Junior Springboks united to conquer the world, says captain Norton
The Junior Springboks became the third South African team to claim world champion status by outplaying New Zealand in the World Rugby U20 Championship Final in Rovigo on Saturday night.
The Junior Springboks' tournament victory – their first since 2012 – came on a hot and humid night in Italy where they once again proved the masters of their southern hemisphere foes, beating the Kiwis for a seventh consecutive time in this tournament and the second time in a final, the same as in 2012, when the SA U20s outplayed NZ by 22-16.
The SA U20s join the reigning Rugby World Cup champions, the Springboks, and the Blitzboks at the top of the World Rugby competition podium.
Speaking to the media after the game, Norton emphasised the team's combined work-rate and unity as the core drivers of their success in Rovigo.
'I'm quite emotional, but I'm just so proud,' said the Paul Roos old boy.
'The amount of work that we put in after not a great TRC, our backs were against the wall and we just came out and gave it everything.
'The group is unbelievable, the management, the coaches – we all pulled into a common idea. It wasn't easy at times, but ja, this is the greatest day of my life.'
Norton highlighted traditional South African strengths – physicality in scrums, mauls, and defensive intensity – as decisive.
He explained that 'our DNA' carried the game, sustaining energy and aggression for the full 80 minutes.
'We had to show up physically. That's our DNA. That's where we South Africans get our passion and our energy from. The set-phase, the maul, the scrum, the hits – the guys did that for 80 minutes and that's where we get our DNA from.'
He lauded Junior Springboks flyhalf Vusi Moyo for his key penalties, saying Moyo's goal-kicking kept them ahead.
Of course (Vusi) Moyo with his unbelievable boot always putting us on the front foot and kicking those penalties, it's just unbelievable.'
Norton revealed the Junior Springboks' appreciation for fan support from home, citing messages, videos, and encouragement as vital inspirations.
Asked whether the Junior Springboks felt any pressure being the top seed coming into the tournament, Norton said there were nerves but never really pressure.
'The amount of support we received from South Africa, videos from our mates, people sending us messages and just backing us was just unbelievable. I'm so proud to be South African and we couldn't have done it without our fans back at home cheering us on every step of the way.'
Junior Springboks 23 (13) – Tries: Xola Nyali, Gilermo Mentoe. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (2). Penalty goals: Moyo (3).
New Zealand 15 (5) – Tries: Jayden Sa, Maloni Kunawave. Conversion: Will Cole. Penalty goal: Rico Simpson.
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