Slick backs, physicality sees Junior Boks edge out Argentina

IT took the Junior Springboks a wake-up call in the second half to get going in their Under-20 Rugby Championship opener against Argentina in Gqeberha on Thursday.

- LEIGHTON KOOPMAN

A try shortly after the break by the Pumitas opened a double-score advantage to them to place pressure on the South Africans in front of their fans.

But three additional tries by the home team, thanks to some enterprising play between the backline and forwards, secured a 36-25 victory at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

SA are atop the Championship standings with four points after New Zealand and Australia drew 29-29 in the first clash on Thursday.

While the visitors were first to score in the second half, it was the South Africans who comfortably dominated proceedings as their opposition tired as the match went along.

Despite not dominating at scrum-time, the South African Under-20s made up for it with their physicality, and it allowed the backline to get running.