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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12 Jun 2012, 20:13 pm
Yesssssssssssssssssssssss WE THROUGH. Damn never thought we would at one stage. Brilliant. Just shows just keep ball in hand we we can.
12 Jun 2012, 20:14 pm
England fatties starting to look tired… been split up the middle and on the back-foot…
12 Jun 2012, 20:14 pm
from the Forwards , PSDT and Aadendorf have been brilliant too
12 Jun 2012, 20:15 pm
Boytjies!
12 Jun 2012, 20:15 pm
What happens if England lose by less than 7?
12 Jun 2012, 20:15 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-105: Jeez have no idea.
12 Jun 2012, 20:16 pm
pollard’s tactical kicking is poor, hardly finds touch & allows this poms to run @ us!
12 Jun 2012, 20:17 pm
66@SharksLover….lol no was thinking the way they play, very different, bokkies look brutish and more methodical or something…like the real deal. Am sure some one phrase it better.
12 Jun 2012, 20:18 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-107:
Yes. One kind of gets used to Morne Steyn’s kicks either finding touch or coming down in some open space behind the wing.
Kicking it straight down the throat of the opposing wing with loads of room to run is a recipe for disaster.
12 Jun 2012, 20:18 pm
Shut this commentator up… rambling on about ‘his’ team!
12 Jun 2012, 20:18 pm
If England score here were out?
12 Jun 2012, 20:19 pm
Ag come on Bokkies don’t let this slip now man, damn focus.
12 Jun 2012, 20:19 pm
Bok #8 and #15 are passengers, the #4,6, 12,14 have been good!
12 Jun 2012, 20:19 pm
TH by the BB’s
12 Jun 2012, 20:20 pm
@brains_trust(brains_trust)-113:
13 also outstanding.
12 Jun 2012, 20:22 pm
come on boysw keep the dissapline
12 Jun 2012, 20:24 pm
yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
12 Jun 2012, 20:24 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-115: Yup Smith was also good
12 Jun 2012, 20:25 pm
Great second half performance by the South Africans.
12 Jun 2012, 20:25 pm
welld one baby boks!!!!!!!!!!!
jordaan & ardendorff!!!!!
The centre combo fired in the 2nd half…
Psdt was also immense
12 Jun 2012, 20:25 pm
the boys Dug deep
12 Jun 2012, 20:26 pm
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS WE THROUGH.
WELL DONE BOKKIES.
Now why they don’t play like that for the whole game??? Jeez really thought we were nevere going to get the 4 tries. Great stuff from the young boks.
Think we play Arg in the semi.
12 Jun 2012, 20:27 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-120: Yup Transie you name the same ones i did, they were huge
12 Jun 2012, 20:27 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-120: You see Transie we Sharkies told you that Psdt was a excellent players…
12 Jun 2012, 20:28 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-120: Also Van Dyk at TH transie?? we were being killed in the scrums till he came on, he steadied the ship
12 Jun 2012, 20:28 pm
Boks need to be able to split teams up the middle at pace with this Bokkie pick-n-go where every player is hunting together… centres were excellent with the pack in this respect…
12 Jun 2012, 20:28 pm
@Puma(Puma)-124: atleast transie is giving credit where its due boet lol
12 Jun 2012, 20:29 pm
Toks embarrassing us with his inane questions”to the gallant England captain.
“Did your coaching team ever expect that would happen to you in the second half?”
What kind of question is that?
Toks is a plonker.
12 Jun 2012, 20:29 pm
No 8 Booysen is a hard worker,,,,
12 Jun 2012, 20:30 pm
William Small-Smith, Jan Serfontein and Pat Howard excellent centre prospects.
12 Jun 2012, 20:33 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-127: lol. For sure.
How is that youn Small-Smith the cappie? Thought he came across like a breath of fresh air there. What a pleasant young chap.
Had a laugh when he said we were just ‘hammering them and just hammering them’ hahahahaha.
Missed who was mom though. Who was it?
12 Jun 2012, 20:34 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-128:
yup he could’nt shut it
12 Jun 2012, 20:34 pm
Finally baby Boks! Well done!
Lineouts need to be fixed
Scrums need to be fixed
Srcummie – stop dancing around
8th man – needs to grow some balls
Finish stronger and more discipline
Im guessing the tactic to not kick the ball out was deliberate?
But well done – awesome 2nd half and now go all the way! BOKKE BO!
12 Jun 2012, 20:34 pm
Paul Jordaan one for the future and a Shark to boot
12 Jun 2012, 20:35 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-128: What is so wrong with that question?
12 Jun 2012, 20:35 pm
@Puma(Puma)-131: lol yup
who ended up MOM??
12 Jun 2012, 20:36 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-129: Forget your bias man, time to be happy!!!! well done minibokkies!!!
12 Jun 2012, 20:36 pm
@ShaunSwindon(Karma-zaf)-134:
Look I like this Jordaan chappie.
But I just wonder if his size won’t count against him in the bigger leagues.
12 Jun 2012, 20:36 pm
Did I really see that? Did Dawie Theron throw his water bottle from the stands?
12 Jun 2012, 20:36 pm
@ShaunSwindon(Karma-zaf)-134: yup, i reckon him running off Lambie and Fransie is gonna cause some havock
HOw fast is Jordaan??
12 Jun 2012, 20:38 pm
@ShaunSwindon(Karma-zaf)-134: Absolutely! Great game from him – covering, tackling, turnovers, attacking, throwing guys into the advertising boards – he does it all!
12 Jun 2012, 20:38 pm
Even with poor coaching that team stood up big time in the 2nd half
12 Jun 2012, 20:38 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-136: No idea missed it. Was asking you if you knew who mom was…hehe.
Jeez Jordaan was good on defence tonight. Never thought we would come out and play positive like that in the 2nd half. Well done to our young Boks. Awesome stuff.
12 Jun 2012, 20:38 pm
@bokfan1(bokfan1)-135:
”Hi there, England captain. Tell me, did your coaching team ever expect that you would be whipped by 4 tries to nil in the second half?”
Come on. Seriously.
12 Jun 2012, 20:38 pm
Yes – #13 (W S-S) was great, the whole team stepped it up in the 2nd half, well done boys!
12 Jun 2012, 20:38 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-142: For sure, still think the coach must go after this tourney.
12 Jun 2012, 20:39 pm
@coma(coma)-139: Hahaha ja looked like an Energade bottle or something got the honour of celebrating!
12 Jun 2012, 20:39 pm
I don’t if this is just because I am giddy after that second half but I am considering buying into the Shark-hype regarding Jordaan. He kept us in the game around half time. If not for his awesome tackling we might not have gained the momentum we did.
And are there any English people left in England? Shocking the state of their development of their own youth. They have to import rugby communities from elsewhere. Shocking.
12 Jun 2012, 20:39 pm
Do they serve humble pie on this site? If so all the detractors who have posted nothing but negative comments for the past few days need to man up, show themselves and eat a slice!Go bokkies …. Adendorf, Jordaan, WSS, PSDT take a bow. To all those fair-weather ‘fans’ who NOW come out and say ‘ra,ra’ – really ps….s me off.
12 Jun 2012, 20:39 pm
@bokfan1(bokfan1)-141:
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