The SA Schools rugby team got off to a winning start in the SARU Under 18 International Series on Friday afternoon when they defeated France 28-13 at the City Park Stadium in Crawford, Cape Town.
They scored four converted tries, two in each half, to maintain their perfect record of the past four years against Northern Hemisphere opposition. In the earlier match, England managed to beat Wales 24-21.
Next Wednesday in George, the SA Schools will be in action against Wales while England face France, also at the Outeniqua Park Stadium.
At City Park Jaco Coetzee and his SA Schools team elected to play into a strong wind in the first half.
They started slowly and preferred a kicking game, while France again dominated territory. However, the first chance to score fell to SA Schools flyhalf, Curwin Bosch, who was unable to convert his penalty. Bosch later made amends by slotting all four conversions.
France U18 scored the first try of the match when scrumhalf Antione Dupont dummied his way through to score under the posts. They continued to pressurize the home team, but the South African proved to be dangerous on the counter attack, which later allowed them to score twice from quick turnover ball.
The SA Schools leveled matters when wing Andell Loubser scored after a good piece of individual skill by Bosch, who sent his winger away with a clever inside pass. Anthony Belleau, the French flyhalf, slotted a penalty which allowed his side to regain the lead at 10-7. A few minutes later the home team fell further behind after a Belleau drop goal.
However, the match swung into South Africa’s favour and the lively Bosch again played a pivot role in the next try, scored by outside centre Barend Smith. Bosch slotted the conversion to hand the SA Schools a slender 14-13 lead at halftime.
Five minutes after the resumption lock Jaco Willemse powered his way over for a well-deserved converted try. The French tried their best but the SA Schools forward kept the pressure on them with some good movements. Right at the end, Loubser rounded off a good performance for the SA Schools when he dotted his second try after a slick backline movement.
Scorers:
SA Schools – 28:
- Tries: Andell Loubser (2), Barend Smith (1), Jaco Willemse (1)
- Conversions: Curwin Bosch (4)
France U18 – 13:
- Tries: Antoine Dupont (1)
- Conversion: Anthony Belleau
- Penalty: Anthony Belleau
- Drop goal: Anthony Belleau
England U18 staged a late comeback to beat Wales U18 24-21 in Cape Town, South Africa.
After finding themselves 21-7 behind at the break, Head Coach John Fletcher’s side showed real character to fight their way back into the tie, and a late Harry Mallinder penalty proved to be the difference with ten minutes to play.
England’s tries came from Max Clark, Ciaran Parker and Mallinder, and Fletcher said that he was pleased to get the first game under the belt.
He said: “We were probably a bit rusty – particularly in the first half, but in the second period we were camped in their half of the pitch and showed some real desire to go and get the win. The Welsh played well, but we made a few unforced errors and in some ways it was a typical pre-season game.
“We scored three but left a couple out there, but for a first game of the tour we’re really pleased to get the win and we know that we can improve on the performance. At half time and 21-7 down we were where we deserved to be, we lacked a little bit of creativity, but as I say, the second half was much more pleasing.”
He added: “We’ve got a six hour drive to George tomorrow ahead of the France game, so we’ll assess any knocks that the guys might have and switch our focus onto the next game. We’ll stop at a game reserve on the way and see some animals and a bit of culture, which is also important when you come away.”
England U18: 15 Taylor Prell (Giggleswick School & Yorkshire Carnegie), 14 Kai Little (Hartpury College), 13 Max Clark (Bryanston School & Bath Rugby), 12 Harry Mallinder (Rugby School & Northampton Saints), 11 Rotimi Segun (Stowe School & Northampton Saints), 10 Rory Jennings (Bryanston School & Bath Rugby), 9 Will Homer (Sherborne School & Bath Rugby), 8 Henry Cheeseman (Whitgift & Harlequins), 7 Sam Underhill (Captain – Sir Thomas Rich’s School & Gloucester Rugby), 6 Charlie Beckett (QEW & Leicester Tigers), 5 Joe Batley (Hartpury College & Gloucester Rugby), 4 Joe Maksymiw (QEW & Leicester Tigers), 3 Seb Adeniran-Olule (Wellington College & Harlequins), 2 Ollie Adams (St Pauls Catholic College & London Irish), 1 Lewis Boyce (Prince Henry’s & Yorkshire Carnegie)
Replacements: 16 James Fish (Trent College & Northampton Saints), 17 Ciaran Parker (St Ambrose & Sale Sharks), 18 Owen Hills (QEW & Leicester Tigers), 19 Kieran Treadwell (John Fisher & Harlequins), 20 Lewis Ludlam (St Joseph’s College & Northampton Saints), 21 Theo Brophy Clews (Abingdon School & London Irish), 22 Joe Marchant (Peter Symonds & Harlequins), 23 Cameron Cowell (St Pauls Catholic College & London Irish), 24 John Williams (St Pauls Catholic College & London Irish).