The ”Baby Boks” edged out France 15-9 in a game of penalties on Saturday in the International Rugby Board Under-19 World rugby championship being played at the Absa Stadium in Durban.
The South Africans converted five penalties to the three of France to keep their unbeaten record. It is down to the computers to decide the various permutations for the next round on Wednesday.
With other results known from earlier games, it was imperative for the home nation to win and win well, with a bonus point in the bargain, to maintain a clear passage to next weekend’s semifinal stage.
But although there were times when the South Africans showed touches of class, the French managed to block their bonus try intentions with some great scrummaging and flair among the backs. As a result, the early stages of the first half were keenly contested, until the Boks began stretching the ball wide.
In pursuit of tries, they declined to take two first-half penalty scoring chances. Added to that, indecision at crucial moments and a high percentage of knock-ons did not help their cause.
A sizeable crowd was to witness to some fierce forward exchanges with French flair behind the pack being countered by a solid defence base. In an exciting attacking display, the French handled the ball with aplomb across the face of the Boks’ line, but fullback JC Janse van Vuuren saved the day with a great catch from a shrewd cross kick from opposite number Romain Samuel.
The French pack went into the rucks and mauls with gusto to disrupt the Baby Boks in midfield. With livewire scrumhalf Julian Senetac always in the thick of things, a second scoring opportunity was engineered with Platek goaling another penalty from 40m out.
Bok flank Hilton Loberts was prominent when the South Africans managed to mount an attack of sorts and this time it was his enthusiasm that gave the greens an opportunity by forcing the French offside.
However, the kick by Francois Steyn surged past the wrong side of the left-hand post and it remained 6-0. In a similar scenario, Loberts was again to the fore and this time Steyn slotted three points for the Baby Boks.
Flyhalf Jody Rose got an equalising penalty immediately on the restart and another soon afterwards to make it 9-6. A third chance was also successful, with the gap again narrowing to three points at 12-9 when Platek booted penalty number three for the French. Rose got another three-pointer as time was running out. — Sapa