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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
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Australia U20s win but miss out on Rugby Championship
Australia's under 20s have fallen agonisingly just shy of winning their first ever Rugby Championship title despite finishing the junior tournament on a high with their thrilling 40-36 win over Argentina in South Africa. Despite the junior Wallabies having been undefeated through the tournament with two wins and a draw, New Zealand lifted the title, relegating them to second place, after the Kiwis beat hosts South Africa in the final game at the same Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha later on Sunday. The Australians had earlier prevailed against Los Pumitas with six tries in total despite a fluctuating second half when the lead changed four times. Australia U20 finish #TRCU20 2025 with a good victory over Argentina at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. — TheRugbyChampionship (@SanzarTRC) May 11, 2025 "Super proud of the boys," captain Eamon Doyle said afterwards. "Coming in after last year finishing bottom of the table, with a draw and two wins, couldn't be happier or prouder." Chris Whitaker's side scored after only three minutes as halfback James Martens reached out to score on the back of a rolling maul, and they increased the lead to 12-0 when winger Xavier Rubens went over in the left corner. Argentine winger Aquiles Vieyra crashed over for their first score but after home flanker Pampa Storey got a yellow card for a dangerous tackle, No.8 Toby Brial scored to push the Australian lead out to 19-5. Australia then conceded a penalty try and a yellow card to flyhalf Joe Dillon while attempting to stop a rolling maul and the Argentines were soon level as back-rower Agustin Garcia Campos dived over. Soon after halftime, winger Shane Wilcox's try was answered by Vieyra's second but hooker Lipina Ata's pick-and-go put them back in front with 15 minutes left to play. Victory was effectively sealed six minutes from time when the Aussies' sustained attack was eventually rewarded by a penalty try when their rolling maul was pulled down illegally. Argentina grabbed a consolation try after the siren before the young Australians had to sit and watch in frustration as New Zealand overcame South Africa 48-45 to successfully defend their TRC U20 title. But the Australians have laid down their marker before the Under 20 world championship in Italy in June and July.
