/ 28 June 2000

BABY BOKS REACH FINAL

DEFENDING champions South Africa qualified for the final of the Southern Hemisphere Alliance Under-21 Tournament with a 36-5 win over Scotland in their final Pool match on Wednesday. The South Africans, who beat Tonga 79-6 and Australia 25-24 in their previous matches, scored six tries to one in wet and slippery conditions at the North Harbour Stadium. They led 19-5 at the break. Winger Fabian Juries, a student at the SARFU Rugby Academy in Port Elizabeth, crossed for a hat-trick of tries, while captain and flank Wikus van Heerden, number eight Johan van Niekerk and right wing Wylie Human scored a try apiece. Scrumhalf Noel Oelschig kicked three conversions. Scotland replied with a try through number eight Simon Taylor. South Africa’s likely opponents in the final will be hosts New Zealand, who beat Samoa and England in their opening two matches and are favoured to overcome Argentina in their match later on Wednesday. The two teams met in the 1999 final in Argentina with South Africa winning 27-25. The final will be played as a curtain-raiser to the All Blacks versus Scotland test at Eden Park on Saturday.