Overview
- South Africa secured top spot in Pool A and a place in the Junior World Championship semi-finals after beating Wales 52-33 on Tuesday.
- The Junior Springboks scored eight tries with Hendré Schoeman, Ethan Adams, Siphosethu Mnebelele (2), Heinrich Theron, Risima Khosa and Liam van Wyk (2) and Yaqeen Ahmed kicked six conversions.
- Ethan Adams and returning fly-half Yaqeen Ahmed led a potent attack, with Adams repeatedly breaking the line and Ahmed producing a long 60-metre run plus reliable goal-kicking.
- South Africa repeatedly used lineout-driven mauls to score, but the match featured disciplinary problems including yellow cards for Cheswill Jooste and captain Mnebelelele and a Head Injury Assessment for replacement hooker Liam van Wyk.
- Kevin Foote’s side move into the semi-finals as defending champions, leaving coaches to weigh form, discipline and welfare in selection decisions ahead of the knockout phase.