberg, Brandon Thomson. Penalties: Stapelberg (2), Thomson (2).
Varsity Cup Dream Team – Tries: Penalty try, Rhyno Smith, Dillon Smit, Elandré Hugget. Conversions: Innocent Radebe, Rhyno Smith.
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