The following from Saru: The SA Under-20s kicked off their 2010 IRB Junior World Championship campaign to the perfect start following their 40-14 victory over Tonga at the Club Atletico Estudiantes in Parana.

The Baby Boks scored four tries and earned maximum points from their opening Pool C clash against the Pacific Islanders. Fullback Patrick Lambie, captain CJ Stander, centre Francois Venter and winger Sampie Mastriet were the try-scorers for the hosts. Lambie who converted all four tries also added three penalty kicks.

The Baby Boks conceded one try late in the second half when George Moala crashed over the try line to score Tonga’s only five-pointer in the match. Winger Micheal Toloke kicked three penalties.

“I am happy with the win and even happier that we managed to score the four tries which earns us a bonus point victory,” said SA Under-20 coach Eric Sauls.

“We started off well in the first half, but all credit to Tonga, they came hard at us in the second and made life difficult for us. However all the accolades goes to the guys for having faith in our systems and grinding out a well deserved win”

The Baby Boks held a comfortable 26-3 half time lead thanks to the two tries that were scored by Mastriet and Stander. Lambie, who enjoyed a flawless goal kicking game, scored the other points by adding two conversions and three penalty goals.  In the second half, Venter added the SA Under-20s’ third try soon after the restart before Lambie powered his way over the try line in the final minute of play to hand the South Africans the bonus point victory.

The Baby Boks were always in command of the game and held the ascendency at the line-outs and in the scrums. The SA pack won numerous tight heads against the Tongans and scrumhalf Louis Schreuder enjoyed excellent go-forward ball from that set piece. Schreuder dictated the game well in the first half and together with flyhalf Elton Jantjies kept the game in the Tonga half.

The Tongans conceded numerous penalties when the South Africans piled on the pressure in their own 22 meter area. The South Africans held a commanding 33-3 lead when Venter added the Baby Boks’ third try.  However a lack of concentration by the Baby Boks late in the second half saw the Tongans fight back.

Tonga kept things simple and consistently powered their way up field by using their big physical forwards. The South Africans were guilty of slipping a few first-time tackles which allowed their opponents moment. Credit though must go the performances of the Baby Boks’ loose-trio of Stander, Fanie van der Walt and Siyamthanda Kolisi for constantly troubling the Tongans at the break down.

“We always knew it was going to be a tough game physically,” said Stander. “But I must compliment the guys for the way they stuck in there right until the end to get the four tries. We taking this World Champs one game at a time, we’ll enjoy the result and then start focusing on our next game against Scotland on Wednesday.”

Sauls confirmed that there were no serious injuries after the physical nature of their clash against Tonga.  The Baby Boks play Scotland in their second Pool C game in the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship at the Estadio CA Colon in Sante Fe at 19h00 (RSA time).

Scorers:

SA Under-20s:

Tries: Sampie Mastriet, CJ Stander, Francois Venter, Patrick Lambie

Conversions: Lambie (4)

Penalties: Lambie (4).

Tonga:

Try: George Moala

Penalties: Michael Toloke (3).