The Junior Springboks started the defence of their Junior World Championship crown in style, carding 16 tries in an emphatic 104-7 victory (halftime 50-0) over Uruguay in Tbilisi in Georgia on Saturday evening, with Risima Khosa and Jordan Steenkamp crossing for three tries apiece in the process.
An important victory for the #JuniorBoks as they open their #JuniorWorldChampionship campaign in style - more here: https://t.co/eTM85vXjsW 🔥#JourneyToGreatness pic.twitter.com/ts7WlbUKlp
— SA Junior Rugby (@SAJuniorRugby) June 27, 2026
The victory at Avchala Stadium was the SA U20s' seventh consecutive win at the tournament, which saw them equal their best ever winning run in the tournament – a seven game streak across the 2012 and 2013 editions.
While they were in control for most of the match, often mixing the ridiculous with the sublime with ball in hand, the Junior Boks were still forced to defend at times, and they did so with gusto, especially playing against a fresh breeze in the first half.
After a scrappy start, the South Africans found their rhythm and Markus Muller duly opened their account with a try from a quick-tap penalty and good control over a number of phases in the Uruguay 22.
Alzeadon Felix added the extras and the Junior Boks were 7-0 after as many minutes.
Jordan Steenkamp scored the second try, showing his pace down the left as he left a number of opponents in his wake, and Felix's conversion gave the SA U20s a solid 14-0 lead after 11 minutes.
It was 21-0 after 17 minutes when Uruguay illegally brought down a strong SA driving maul and the referee had no option but to award a penalty try, and five minutes later, Risima Khosa was driven over from another attacking lineout to make it 26-0.
When Ethan Adams ran a beautiful line two minutes later, again from an attacking lineout, the South Africans were leading by 31-0, but Uruguay then fought their way back into the match, forcing the Junior Boks into defensive mode for six minutes inside their own 22.
They defended with aplomb and when they finally regained possession, Steenkamp was on hand to race away for his second try.
Not to be outdone by his wing partner, Khuthadzo Rasivhaga chipped in with two late first half tries on the right hand side of the field, both converted by Luan Giliomee, to push the SA U20s' halftime lead to 50-0.
RUNNING RIOT
The Junior Boks, boosted by their bench, added three more tries in the first 15 minute of the second half as they started to run riot against the tiring Uruguayan defence, with replacements Cheswill Jooste, Jayden Brits and Siphosethu Mnebelele all adding their names to the score sheet.
Khosa then completed his hat-trick with two tries in four minutes, with Akahlulwa Boqwana adding three conversions in the process to make it 83-0 after 62 minutes.
Not to be outdone by his teammate, Steenkamp followed eight minutes later with his third try to push the Junior Boks' tally to 90 points. Hard-working Gert Kemp then scored a converted try from a great run to make it 97-0 with five minutes to go.
When Brits raced away for his second try, it brought up the century for the Junior Boks, with Boqwana adding his sixth straight conversion before Uruguay scored a consolation try at the death.
Kevin Foote: “The players showed great intent from the start, and it’s pleasing to begin the tournament with a strong performance” - more here: https://t.co/WX5JtVxtLl 🗣️#JourneyToGreatness pic.twitter.com/hZuM0eg7dP
— SA Junior Rugby (@SAJuniorRugby) June 27, 2026
SCORERS:
Junior Springboks 104 (50) - Tries: Markus Muller, Jordan Steenkamp (3), Penalty try, Risima Khosa (3), Ethan Adams, Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (2), Cheswill Jooste, Jayden Brits (2), Siphosethu Mnebelele, Gert Kemp. Conversions: Alzeadon Felix (2), Luan Giliomee (3), Akahlulwa Boqwana (6).
Uruguay U20 7 (0) - Try: Sebastian Rivero. Conversion: Juan Francisco Pereira.
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