A first-half brace from winger Siya Ndlozi underlined a commanding performance in Calvisano as the Junior Springboks streaked to victory in their World Rugby Under 20 Championship opener against Australia.
Hot hands and fast feet characterised a blistering South African performance in the searing Italian heat, as the Junior Boks put Australia to the sword, scoring eleven tries in a rampant 73 – 17 victory to send a clear message to their opponents in the so-called ‘group of death’, which features defending champions England and Scotland.
The Junior Springboks have a point to prove in this competition after a disappointing Under 20 Rugby Championship on home soil last month. They lost 48-45 to New Zealand after blowing a 17-0 lead against Australia to finish third overall.
The Junior Springboks avenged one of those losses, streaking to a 33-5 half-time lead. They secured the bonus point through Ndlozi’s double and tries by Cheswil Jooste, Herman Lubbe and Hasheem Pead.
What a stunner from the Junior Boks 🤩🇿🇦
Siya Ndlozi turns on the gas 💨
📺 Stream #WorldRugbyU20s on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/6geRTdfcZb
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 29, 2025
Aussie fullback Sid Harvey crossed the whitewash in the 14th minute for his team as they looked to stage a comeback, but that only served to push Foote’s young charges into a higher gear as the backline carved the opposition to pieces from almost anywhere on the field.
It went from bad to worse for the Junior Wallabies in the second half, as a second try from Pead, and strikes from fullback Gilermo Mentoe and the burly JJ Theron raised the half century for the South Africans less than 10 minutes after the restart.
The Junior Boks refused to relent.
Replacement lock Jaco Grobbelaar and loose forward Xola Nyali also made visits behind the opposition posts before coach Foote emptied the bench and gave some of his stars a well-deserved rest.
It’s a scintillating sixth try for South Africa ✨
South Africa have started the second half the same way the finished the first and show no signs of slowing down!#WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/vnr9KLHvZS
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 29, 2025
The Australians staged a late fightback through tries by winger Cooper Watters. But, underlining the South African dominance, replacement outside back Jaco Williams benefitted from poor Australian handling and stormed over the try line to seal a rout of their rivals.
Next up for the Junior Springboks is a clash against defending champions England on Friday at 6pm.
Photo: Sabrina Conforti / World Rugby
