Latest news with #JuniorBoks
The Herald
3 days ago
- General
- The Herald
Junior Boks put Gqeberha heartache behind them
After the disappointment of ending third at the four-team U20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha in May, the Junior Boks are ramping up preparations for the World Rugby Championship, which kicks off in Italy on June 29. Two training sessions against a visiting senior Kenyan side have been included in a three-week training camp which starts in Stellenbosch on Monday. The meetings with Kenya will be match simulation exercises, with the first set for June 9 and the second five days later on June 14, in Stellenbosch. Junior Bok coach Kevin Foote has included three new players in a training squad. He has welcomed back several familiar faces who are back from injury and United Rugby Championship duty in addition to three newcomers in Rambo Kubheka (loosehead prop), Shaun Schürman (hooker) and Ian van der Merwe (flyhalf). Returning to the squad are locks Jaco Grobbelaar and Arno van der Merwe, No 8 Stephanus Linde, and outside backs Jaco Williams and Alzeadon Felix. ' Rambo, who played for the SA U18s last year, has been doing very well for Hollywoodbets Sharks in the SA Rugby U21 Cup, while Shaun and Ian, a very good game driver and left-footed kicker, have also been in good form for the Vodacom Bulls U21s,' Foote said. 'Jaco Grobbelaar, who played for the Junior Boks last year, is back from his Vodacom URC duty with the Vodacom Bulls and will join us in week two, and Stephanus, who toured with us to Georgia earlier this year, returns after he picked up a knee injury in the FNB Varsity Cup. 'It's also good to welcome back from injury Jaco Williams, who has been training with the Sharks' URC team, Alzeadon Felix, who had a good Varsity Cup campaign, and Arno van der Merwe.' Foote said HB Odendaal (hooker), Neil Hansen (lock), Divan Fuller (flanker), and Matt Romao (flanker) have been ruled out due to injury, while JC Mars (fullback) would join the squad as soon as he had shrugged off a hamstring niggle. 'We're a very settled team now, with some guys coming back from injury and unfortunately some players being injured while on duty for their provinces in the SA Rugby U21 Cup,' Foote . 'We've kept the core of the squad together for a long time now; they're a great team off the field and have a good connection, which we think is very important for us going into the World Championship, also understanding how we want to play and our game model. 'There has been a lot of work done over the last few camps, including the tour to Georgia and the U20 Rugby Championship. 'Though we didn't get the results against Australia and New Zealand in Gqeberha, we've taken a lot of good learning from those experiences, and we feel we are very close to where we want to be.' Junior Springbok training squad: Props: Simphiwe Ngobese (Sharks), Ranon Fouché (Bulls), Oliver Reid (Western Province), Kubheka (Sharks), Jean Erasmus (Bulls), Tebogo Nkosi (Cheetahs), Herman Lubbe (Western Province). Hookers: Juandré Schoeman (Bulls), Siphosethu Mnebelele (Bulls), Shaun Schürmann (Bulls). Locks: Jaco Grobbelaar (Bulls), Riley Norton (Western Province), Arno van der Merwe (Cheetahs), Morné Venter (Lions), JJ Theron (Bulls), Zuko Phoswa (Western Province). Loose forwards: Xola Nyali (Western Province), Thando Biyela (Lions), Batho Hlekani (Sharks), Stephanus Linde (Cheetahs), Wandile Mlaba (Western Province). Scrumhalves: Haashim Pead (Lions), Ceano Everson (Sharks), Erich Visser (Cheetahs). Flyhalves: Vusi Moyo (Sharks), Ian van der Merwe (Bulls). Centres: Albie Bester (Sharks), Demitre Erasmus (Bulls), Gino Cupido (Western Province). Outside backs: Jaco Williams (Sharks), Siya Ndlozi (Western Province), Cheswill Jooste (Bulls), Gilermo Mentoe (Lions), Alzeadon Felix (Lions), Scott Nel (Sharks). Utility back: Dominic Malgas (Western Province). The Herald
TimesLIVE
15-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Eight uncapped players invited to second Bok alignment camp
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus on Thursday named a group of 54 local and overseas-based players to attend the team's second alignment camps, with Juarno Augustus, Vincent Tshituka and Ntokozo Makhaza invited to their first national alignment camps. The camps will take place in person in Cape Town for local players on May 22 and virtually for players based outside South Africa on May 23. Thirty-six players will attend the in-person camp, with 18 players plying their trade abroad in Japan and the northern hemisphere joining virtually, their training schedules permitting. Augustus, who was named the World Rugby Under-20 Player of the Year after a sterling performance for the Junior Boks in Georgia in 2017, has been a standout player for the Northampton Saints this season. Congolese-born Tshituka recently received his South African ID, clearing him to represent South Africa. Makhaza will join the Cheetahs for the Currie Cup after being named 2024 FNB Varsity Cup Player of the Tournament, turning out for eventual champions the University of Cape Town.
The Citizen
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
OPINION: Plenty to work on for Junior Boks ahead of World Champs
The SA U20 team won just one match in the recent U20 Rugby Championship that also featured Australia, Argentina and New Zealand. Junior Springbok flyhalf Kyle Smith tries to evade the New Zealand defence during their high scoring U20 Rugby Championship clash at the at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Sunday. Picture: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images The Junior Springboks will need to buckle down over the next month and a half and get stuck into their various training regimes if they want to improve and ensure that they are a contender when the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship kicks off in Italy at the end of June. This after a disappointing showing in hosting the 2025 U20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha over the past few weeks, where the Junior Boks won just one game out of three to finish third on the four-team log. The margins were tight, with the Junior Boks beating Argentina 36-25, before going down 29-25 to Australia and 48-45 to New Zealand, but the manner of the defeats should be slightly concerning to the coaching staff. Junior Bok head coach Kevin Foote claimed he was happy with his team's showing, that they can be proud of their performance, and that there are plenty of positives to take out of the competition. But whether he genuinely believes that, or is just backing his players despite them flopping on home soil, we don't really know. Top start Against Argentina the hosts trailed 25-15 early in the second half, before rallying with 21 unanswered points to start the tournament on a high. But they were brought heavily down to earth by the Aussies after leading 17-0 early in the second half. They allowed the visitors to score four tries in 23 minutes and 29 points in total, before a late try made the game seem closer than it was. Against New Zealand the Junior Boks led 19-0 early on and 26-24 at half-time, but the visitors were able to turn things around and see out the high-scoring game despite losing a player to a red card with 11 minutes remaining and another to a yellow with five minutes left. Arguably the big work-ons for the Junior Boks should be their set piece and defence, while their scrums and lineouts also need attention. Some players will be released to their unions to play in the SA Rugby U21 competition, while others will have their workloads managed, but an improved effort will be needed if they want to challenge the Northern Hemisphere junior sides who have dominated in recent years.
Daily Maverick
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Lessons learned: Junior Springboks eye redemption following narrow losses in Rugby Championship U20
The South Africa under-20 rugby side have failed at the annual southern hemisphere tournament again, this time on home soil. The Junior Springboks' tightly contested and highly entertaining 48-45 loss to the Baby Blacks on Sunday means they ended the Rugby Championship U20 in third place, behind Champions New Zealand and Australia. It's the second consecutive loss the Junior Boks suffered, having lost 29-24 to the Junior Wallabies five days earlier. In the opening round they had to come from behind to beat Argentina 36-25 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, where all the matches in the competition took place. Last year the Junior Boks finished second, when the inaugural tournament was held in the Sunshine Coast in Australia. They were also beaten by Australia then while drawing with New Zealand and beating Argentina. Both of South Africa's defeats this year came after initially opening up a substantial lead and then allowing the Australasian sides back into the contest. Against Australia, the Junior Boks held a 17-0 lead shortly after halftime before the Junior Wallabies clawed their way back. Similarly, South Africa scored three tries in the first 15 minutes to take a 19-0 lead against New Zealand only to see the deficit reduced to two points by halftime as the home team led 26-24. While the Junior Springboks' results have disappointed home supporters who have seen this edition of the team run out for the first time over the past two weeks, head coach Kevin Foote has said the Rugby Championship U20 was just part of the journey. The destination is the Under-20 World Championship, which gets under way at the end of June in Italy. 'There are a lot of positives to take from that performance,' Foote said. 'We are on a massive journey together and I only met (captain) Riley Norton and the guys back in November, so we are definitely working hard on our game model and principles, which everyone understands now. 'From a character and leadership perspective, we are in a good place, and the lessons we learnt will be of huge benefit as we approach the U20 Championship next month in Italy.' High scoring The Junior Springboks were entertaining with ball in hand, scoring 14 tries across the three matches with Foote crediting young attack coach Melusi Mthethwa. South Africa's set piece got better as the tournament went on, but soft shoulders in defence let in more points than scored. 'I think Melusi [Mthethwa] has done a great job in terms of our attack, and I really feel that the players have clarity on how we want to play,' Foote said. 'We played some exciting and brilliant attacking rugby during the tournament, and just to hear the crowd get behind us when we started to light it up was exceptional. 'We know we are not the finished product, and we know we have a lot of work to do, but I do think our attack has come a long way and the guys are loving the way we are attacking.' Enforcer lock and captain of the junior side Riley Norton, like Foote, sees the tournament as a stepping-stone for the Under-20 World Championships. 'To have played these high-pressure games against such quality opposition before the World Champs is going to be vital for us,' he said. 'The lessons we learnt, the connections and relationships we have managed to build, not only on the field but off-field as well, and the trust we managed to create, are extremely important to us.' In order to ensure the players remain sharp and in top condition in the 50 days before the World Championship kicks off, Foote will be sending a number of players back to their unions to play in the ongoing Under-21 Cup competition. 'We will take it case by case, but some players will go back to their provinces to play in the U21 competition,' he said. 'It's a strong competition and the players are well coached there, and we are keen for them to keep going. There will be some whose load we will have to manage, but we will do our medicals and take it case by case.' The last time South Africa won the Junior World Championship was more than a decade ago in 2014, and they have only made the final four twice in the 11 years since. Last year, a strong Junior Boks side finished fifth overall. With a new coaching structure this year and the second year of the Under-20 Rugby Championship, more is expected from the national junior side. DM
The Herald
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald
Junior All Blacks retain title after thrilling win over Boks
The All Blacks staged a stunning fightback to edge the Junior Boks 48-45 and successfully defend their U20 Rugby Championship title at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Sunday. After trailing 19-0 after 13 minutes, the Baby Blacks had to dig deep before they were able to subdue SA and send out a warning that they will be the team to beat at the Junior World Cup, which kicks off in Italy on June 29. The New Zealanders hung onto their slender lead with grim determination when they ended the game with 13 men after Caleb Woodley was red-carded and Randall Baker was shown yellow. The Boks threw everything they had at the All Blacks in the final moments, but they were unable to crack open New Zealand's brick wall defence. SA's hopes of lifting the title were dashed even before they started their game against New Zealand. Hopes of glory on home soil for the Junior Boks ended when Australia beat Argentina 40-36 in the early game of a double header. That result meant that even if the Boks had beaten New Zealand with a bonus point and drawn level with Australia on the log, the Junior Wallabies were still ahead on the table because they beat the Boks in a second-round fixture. Despite being out of the running before a ball had been kicked, the Boks drew on their resilience to produce a courageous performance. It had been billed as brutal warfare in the trenches, and the battle lived up to prematch hype in front of 15,000 fans. There were scenes of uncontained joy at the end when New Zealand coach Milton Haig joined his players on the field to lift the trophy in front of an appreciative crowd who were treated to an absorbing double header. SA made a perfect start when powerful centre Albie Bester crashed over the New Zealand try line in the second minute after a period of sustained pressure from the men in green and gold. The action was fast and furious in the opening minutes, and the Junior Boks had a second try when powerful prop Simphiwe Ngobese bulldozed his way over the New Zealand try line. New Zealand were reeling after 13 minutes when Bok hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele touched down after a driving maul to which SA put SA into a commanding 15-0 lead. The Baby Blacks hit back after SA's electrifying start when elusive wing Harlyn Saunoa somehow managed to squeeze over in the corner to reduce the deficit to 19-5. In a sudden momentum shift, the All Blacks were back in the fight when the dangerous Saunoa went over for his second try, which left the Boks with a 19-12 advantage. The try feast continued in the 29th minute when hard-running wing Gino Cupido crossed the Boks' fourth try. New Zealand hit back with tries from skipper Manumaua Letiu and a third five-pointer from Saunoa to leave the Boks with a slender 26-24 halftime lead. The All Blacks took the lead for the first time in the game when express pace wing Maloni Kunawave won a foot race to touch down and to put his side ahead 29-26 after 42 minutes. Clever play by Bok No 8 Wandile Mlaba resulted in SA's fifth try as the game continued at a frenetic pace. Kunawave put the All Blacks into a 48-38 lead after 19 minutes left when he scored an acrobatic try in the corner. Scorers: Junior Boks 45: Tries: Albie Bester, Simphiwe Ngobese, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Gino Cupido, Wandile Mlaba (2), Penalty Try. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (4). New Zealand 48: Tries: Harlyn Saunoa (3), Manumaua Letiu, Maloni Kunawave (2), Sika Pole, Stanley Solomon. Conversions: Will Cole (4). The Herald
