The Junior Springboks failed to qualify for the U20 Championship playoffs for the first time in more than a decade after losing against tournament-favourites England in Athlone on Tuesday.

A maul try after the hooter saw unbeaten England snatch a 17-12 victory over South Africa’s U20 side in rainy conditions at a muddy Athlone Stadium.

The Junior Springboks went into the game needing a convincing bonus-point victory to finish top of the pool and qualify for the semi-finals.

Captain Zach Porthen went over early for the tournament hosts, while wing Likhona Finca showed his skills to dot down for an incredible solo try in the second half.

However, despite a brave fight in tricky conditions, South Africa failed to progress to the playoffs for the first time since 2011, when they finished in fifth place in Italy.

The Junior Springboks will still have something to play for, as they will once again go into the battle for fifth-place, when they have a re-match with Argentina in the fifth-place semi-final at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

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