Wandisile Simelane ignited South Africa’s challenge at the U20 World Championship in France with an electric hattrick against Ireland.
The Baby Boks beat Ireland 30-17 for their second victory in two starts. They also beat Georgia in their opening match.
The Baby Boks, who will play hosts France in the final league match, are one of the pre-tournament favourites.
The win against Ireland also means that the Baby Boks, in the last month, have completed a Grand Slam of victories against Scotland, Wales, England and Ireland.
Simelane, brilliant for South Africa as a teenager, seamlessly transferred his form to U20 international level as the Baby Boks produced a powerful second half performance to see off the Irish.
SA U20 coach Chean Roux raved about his players.
I thought we started off well and then we went off the boil, but the players showed tremendous character to come back. The fact that we didn’t play to our full potential and still earned the bonus point says something about the team.
Muller du Plessis was another player who enhanced his growing reputation. Du Plessis earlier this season also starred for the Springboks Sevens and he is comfortably transitioning from schoolboy rugby.
The Baby Boks will play France in Narbonne on June 7.
Scorers:
South Africa
Tries: Zak Burger, Miller du Plessis, Wandisile Simelane (2)
Conversion: Damian Willemse
Penalty: Gianni Lombard
Ireland
Tries: Caelan Doris, Michael Silvester
Conversions: Conor Dean (2)
Penalties: Conor Dean
Baby Boks:
15 Gianni Lombard (Golden Lions), 14 Tyrone Green (Golden Lions), 13 Wandisile Simelane (Golden Lions), 12 Lyle Hendricks (Western Province), 11 Muller du Plessis (Sharks), 10 Damian Willemse (Western Province), 9 Zak Burger (Sharks), 8 Muller Uys (Western Province), 7 Ben-Jason Dixon (Western Province), 6 Dian Schoonees (Golden Lions), 5 Ruan Nortje (Blue Bulls), 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain - Western Province), 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Golden Lions), 2 Daniel Jooste (Western Province), 1 Nathan McBeth (Golden Lions)
Substitutes: 16 Schalk Erasmus (Western Province), 17 Alulutho Tshakweni (Eastern Province), 18 Sazi Sandi (Western Province), 19 Ruan Vermaak (Golden Lions), 20 PJ Steenkamp (Golden Lions), 21 Rewan Kruger (Free State), 22 Lulbabalo Dobela (Free State), 23 Manuel Rass (Golden Lions)
