The Junior Wallabies have responded in the best possible fashion from their first-up loss to Argentina in the under-20s Rugby Championship by defeating the Junior Springboks 24-19 at Sunshine Coast Stadium.
After a demoralising 25-6 to Argentina last week, a vastly improved effort from the forwards, a double to Shane Wilcox and the boot of Cullen Gray proved to be the difference.
While physicality and set-piece prowess are the hallmarks of South African rugby, the Junior Wallabies did a number on their rivals up front.
Indeed, their rolling maul, with Ottavio Tuipulotu – the younger brothers of Scottish international Sione and Edinburgh-bound Mosese – caused the Springboks all sorts of issues, with the hooker controlling the set-piece well.
Discipline cost the Junior Boks badly, with loose-head prop Mbasa Maqubela being shown an upgraded red card for making direct contact with an opponent’s head at a ruck midway through the first half.
Then, with Nathan Grey’s side holding a narrow 17-14 lead, the Junior Wallabies were awarded a penalty try after Bathobele Hlekani was deemed to deliberately collapse the home side’s rolling maul. It also saw the second-rower sent to the sin bin.
Australia celebrate their victory over South Africa during The Rugby Championship U20 Round 2 match at Sunshine Coast Stadium on May 07, 2024. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
While South African winger Litelihle Bester grabbed his second to close the margin to five-points, it was too little too late as the Junior Wallabies held on.
Junior Wallabies skipper Toby Macpherson said the turnaround was built off the back of a “mindset” shift, which came after their first-up loss to Los Pumas.
“We knew the South Africans were going to run fast and run direct,” the second-rower said.
“The messages through the game and throughout the week were if they’re going to run straight at us we’re just going to sit them on their backside and I think we achieved that.
“I thought it was a bloody awesome game, really physical, everyone was dogs out there and it was to just see a tight contest.
“We had a big week after last game and we went through a lot of adversity as a group, lots of changes, and I think that’s a testament to this group and a testament to Australian rugby that that’s the way we want to play.
“We’re sick of being in the position we’re in and I think that’s a good point for us to start off the back of last week.”
Springboks captain JF van Heerden, who scored the first try by getting under the Junior Wallabies from close range, said his side shot themselves in the foot, with errors in the wet at the back and a 13-7 penalty count against them hurting.
“It’s disappointing, losing a game like that,” he said.
“Feeling at times like we lost against ourselves.”
Shane Wilcox scored a double during the Junior Wallabies’ win over South Africa at Sunshine Coast Stadium. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
Earlier, a penalty to playmaker Grey and the first of two tries to fullback Wilcox saw the Junior Wallabies take a 10-7 lead into half time.
After some continuity in attack from the visitors, Bester burst through a hole centre field to score his first of two second-half tries.
But the Junior Wallabies hit back minutes later as Wilcox finished off the outstanding work from the lively Angus Staniforth to score his second.
His second five-pointer came also made up for his earlier blunder as he failed to put his outside centre Frankie Goldsbrough away down the short side.
The Junior Wallabies will now take on the Junior All Blacks on Sunday, with The Rugby Championship on the line after their trans-Tasman opponents settled for a 13-13 draw first up against South Africa last week before easily putting away Argentina.
Rising Queensland Reds playmaker Harry McLaughlin-Phillips is also in line to make his return to the Junior Wallabies, having been released this week to be eligible for selection.
Stin
Roar Rookie
Ha
tsuru
Roar Rookie
Ummm . . . “Each player unearthed HIS inner canine!” if we’re going to waste our time on grammar.
SGrey
Roar Rookie
".....didn’t see any coverage over here in UK" Same here - but VPN and Stan Sport; watched the replays the next day.
NotKev
Roar Rookie
Did have a reputation in schools etc and few idiotic Boks ..... overall its improved
NotKev
Roar Rookie
lol mate you already wrong its boerewors and pap ... dude your comment was vaild 10 yrs ago The Boks are teh most tested rugby team - fact - on the international scene. The rep was bad and duely needed to get tested and held accountable. Ive seen more roids in regional NSW than I even saw in Sydney bru so questions need to be asked here too - this country has serious overall drug issue and roids are part of that
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
I think they would understand tho, right? It’s a unique thing that rugby has which is these international windows. You could argue Cec these kids would know they’re probably not first choice if everyone’s available, and would be grateful for the chance to play while blokes have club duty. I think difference now is Cec, is there’s more u/20s getting a sniff at super rugby level. Maybe it’s due to a lack of depth and players heading overseas to make more cash.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Good to know, didn’t see any coverage over here in UK. Tbf didn’t even know this was going on.
TJ-Go Force!
Roar Rookie
Haha mate, you think it’s the biltong making your boys enormous? Don’t think so champ.
Adam Rogers
Roar Rookie
Agree to an extent, but teams also need to be picked on form.
SGrey
Roar Rookie
My personal view is that Country Representation [from JWBs/U20s] should rank higher than it does with RA, as it is a genuine representative pathway - sorry to go back to Northern Hemisphere [NH] but the English Clubs recognise U20 level, and [mostly] release all requested players when the RFU select them for U20s - exeptions are for those [very few] U20 players who are already regular 1st team with their Club with key games that clash. Most of those U20s players are in Club Acadmies in England - and that brings me to a slightly different point that with England having 10 [Club] Acadamies, there is a lot more U20 talent on display for England U20s to look at and evaluate. In Australia there are 5 Academies affiliated with the 5 SR Franchises, and the NSW version is overloaded with players who will never make it professionally but it looks good on the players' CVs for City employment [CV++ they call it]. This blocks many better players [in NSW] who don't have access to the Crony pathways environment.
SGrey
Roar Rookie
"then why accept being named if you’re not already released by the club." I think the players are named by JWBs and then SR Franchises decide whether to release - clearly JWBs should speak to SR 1st, but that seems too sensible. So, in that context I don't think the players can accept or not, as they don't know in advance. These are only my thoughts not perhaps the reality.
Jibba Jabba
Roar Guru
Well your country does have a reputation….
Cec
Roar Rookie
It’s quite subjective AR and comes back to the coach and belief around culture. I’m pretty sure there is a whole lead into camp so an opportunity for HMP involvement there too. What’s the message to the 10s who’ve committed and played to this point? It’s not great in my books.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Valid points SG and in that context you describe, yes agree to your summary. So given if that is the case, as you described, then why accept being named if you’re not already released by the club. Step aside and pick the next 10 who is available. It seems some are bent on discussing the mechanics of selection and completely ignoring the team aspects, but I do recognise your comment “I am not saying this is right…”
SGrey
Roar Rookie
"....would fill out that team as well and HMP and Jorgensen of course ." Sadly Jorgensen out for a couple of months, maybe more - a serious tear of his hamstring - from those involved at the Randwick game he was injured in. I made a comment before, that I believe he is still growing, and hence the extra stress that SR places on him is detrimental to his development - I know he was injured in a Shute Shield game, but the wear and tear is incremental. The worse case scenario is that his body may not be up to SR - I would prefer to think that he just needs to finish growing.
SGrey
Roar Rookie
“It’s BS really if you’re saying club ahead of country.” Not dissimilar to NH – the Clubs own the players not the country – the exceptions are for Full Internationals. So U20s, U19s, Australia A etc. Have no rights to players unless their franchise releases them – same as Aussie 7s – they have no rights to contracted SR players, unless SR releases them. I am not saying this is right, just saying the way it is – if the players were centrally contracted and fully paid for by RA, it would be a different story. Sadly WB and JWB are at the opposite ends of the spectrum – SR sits way higher (for RA) than JWB.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Okay so club before country, yeah awesome. I’ll choose to recognise those putting country first.
Christy Doran
Editor
Because James O’Connor is back fit and playing, giving the Reds two fit No.10 options.
Cec
Roar Rookie
Yes Christy I get that, so where was he for ARG and Boks games then. If you’re named then you should be available and playing. Both you and Gary seem to be avoiding that question it seems. “ It was determined on Monday that McLaughlin-Phillips would be released from the Reds…”. So why release now and not at the start of the tournament after being “named”? Why need a release at all if WB or JWB is the pinnacle and were named at the start? It’s BS really if you’re saying club ahead of country.
Stin
Roar Rookie
Interesting.