Well we have now reached the finals of the Junior Rugby World Championship 2012 in South Africa.
The main competition sees The BabyBoks versus The Junior All Blacks. At one time it did not look like this would occur, but full marks to both sides when the weather smiled on them they played the best rugby.
New Zealand Wales was a contest that Wales had a chance in until the Kiwis cut loose on 37 minutes. Wales had taken a 6-0 lead with a couple of penalties but the Kiwis pegged them back with two of their own. The first half ended at 6-13 thanks to the work off and on the ball of Jimmy Tupou who scored for the Kiwis on 37 minutes the try being converted gave us the half-time score of 6-13. The second period and The Junior Al Blacks now showed just how good they can be as they ran the Welsh ragged apartr from in the scrum. Further tries came to Jason Emery, Jordan Taufua and the rampaging no.1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, probably one of the men of the match. This took the score to 6-30 in favour of New Zealand.
The second semi-final saw Argentina face South Africa and here the Baby Boks never really looked troubled as they controlled all facets of the game getting -10 points up by 20 minutes and eventually running out 3-35 with their half-back combination having a superb game controlling all the action.
In the other match’s France beat Australia and Ireland England, both disastrous results meaning their match for 7th is just pride. Samoa beat Fiji, not what we expected.
So the final round of games are on the 22nd and as usual we have put our predictions in bold. We have gone for a New Zealand win, though if it is wet they may struggle to contain the South African power.
Results All Place Semi-Finals
All times local
9th Place Semi Final
19 17 Jun 12:30 Scotland 34-17 Italy University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town
20 17 Jun 14:45 Fiji 20-29 Samoa University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town
5th Place Semi Final
21 17 Jun 14:45 France 19-17 Australia Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
22 17 Jun 17:00 Ireland 27-12 England University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town
Semi Finals
23 17 Jun 17:00 Wales 6-30 New Zealand Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
24 17 Jun 19:15 Argentina 3-35 South Africa Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Minor Place Play-offs
25 11th Place 22 Jun 14:15 Italy v Fiji University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town
26 09th Place 22 Jun 12:00 Scotland v Samoa University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town
27 07th Place 22 Jun 16:30 England v Australia University of Western Cape Stadium, Cape Town
28 05th Place 22 Jun 14:15 Ireland v France Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Bronze Final
29 22 Jun 16:30 Argentina v Wales Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Final
30 22 Jun 18:45 South Africa v New Zealand Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch