The Junior Springboks beat the Griffons 24-20 in their warm-up match in Welkom on Friday.
Griffons flanker Jean Pretorius scored the first try of the match, with flyhalf Juan Kotze kicking the conversion and then adding a penalty to make it 10-0.
The Junior Boks struck back with two tries by hooker Daniel Jooste from rolling mauls. Centre Wayne van der Bank then scored a try seven minutes before half-time, after gathering a pop pass by fullback Gianni Lombard for a 17-10 lead.
Winger Mfundo Ndhlovu scored his team’s fourth try, two minutes into the second half, thanks to a fantastic break by replacement centre Cornel Smit.
The Griffons fought back strongly, with centre Duan Pretorius crossing the line to reduce the gap to 24-15. Replacement wing Calvano King added another try for them in the dying minutes, but the Junior Boks were able to hang on for the win.
'For our first game, I am very happy with the performance,' said coach Chean Roux. 'We certainly saw what we wanted to see. Some of the players put up their hands, which was encouraging, and our commitment on defence was pleasing at times.
'Obviously there were mistakes, but it was the first competitive game that we played. In general, though, it was a good performance on what was a hot afternoon.'
However, Roux said there was hard work ahead for his side.
'We haven’t worked much on our first phases, so there is a lot of work to be done in our lineouts, scrums and at the breakdowns, which is one of the pillars of our game.'
Junior Springboks – Tries: Daniel Jooste (2), Wayne van der Bank, Mfundo Ndhlovu. Conversions: Benhard Janse van Rensburg (2).
Griffons – Tries: Jean Pretorius, Duan Pretorius, Calvano King. Conversions: Juan Kotze (2). Penalty Goals: Juan Kotze.
Junior Springboks – 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Mfundo Ndhlovu, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Wayne van der Bank, 11 Ilunga Mukendi, 10 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 9 Francois de Villiers, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Hendre Stassen, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Salmaan Moerat, 4 Ewan Coetzee, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Daniel Jooste, 1 Boan Venter.
Subs: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Carlű Sadie, 19 Muller Uys, 20 Marnus van der Merwe, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Jean-Luc Cilliers, 23 Cornel Smit.
