England U20 Men qualified for the semi-finals of the World Rugby U20 Championship by beating South Africa 12-17 in challenging conditions at Athlone Stadium.

Tries from Finn Carnduff, Joe Bailey and James Isaacs and a conversion from Sean Kerr helped England secure the win, while South Africa scored tries through Zach Porthen and Likhona Finca, with Liam Koen adding a conversion.

England’s next game will take place on Sunday 14 July (15:30 BST kick-off) when they will face Ireland for a spot in the final. 

South Africa opened the scoring after seven minutes when Porthen crossed from close range following sustained pressure in the English 22 and Koen converted.

With 25 minutes played Ollie Allan noticed South Africa had advanced beyond the back foot and dummied a kick before working it wide. Alex Wills then kicked ahead into touch and from the lineout England won the ball and earnt a penalty. They tapped quickly and after a couple of phases Carnduff burrowed over before Kerr tied the scores with his conversion.

Just after the half-hour mark Henry Pollock and Carnduff won a penalty in their own half and Pollock tapped before kicking ahead. South Africa gathered the ball but Jack Bracken returned their clearing kick with pace and England won a penalty from the following phases.

Electing to go to the corner from the penalty put England in the South African 22 and they stayed there for much of what remained of the half, but could not make the territory count and went into the dressing room with the scores level at 7-7.

England opened the second half by winning a penalty from a scrum just outside the South African 22. They could not convert the opportunity to points immediately, but won another penalty from a lineout and this time made sure as Bailey bundled over from the maul. Ben Coen’s conversion attempt went wide and left the scores at 7-12.

South Africa responded minutes later as Finca hacked the ball ahead to bring the scores level and Koen’s missed conversion kept the score 12-12.

With the weather conditions continuing to make play difficult, Wills looked to break the deadlock when he chipped ahead and Ben Waghorn almost regathered but lost the ball just metres from the line.

South Africa looked to run it from deep but they spilt the ball and England patiently built in their search for the win. On the South African five-metre line Ben Redshaw tapped but was brought down, resulting in a yellow card for Divan Fuller. With the numerical advantage England won another penalty and kicked to the corner before setting up a maul for Isaacs to power over with the clock deep in the red.