Rugtby

Zeilinga Strydom and Keane Galant of South Africa during the U18 International Series match between SA Schools and Wales at Paul Roos Gymnasium on August 09, 2019 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. (Photo by Carl Fourie/Gallo Images)

SA Rugby Under-18 International Series off to a flyer [video]

The SA Schools team opened their SA Rugby Under-18 International Series with a hard-fought 23-13 win over Wales thanks to a better attacking effort in the second half of their clash at Markotter Stadium at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch.

Rugtby

Zeilinga Strydom and Keane Galant of South Africa during the U18 International Series match between SA Schools and Wales at Paul Roos Gymnasium on August 09, 2019 in Stellenbosch, South Africa. (Photo by Carl Fourie/Gallo Images)

The opening day of the SA Rugby Under-18 International Series delivered some cracking rugby at Markotter Stadium in Stellenbosch on Friday, with the SA Schools, Argentina and France scoring hard-fought wins over Wales, England and SA Schools A respectively.

The SA Schools team delivered a 23-13 over the Welsh, while Argentina outplayed England 29-19 in their first appearance of the Series, now in its tenth year.

In the opening match of the series, the French team had too much attacking prowess for the SA Schools A side, winning 43-19.

The SA team trailed 6-10 at the break in their clash with Wales, but managed to play the big points better in the second half to overhaul their opponents.

Wales deserved credit, however, as they refused to stop chasing the game and were hard on the attack at the final whistle.

The opening points came the way of SA Schools flyhalf, Kian Meadon, who slotted a penalty from close range.

SA Schools fullback, Zeilinga Strydom, intercepted a pass 60 meters out and raced in fro what appeared to be the first try of the match, until he was called back for a neck roll by a teammate and the decision reversed to a penalty to Wales, allowing flyhalf Thomas Mathews to level the scores.

Wales then took the lead after a period of sustained pressure, with centre Mason Grady bursting open the midfield to dot down, with Mathews converting.

Meadon scored a second penalty kick to cut the lead to four before half time.

The South Africans regained the lead early in the second half via scrumhalf, Jurich Claasens.

From a powerful scrum, the scrumhalf played a move off the back of the scrum with No 8, George Cronje, and as the gap opened up, he raced through to score next to the poles.

The conversion was good to delight and the crowd happy with the lead and they were soon back on their feet for a great run and try in the corner from Jan-Hendrik Wessels (prop).

The lead jumped out to 18-10, as the momentum swung towards the South African side.

However Mathews kicked a second penalty to cut the lead to five once more and there were some anxious moments on both sides, with both teams coming close to claiming a decisive score.

A crucial turnover by South Africa on their own line eased the pressure and when Wales conceded another penalty via a high tackle, the SA side swooped.

They forced an attacking line-out and from that, kept plugging away with bursts close to the ruck until the Welsh defence buckled and flanker, Jarrod Taylor, burst through from close range for a try five minutes from time to seal the deal.

SA Schools A coach, Phiwe Nomlomo said their slow start cost them. “We did not start well at all,” he said. “We possibly took too long to get into the game and that cost us in the end.”

The coach remained positive that they can turn their fortunes around for their next match against Wales on Tuesday.

“Some things worked well for us. We looked good with ball in hand, our loose forwards were especially monstrous with ball in hand. We will try and get them into the game a bit more next time around.”

He warned that the team will have to improve their defence as well: “For sure, defensively we will have to improve a bit, especially our one-on-one defense and if we do that, we will be a better team already.” 

SA Schools coach, Mzwakhe Nkosi, said the rugby produced in the second half from his team showed their character.

“There is a lot to take out of this game,” he said. “We won the big moments and that was important. Our attack was not the greatest. They did beat us to the breakdown in the first half, but we had a look at that and improved so much in the second half.”

They now face Argentina: “It is going to be another tough match,” he said. “We need to take the lessons from this, improve on that and then take on Argentina with those boxes ticked,” he said.

SA Rugby Under-18 International Series results

SA Schools A 19 (14), France (31) 43

France – Tries: Leo Barre, Logan Tabet, Jessy Maizier, Ethan Randale, Eric Boussard, Killian Tixeront, Theo Ntamack-Mayenga. Conversions: Nolann Le Garrec (4).

SA Schools A – Tries: Indiphile Tyeda, Philip Masango, Teague Loelly. Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (2).  

Argentina 29 (17), England 19 (7)

Argentina – Tries: Bautista Grenon (lock), Facundo Villalba (scrumhalf), Bautista Bernasconi (hooker), Justo Piccardo (centre). Conversions: Julian Hernandez (flyhalf, 3). Penalty: Hernandez.

England – Tries: Louis-Hillman Cooper (centre), Matthew Ward (wing), Sam Bryan (replacement-flyhalf). Conversions: Orlando Baily (flyhalf, 2).

SA Schools 23 (6), Wales 13 (10)

SA Schools – Tries: Jurich Claasens, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Jarrod Taylor. Conversion: Kian Meadon. Penalties: Meadon (2).

Wales – Try: Mason Grady. Conversion: Thomas Mathews. Penalties: Thomas Mathews (2)