Two tries from centre Albie Bester and another kicking masterclass from flyhalf Vusi Moyo made sure the Junior Springboks remain unbeaten and book their place in the final of the World Rugby Under 20 Championship.

South Africa ran in six tries as they defeated Argentina 48-24 in Viadana on Monday night.

READ: Junior Boks’ revival promises silverware

It’s the Junior Boks’ first final in the competition since 2014, and while they showed true grit on defence against a gutsy Argentinean team, the two yellow cards and 16 penalties conceded will need attention as they prepare to face New Zealand in Rovigo on Saturday evening.

It was a cagey start to the semi-final, but centre Albie Bester broke the deadlock after 10 minutes when he was put into space by scrumhalf Haashim Pead and crashed over for the Junior Boks’ first try. Pead continued with his eye-catching form, rounding off some beautiful interplay between loose forwards Batho Hlekani and Wandile Mlaba for his sixth try of the tournament.

“That is an unbelievable try!” 🇿🇦@SAJuniorRugby are bringing their pace and power to the pitch ⚡#WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/FgUbzQXCJk

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 14, 2025

Winger Jaco Williams and lock JJ Theron also crossed the whitewash in the first half, with flyhalf Vusi Moyo flawless from the kicking tee to give the South Africans a 28-10 half time lead.

If you blink, you might miss it 🤏👀

Jaco Williams gets South Africa’s third against Argentina 🇿🇦🔥

📺 Stream #WorldRugbyU20s on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/XOSnjeaHdn

— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 14, 2025

Los Pumitas started the second half on the front foot and as Junior Bok coach Kevin Foote brought on a five-forward Bomb Squad, the Pumitas scored their second try, by wing Timoteo Silva, to make it an 11-point game with half an hour to go.

The Junior Bok replacements started to come into the game as two Moyo penalty goals followed by Bester’s second try, from a midfield turnover after a good run by his midfield partner Demitre Erasmus, increased South Africa’s lead to 41-17 on the hour mark.

Forced to defend for most of the final 20 minutes, the Junior Boks did very well to keep wave after wave of Argentinean attacks at bay, and although the Pumitas’ replacement back Ramon Fernandez Miranda scored in the 73rd minute, it wasn’t enough.

The South Africans showed glimpses of what they can do though as they closed the game out with a superb try by wing Cheswill Jooste, which started on their own tryline, to ensure their title aspirations remain alive with one game to go in Italy.

Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images