Baby Boks take bronze

The South African Under-20 rugby team achieved a hat trick of bronze medals in the IRB Junior World Championship after they defeated England 27-22 in Rosario.

The Baby Boks came back from a half time deficit 19-12 to record their third victory in the 2010 tournament.

Winger Nico Scheepers opened the scoring for the South Africans after diving over in the corner to score the first try of the match. Fullback Patrick Lambie added the conversion to steer the Boks to a 7-0 lead after eight minutes.

England though hit back five minutes later when winger Marcus Watson broke the Baby Boks’ defence to score his first five-pointer of the game. Flyhalf Freddie Burns, who converted Watson’s try, stretched England’s lead to 14-7 when he scored a converted try in the 23rd minute of the match.

The Baby Boks though hit back two minutes later when Sibusiso Sithole crashed his way over the try line to score his first of two tries on the evening (14-12).

England stretched their lead over the South Africans when Joe Marler scored his side’s third try of the game seven minutes before the break (19-12).

However the Baby Boks immediately hit back after the break when Lambie scored South Africa’s third try of the game (19-17).

The SA Under-20s regained the lead in the 17th minute of the second half when Sithole scored his second try of the match. Lambie converted Sithole’s five-pointer to hand the Boks a 24-19 lead.

With 12 minutes remaining in the match utility back Rory Clegg kept England in the game thanks to a penalty kick he converted when the Baby Boks were penalised for offside (24-22).

However the South Africans sealed the victory with seven minutes remaining in the game when Lambie kicked his first penalty of the match to hand the Boks a 27-22 result.