Baby Boks surge into JWC semis

Baby Boks surge into JWC semis

12 Jun 2012

GARETH DUNCAN watched the Baby Boks deliver a miracle second-half performance to beat England 28-15 in a crucial Junior World Championship encounter at the Cape Town Stadium.

With England leading 3-0 at half-time after a dire performance from the Baby Boks in the opening 40, it looked like the hosts’ chances of recording the needed bonus-point win for a place in the semi-finals was shattered.

However, a rejuvenated showing after the break saw the SA U20s score four tries in an impressive all-round effort. While their lineout efficiency was poor throughout the match, their scrums strengthened, their backline play became threatening and they started gelling like a team instead of depending on individual brilliance, which has been the case for most parts of their campaign.

Flank Shaun Adendorff grabbed a brace, while outside centre William Small-Smith and flank Pieter Steph du Toit completed the successful mission. Flyhalf Handre Pollard also slotted all the conversions.

The Baby Boks finally showed their true potential against quality opposition. And their reward is a place in the final four – a fairy tale turnaround following a poor 23-19 defeat to Ireland on the opening day. It’s also a result that has probably saved head coach Dawie Theron’s job.

Outstanding. Dramatic. Well deserved. Words one wouldn’t have used to describe the victors before the second half.

The first stanza was a frustrating period for the hosts. While they created chances early on, a lack of composure, poor handling errors and erratic decision making saw them fall short on every occasion.

Defence was the only positive part of their game as the home team did very well to keep England out on several occasions, with wing Paul Jordaan’s cover tackling and Adendorff’s pilfering at the breakdowns being the highlights. Last year’s losing finalists won the ascendancy with a strong, physical showing from their pack, but they couldn’t find the killer punch to cross the chalk.

The tourists had to settle for a penalty from fullback Tommy Bell, which was enough to secure a three-point advantage at half-time.

Then came the extraordinary finish.

Stand-in captain Small-Smith benefited from a smart inside pass from centre partner Jan Serfontein to score a runaway try from centre field. Adendorff then powered over from close range to make it two tries for the SA U20s inside seven minutes. It was a perfect start to the second half, and set the tone for what followed.

England hit back through a series of Bell penalties, but this did little to stop the Baby Boks’ momentum. Du Toit, who was a colossal feature in the loose trio, burst through to score early in the final quarter, before Adendorff snatched the all-important fourth try 12 minutes from the final whistle.

It was a match that not only proved that this Baby Boks outfit has the makings of a champion side when driving at full throttle, but also showed that the Cape Town Stadium can be a wonderful host venue for rugby. The administrators at Western Province should take note.

The Baby Boks will now face Argentina in their knockout fixture at Newlands on Sunday, the same opponents they beat 2-0 in a warm-up series several weeks ago.


279 Comments

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  • 1.brains_trust: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 18:21 pm

    So what is the deal here~ must the b boks score 4 tries to progress

  • 2.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 18:46 pm

    Only is South Africa will they pick their 2 best players out of position. Howard is a brilliant natural inside centre and jordaan is much better than Small-Smith at outside centre. Plain stupidity imo.

    At least the team is strengthened by the withdrawal of Liebenberg, just a pity that the fairly useless no 8 Booysen is playing.

    Lets hope schoolboy Pollard can handle the pressure.

    Boks will have to be very good to win here, never mind the bonus.

  • 3.fantasticbarnsmell: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 18:46 pm

    @brains_trust(brains_trust)-1: yes, and win of course

  • 4.Puma: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 18:46 pm

    Go Bokkies.

    @brains_trust(brains_trust)-1: Yip need to win with a bonus point. Not so sure we can. See quite a few changes again to this team from when we played Italy.

    Changing the team all the time never really works.

  • 5.Puma: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 18:49 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-2: Exactly Rob,

    This playing players out of position really irritates me.

    Too many changes for each game is just plain daft.

    Anyhow hope we can but it will be tough. Think we need the bonus point to go through.

  • 6.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 18:53 pm

    oliver kebble got chowed by that pom loosie…could be a long evening

  • 7.fantasticbarnsmell: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:00 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-2: i’ve seen people on here talk about Serfontein like he’s the second coming, is Howard a better prospect?

  • 8.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:01 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-6:

    Yeah, he is killing Oliver Hardy.

  • 9.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:02 pm

    yep kebble seeing his gat!

  • 10.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:03 pm

    @fantasticbarnsmell(fantasticbarnsmell)-7:

    I think Serfonteyn will be better at no 13. Howard got a rare ability to straighten the line, while Serfonteyn seems more a free running centre.

  • 11.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:04 pm

    Booysen and Kebble mamparras.

  • 12.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:06 pm

    All these kids are too hyped up…serfontein, jp du plessis, pieter steph du toit yet they are getting OWNED by their counterparts

  • 13.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:09 pm

    Kitschof poor considering his S15 experience. Jy Moët jou Kant bring rooikop!

  • 14.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:10 pm

    poms bossing the breakdown!!

  • 15.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:13 pm

    Intensity of the game is very high- just about super rugby level.
    The players are nearly as big as well.

  • 16.louis schropnel: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:13 pm

    Guy Kebbles son getting fckd up by a loosehead half his size, big fat overweight slob that can’t stabilize his side of the scrum, and some still reckon the bigger the better.

    Kitchoff who plays S15 rugby looks small compared to some these 20 year olds

    Not one line out on own throw when it mattered

  • 17.fantasticbarnsmell: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:15 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-10: thanks for the info

  • 18.MG: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:18 pm

    Sorry guys, these baby boks are ****!#&@/&#!!?!

  • 19.The Analyst: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:20 pm

    @louis schropnel(louis shrapnel)-16:

    It helps when you have Etzebeth and Bekker behind you!

  • 20.MG: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:20 pm

    Sorry again, they are very ****.

  • 21.MG: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:22 pm

    Sorry guys, but the baby boks are ****.

  • 22.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:25 pm

    Do you have ADD?

  • 23.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:25 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-10: Howard Played 12 for Glenwood

  • 24.MG: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:25 pm

    No echo. Stuggling to post on mobile.

  • 25.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:26 pm

    great defense there from Paul Jordaan and Serfontein

  • 26.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:27 pm

    Man this team is poorly coached

  • 27.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:28 pm

    All the set pieces are a shambles

  • 28.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:29 pm

    Again great work by Jordaan, forcing a turn over penalty

  • 29.Obronie: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:30 pm

    @sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-26: Agreed!

  • 30.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:30 pm

    i’m still waiting to see the magic of handre pollard, besides his size, he still has to dazzle

  • 31.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:30 pm

    we cant even win a lineout?/ wtf

    and Paul Jordaan saves a certain try

  • 32.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:30 pm

    SA lucky to be only 3 behind at halftime

  • 33.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:31 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-30: Agree Transie, and they sent Fred Zeilinga home for him?? they can rather play young Jantjes that is there

  • 34.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:31 pm

    Jordaan MOM so far

  • 35.brains_trust: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:33 pm

    Baby boks are hond p!el – some dude on this site told me earlier that Kebble is is better that kitshoff – what a joke ! Kebble has been so over hyped by the media and gets bent in half today. The ex-Boishaai TH replacement looks tons better.

  • 36.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:33 pm

    @sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-23:

    I hope WP can keep him
    He is being wasted on the wing at the moment.

  • 37.Kleuter: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:33 pm

    Fcking Jantjies is fcking injured mate

  • 38.john123: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:35 pm

    What a tackle on Yarde finally England starting to play

    Luke Cowan Dickie has been immense kid is only 18 as well!

  • 39.Brentie1: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:36 pm

    4 Tries, says who? Ireland has 10 points, England 9, Bokkies 6.
    So what is needed Bokkies to get 4 points to level with Ireland and
    prevent England from scoring bonus point, to prevent 3 teams ending on 10 points each. So win , get 4 points and win by 8 or more and England is out.

  • 40.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:36 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-36: Yeah Rob I was made we lost him from the Sharks, but he is studying at Maties

  • 41.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:37 pm

    Borchardt twats that he was hoping for a good turnout

    ‘S empty!

  • 42.brains_trust: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:37 pm

    How can highly paid coaches not even coach their team how to win a line out ! 6 lineouts lost in the 1st half.

    This old pommie prick commentator is irritating the k@k out of me !!

  • 43.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:38 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-36: I can also tell you he is not highly rated in the cape, that told to me by Rassie himself who said Howard is SO SO

  • 44.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:39 pm

    @sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-40: MADE = MAD

  • 45.iceman: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:40 pm

    The Baby Boks must start winning their own lineouts or they will have absolutely no chance!

    And it was a big mistake trying to expect Kebble to play tighthead. He is a good loosehead but definately not a tighthead.

    Over a shocking game so far and we just don’t deserve to win if play in this manner.

    Dawie Theron must take allot of the blame!

  • 46.john123: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:41 pm

    The commentator is welsh

  • 47.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:41 pm

    @iceman(iceman)-45: actually he must take all the blame, he is a typical, I MUST PLAY HUGE PLAYERS AT ALL COSTS coach , and it is showing us up big time

  • 48.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:42 pm

    @john123(john123)-46: yeah one can hear the Sheep in his accent John :lol:

  • 49.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:43 pm

    thats better a brilliant try by Smith

  • 50.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    12 Jun 2012, 19:43 pm

    well done!!!! 1st phase setpiece!

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