The SA Under-18 side recorded their third straight win of the 2026 Under-18 International Series when they deservedly beat England U18 by 68-40 in the third and final round at Stellenberg High School in the northern suburbs of Cape Town.

The South Africans went into the halftime break with a narrow 26-19 lead, but they pulled away in the second half, scoring six more tries, including three by replacement hooker Theo Boshoff, to clinch another unbeaten series campaign.

Having already beaten France and Ireland in the previous two rounds, the victory secured a third consecutive unbeaten campaign for South Africa, while the SA U18 ‘A’ side also won all three their games during the series.

The South African and English sides met after both had won their opening two matches of the popular annual age-group international tournament.

England struck first when Archie Guyver crossed in the corner following a full backline movement. Zac Jones added an excellent conversion from out wide, but minutes later, the SA U18s responded when Charles Whitehead scored from a driving maul.

With momentum now in their favour, the South Africans played with intent and purpose, putting England on the back foot. The pressure yielded two more tries for the hosts.

First, Ncutu Kepe worked his way over from the touchline, before Jacobus de Villiers powered across for South Africa's third try. Ethan van Biljon, playing on his home school field at Stellenberg, converted both scores as the hosts turned a 7-0 deficit into a 19-7 lead.

England were determined to fight back and worked their way to the SA tryline, but on two occasions their ball carriers were held up over the line by resolute South African defence. The visitors eventually broke through a few minutes later when Will Moore scored, with Jones adding the conversion to reduce the deficit to five points at 19-14.

There was still time for the lively Kepe to showcase his footwork as he stepped past his defender to score his second try of the first half. Van Biljon added the conversion to stretch the lead to 26-14 on the stroke of halftime.

However, England had the final say of an entertaining first half when Charlie Bray crossed from a successful maul. The conversion was unsuccessful, leaving South Africa with a 26-19 lead at the break.

The South Africans picked up where they left off after halftime. Boshoff scored first before Van Biljon added another try. Achmat Behardien converted both scores to give South Africa a commanding 40-19 lead with almost half an hour remaining.

Behardien then produced a pinpoint crossfield kick that Anesu Kuzonyei gathered for a well-taken try out wide. The playmaker added his third conversion, this time from the touchline, to extend the lead to 47-19.

England showed plenty of character in response, driving South Africa over their own tryline with Taine Elone credited with the score. Sonny Goode converted from a difficult angle to reduce the deficit to 47-26. The visitors struck again a few minutes later when they exploited a gap in the SA defence to score, with the conversion taking the score to 47-33.

South Africa responded through their hardworking captain De Villiers, who finished off a move initiated by the forwards, with Behardien adding the conversion to make it 54-33. England hit back once more through replacement outside back Jack McIntosh, narrowing the gap to 54-40.

Boshoff then crossed twice more from driving mauls as England struggled to contain the South African pack. Behardien converted both tries to take the final score to 68-40 and seal an emphatic victory for the unbeaten hosts.

Scores:

SA U18 68 (26) – Tries: Charles Whitehead, Ncutu Kepe (2), Jacobus de Villiers (2), Theo Boshoff (3), Ethan van Biljon, Anesu Kuzonyei. Conversions: Van Biljon (3), Achmat Behardien (6).

England U18 40 (19) – Tries: Archie Guyver, Will Moore, Charlie Bray, Tiane Elone, Will Bayston, Jack McIntosh. Conversions: Zac Jones (3), Sonny Goode, Oscar Talbot.

Photographer: Charmaine Sander Photography

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