Latest news with #WorldRugbyU-20Championship
TimesLIVE
19-07-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Junior Boks upbeat ahead of U-20 Championship final against New Zealand
Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton says they will draw from their experience of playing in fierce schoolboy rugby matches during Saturday's World Rugby U-20 Championship final against New Zealand in Rovigo, Italy. Norton said they were prepared by experience playing rugby at school level in South Africa which is a fiercely competitive environment. 'It prepared us very well for a tournament like this,' said Norton, who captained Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch last year. 'We are used to big games at school and we have always enjoyed them. Playing in front of huge and passionate crowds back home has definitely helped us handle the pressure.' Vice-captain Haashim Pead, who attended Bishops in Cape Town, shared the same sentiments while adding they are going out there to enjoy themselves and create memories. 'It's great to be part of a game of this magnitude but it doesn't mean we need to change our preparation or approach. We will stick to our routine, trust our processes and enjoy the occasion.'
TimesLIVE
18-07-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Junior Boks coach Foote wants charges to rise to the occasion in U-20 Champs final against NZ
Junior Springboks coach Kevin Foote has called on his charges to rise to the occasion during Saturday's World Rugby U-20 Championship final against New Zealand in Rovigo, Italy. When he named the unchanged match-23 squad for the clash, Foote said they have done well to reach their first final since 2014 and are excited to face their rivals with a settled side. 'This has been our settled combination for most of the year and the team play with great synergy,' said Foote, admitting again it was difficult to leave some of the players out of the match-day squad. 'Given how well everyone has played, it was such a difficult task to leave anyone out. We are grateful for the absolute selflessness of the players not selected for Saturday's final and for how hard they are training to ensure the team is well prepared for New Zealand.' The line-up means the bench will again feature a split of six forwards and two backs in what promises to be a hotly contested battle.
TimesLIVE
16-07-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Junior Boks, Baby Blacks set to write another chapter in special rivalry
The rugby rivalry between South Africa and New Zealand will enter another chapter on Saturday when they clash in the 2025 World Rugby U-20 Championship final at Stadio Mario Battaglini in Rovigo, Italy. The Junior Boks qualified for their first world U-20 final since 2014 when they beat Argentina 48-24 in Monday's semifinal in Viadana. The Baby Blacks defeated France 34-26 earlier in the day at the same venue. South Africa coach Kevin Foote spoke of the significance of the occasion on Saturday, highlighting the rivalry and rugby culture shared by both nations. 'Every child in South Africa and every child in New Zealand who has ever picked up a rugby ball dreams of this occasion,' Foote said after his team's hard-fought victory over Argentina. 'It's a special moment and they [New Zealand] are a special side. A final between these two teams is fantastic for rugby.' The transition from defence to attack 😮💨 South Africa have one foot in the door of the Grand Final 💪🇿🇦 📺 Stream #WorldRugbyU20s on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 14, 2025 Junior Boks captain Riley Norton said the final will provide the 'ultimate test' for his side. 'You don't need any extra motivation for a final such as this,' he said. 'As coach Kevin said, you dream of a match like this — facing the haka on Saturday; the history and tradition of rugby between South Africa and New Zealand is unbelievable. 'We love playing each other and have great respect for one another. It's going to be an 80-minute battle. We're excited for Saturday and I know the guys are up for it.' Foote emphasised that the Junior Boks remain focused on growth and continuous improvement. 'We'll keep improving and the thing is we've played some awesome rugby in this tournament. I couldn't be prouder of this group. 'I told them in the change room [after the Argentina victory] how proud I am — to be on this journey with them is special. They are absolute warriors and remain humble.' If you blink, you might miss it 🤏👀 Jaco Williams gets South Africa's third against Argentina 🇿🇦🔥 📺 Stream #WorldRugbyU20s on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 14, 2025 Foote also credited the U-20 Rugby Championship, held in Gqeberha in May, as a crucial part of their preparation for the world champs. 'Some of the northern hemisphere teams have more than 2,000 minutes of game time per calendar year for their younger players. 'We want to get as much high-quality game time as possible with our players. The reality is in the Rugby Championship, we were building towards the World Rugby U-20 Championship, using it to build synergy and combinations and so we're grateful for that tournament.' The Junior Boks enjoyed a non-training day on Tuesday to recover from their energy-sapping semifinal and resumed preparations on Wednesday at their base in Valpolicella outside Verona. Saturday's final (8.30pm SA time) marks the first time the two sides meet in a World Rugby U-20 Championship decider since South Africa's memorable 22-16 victory over New Zealand in the sold-out 2012 final at Newlands in Cape Town.
TimesLIVE
14-07-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Mnebelele, Junior Boks know what's coming in U-20 semi against Argentina
Siphosethu Mnebelele and Vusi Moyo have been dreaming of playing rugby for South Africa since their early high school days at King Edward VII School (KES) in Johannesburg. Now the two schoolboy friends are forming an integral part of the Junior Springboks' World Rugby U-20 Championship campaign in Italy. Mnebelele, a former South African Schools captain, and Moyo have been stalwarts for the Junior Boks as they seek to advance to their first final since 2014. Such a feat would provide their first U-20 world champs triumph since the Handré Pollard, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Steven Kitshoff inspired victory in 2012 at a packed Newlands in Cape Town. The Junior Boks progressed to the semifinals on the back of three impressive victories in the group stage over Australia, defending champions England and Scotland. Running rugby 🤌🤌 Dominic Malgas finishes a beautiful Junior Boks' team move 👏👏 📺 Stream #WorldRugbyU20s on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 9, 2025 On Monday evening they face fellow southern-hemisphere rivals Argentina at Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana (8.30pm Italy and SA time) for a spot in the 2025 final. Hooker Mnebelele recalled how he and flyhalf Moyo dreamed of higher honours while enjoying their schoolboy rugby days. 'We spoke the other day about how we often said to each other how great it would be to, when we are older, achieve national honours for the country,' said Mnebelele, whose nickname is 'Esethu'. 'Vusi and I have been playing together since our early high-school days for the Golden Lions and last year we both played for the SA Schools side, as well as the SA U-18 team. Now here we are, playing together for the Junior Boks, which is a dream come true. Playing for the Junior Boks is a huge honour and something we don't take for granted.' The soft-spoken Mnebelele and Moyo are part of the South Africa U-20 leadership group in Italy. Looking forward to the all-important semifinal against Argentina, the hard-working hooker said they know what to expect from the South Americans. What a start for the Junior Boks 🇿🇦⚡ Jaco Williams does it all himself 👏👏 📺 Stream #WorldRugbyU20s on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 9, 2025 'They are good with their set piece, on attack and defence they are direct and play with a lot of passion. We have done our homework on them and had a good week of preparation, fixing what went wrong against them in the Rugby Championship. 'Coach [Kevin Foote] used to tell us how tough our group would be as soon as our camp started back home in Stellenbosch. Looking back over the past three weeks, I believe our tough group has prepared us well for the knockout stages. 'However, those games are behind us and we will have to work hard against Argentina, who are a quality side.' Moyo is the tournament's leading points-scorer with 34, while Junior Bok scrumhalf Haashim Pead leads the try-scoring list with five. New Zealand and France play in the earlier semifinal at the same venue (6pm). Junior Springbok team to face Argentina: 15 Gilermo Mentoe 14 Cheswill Jooste 13 Demitre Erasmus 12 Albie Bester 11 Jaco Williams 10 Vusi Moyo 9 Haashim Pead 8 Wandile Mlaba 7 Bathobele Hlekani 6 Xola Nyali 5 JJ Theron 4 Riley Norton (captain) 3 Herman Lubbe 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele 1 Simphiwe Ngobese Replacements: 16 Jaundré Schoeman 17 Oliver Reid 18 Jean Erasmus 19 Jaco Grobbelaar 20 Matt Romao 21 Ceano Everson 22 Dominic Malgas 23 Stephanus Linde SA Rugby media
Irish Independent
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
New Zealand humble Ireland and end U-20 World Championship semi-final hopes
New Zealand 69 Ireland 22 Ireland were unable to build on a glorious start in Calvisano and were blown away by a New Zealand side operating on a different level in this World Rugby U-20 Championship final pool game in northern Italy. It seemed for a time the Junior All Blacks would surpass their record 69-3 win over Ireland in this tournament in 2017, but after hitting 50 points in just 48 minutes, the scores dried up for a period with the issue long decided in a game which Ireland had to win to advance to the semi-finals.
