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SA Under-18s outclass France

Cape Town - 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 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 beat Wales 24-21.

Next Wednesday in George, the SA Schools side will be in action against Wales, while England face France, also at Outeniqua Park.

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 Under-18 scored the first try of the match when scrumhalf Antione Dupont dummied his way through to score under the posts. They continued to pressurise the home team, but the South Africans proved to be dangerous on the counter attack, which later allowed them to score twice from quick turnover ball.

The SA Schools side levelled matters when wing Andell Loubser scored after a good piece of individual skill by Bosch, who sent his wing 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 pivotal role in the next try, scored by outside centre Barend Smith. Bosch slotted the conversion to hand the SA Schools side a slender 14-13 lead at half-time.

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 Under-18 forwards kept the pressure on them with some good movements.

Right at the end, Loubser rounded off a good performance for the South Africans when he dotted his second try after a slick backline move.

Scorers:

SA Schools - 28:

Tries: Andell Loubser (2), Barend Smith, Jaco Willemse
Conversions: Curwin Bosch (4)

France Under-18 - 13:

Tries: Antoine Dupont
Conversion: Anthony Belleau
Penalty: Belleau
Drop goal: Belleau

The remaining Under-18 International Series fixtures are (all matches live on SS8):

Tuesday, August 19 - Outeniqua Park, George

14:00 - Italy vs SWD Coca-Cola Craven Week XV
15:45 - England vs France
17:30 - SA vs Wales
 
Saturday, August 23 - Paul Roos Markötter Stadium, Stellenbosch

12:00 - Italy vs SARU Regional Academy XV
14:00 - France vs Wales
16:00 - SA vs England
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