Latest news with #WorldRugbyU20Champs
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Junior Boks back their game to down Junior All Blacks in U20 final
The Junior Boks and Junior All Blacks are set to battle it out in what should be a cracking World Rugby U20 Champs final in Rovigo, Italy. The Junior Springboks are backing their expansive, attacking game to get the better of the Junior All Blacks in the World Rugby U20 Championship final at the Stadio Mario Battaglini in Rovigo, Italy on Saturday night (kick-off 8:30pm). It has been their explosive attacking brand of rugby that has powered the Junior Boks through the competition unbeaten and into a first final since 2014, when they went down by a single point to England. Over their current campaign the Junior Boks have run in an incredible 32 tries in just four games, picking up massive wins over Scotland (73-14), and Australia (73-17), while they also downed defending champs England (32-22) in an entertaining match, and were too strong for Argentina (48-24) in their semifinal. Leading up to a huge final against fierce rivals the New Zealand U20s, some teams might tend to go into their shells and play a bit more conservatively in the trophy match, but coach Kevin Foote insisted that they would be sticking to their guns, as it is what had got them there. 'I think our strategy will speak (for itself) tomorrow (on Saturday). Like I've said before, the leadership around us is very good and they've got a (good) feel of the game and we'll play appropriately to that,' explained Foote. 'Making a final, you do feel extra pressure. But we don't feel like that's going to impact our team. We feel like we've played this brand of rugby and there's an accountability piece. 'So we'll keep being accountable because we've got clarity on exactly how we want to play and we'll make sure we support each other in the way we want to play. The way we've played has got us to the final. So that's how we want to continue playing.' Junior All Black threat Foote is however well aware of the threat of the Junior All Blacks, who beat one of the tournament favourites France U20s (34-26) in their semifinal, and said his side was prepared for whatever they will throw at them. It is also the second meeting between the two in the past few months after the Junior All Blacks edged the Junior Bok 48-45 in the U20 Rugby Championship in SA, although it does seem like both teams have made a step up since then, leading to impressive campaigns in Italy. 'We see a lot of similarities in them. They are a team that's very passionate, they're calm, and look like they're a well settled team. They look well organised, and I think it'll be a great game,' said Foote. 'I think New Zealand's strike players were outstanding against France. When they got the opportunity they capitalised on it, and I thought they showed some really gutsy defence. 'France were entering their 22m on numerous occasions and they managed to keep them out. So they showed a lot of character and I think as that game went on and France couldn't score, New Zealand gained more confidence. 'They're a team that we know won't go away. They're a team that's backs their attack and they're pretty calm. So we have a lot of respect for them.'
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Junior Boks name unchanged side for U20 Champs final
The Junior Boks have backed a settled and unchanged match 23 for their final outing against the Junior All Blacks in Italy. Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote has named an unchanged match 23 for their World Rugby U20 Champs final against the Junior All Blacks in Rovigo, Italy on Saturday night. Picture: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images The Junior Springboks have named an unchanged match-23 for their massive World Rugby U20 Championship final meeting with fierce rivals the Junior All Blacks at the Stadio Mario Battaglini in Rovigo, Italy on Saturday night (kick-off 8:30pm). Lock Riley Norton will once again lead a familiar-looking side that has featured in most of the pool matches, as well as Monday's semi-final victory over Argentina. The unchanged line-up means the bench will again feature a split of six forwards and two backs in what promises to be an epic battle between the two southern hemisphere rugby rivals. Junior Bok head coach Kevin Foote said the SA U20s have done well to reach the final and they are excited to face their greatest 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. '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. 'We decided to pick six forwards on the bench yet again, as they made a difference in the semi-final against Argentina, and we also learned some valuable lessons when we faced New Zealand in the U20 Rugby Championship in South Africa a few months ago.' First final since 2014 Saturday's decider marks the Junior Boks' first appearance in the final since 2014, and it's a repeat of the 2012 final in which South Africa beat New Zealand at Newlands in Cape Town. The SA U20s have been in rampant form throughout the Championship in Italy, posting comprehensive wins over Australia, defending champions England, and Scotland in the group stage, followed by a hard-earned victory over a gritty Argentina. South Africa's dynamic pack of forwards has laid an excellent platform for their electric backline to score some eye-catching tries. The Junior Bok halfback pairing of Haashim Pead (scrumhalf) and Vusi Moyo (flyhalf) are amongst the tournament's leading points scorers. Pead has scored six tries in four games – the most by any player so far this year – while also providing numerous assists for teammates. Moyo has racked up 50 points across his four appearances, placing him at the top of the overall points' scoring chart. New Zealand, like South Africa, are unbeaten in the tournament, having topped Pool B before dispatching a dangerous French side in the semi-finals to set up an exciting final showdown with the Junior Boks. Junior Springbok XV Gilermo Mentoe, Cheswill Jooste, Demitre Erasmus, Albie Bester, Jaco Williams, Vusi Moyo, Haashim Pead, Wandile Mlaba, Bathobele Hlekani, Xola Nyali, JJ Theron, Riley Norton (c), Herman Lubbe, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Simphiwe Ngobese Bench: Jaundré Schoeman, Oliver Reid, Jean Erasmus, Jaco Grobbelaar, Matt Romao, Stephanus Linde, Ceano Everson, Dominic Malgas
The Citizen
16-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
OPINION: Junior Bok talent bodes well for the future of the Springboks
The Junior Boks and Junior All Blacks are the only two unbeaten teams in the competition and will contest the World Rugby U20 Champs final in Italy on Saturday. Junior Bok utility forward Bathobele Hlekani has enjoyed a strong World Rugby U20 Championship and is one of the players to watch for the future. Picture: Emmanuele Ciancaglini/) Some serious talent is rising through the ranks of the Junior Springboks, with a number of potential future stars on show at the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy, and that can only bode well for the future of the Springboks. The Junior Boks have been in scintillating form and have swept all before them on their way to their first final appearance in 11 years, where they will face fierce Southern Hemisphere rivals, the All Blacks U20s. It has been an impressive campaign for the Junior Boks, with them hammering Australia (73-17) and Scotland (73-14), while beating defending champs England (32-22) in the pool face to cruise into the semifinals. Up against fellow Southern Hemisphere rivals Argentina they showed their class by clinching a comfortable 48-24 win despite being heavily penalised and not at their best, to reach their first final since 2014 (when they were edged by England 21-20). The New Zealand U20s got off to a slow start against Italy, winning 14-5, but have since stepped it up with wins over Georgia (39-18), Ireland (69-22), and France (34-26) to reach their first final since 2017 (when they defeated England). It is thus all set up for a blockbuster final, and a repeat of the 2012 final in South Africa, the only other time they have met in the trophy match, with the Junior Boks emerging as 22-16 winners on that occasion. A number of Junior Bok players will be aiming to impress, and based on current form have bright futures ahead of them. 2012 heroes They will also be hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of their 2012 heroes, like Pieter-Steph du Toit, Handre Pollard and Steven Kitshoff, who have all gone on to become double Springbok World Cup winners. Others also found considerable success, with Jan Serfontein, Dillyn Leyds, Raymond Rhule and Travis Ismaiel all becoming Springboks, while Paul Willemse (France), Oli Kebble (Scotland) and Braam Steyn (Italy), also became internationals for other nations. A number of the Junior Bok class of 2025 have shown they have the talent to make the step up. Electrifying scrumhalf Haashim Pead has been brilliant and must be one of the contenders for player of the tournament, and currently leads the try scoring charts with six tries, while he has also made four try assists. Flyhalf Vusi Moyo is the leading points scorer with 50 points, and his unerring boot has been impressive over the tournament. Captain Riley Norton is a dual sport star, having captained the SA U19 cricket team at last year's U19 World Cup, and having chosen rugby, with him contracted to the Stormers, and he will hope to lead his side to U20 glory. Other players that have also impressed for the Junior Boks include utility forward Bhatobele Hlekani, outside backs Cheswill Jooste and Gilermo Mentoe, centre Albie Bester and loose forward Xola Nyali among others. Whether they will be able to make the step up to the big leagues remains to be seen, but they have certainly proved they have the talent, and another big effort in helping their team clinch the U20 champs title will be another step in the right direction.
The Citizen
14-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Springboks back Junior Boks to go all the way at World Champs
The Junior Springboks are unbeaten at the World Rugby U20 Champs, and are gunning to go all the way, with them up against Argentina in the semis. The double World Cup winning Springboks are backing the Junior Boks to go all the way and triumph at the World Rugby U20 Championship being battled out in Italy. The Junior Boks are gearing up for a massive semifinal encounter against fellow Southern Hemisphere side, Argentina, at the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella in Viadana on Monday night (kick-off 8.30pm). It has been a fantastic campaign for the Junior Boks so far, with them cruising through the pool phase unbeaten, after hammering Australia 73-17 and Scotland 73-14, while they also dispatched defending champions, England, 32-22, which in the end knocked them out of the semifinal running. They now turn their attention to Argentina, who they beat in the U20 Rugby Championship (TRC) in Gqeberha a few months ago, 36-25, and they will be gunning for a similar, if not better, performance than that. It has in fact been a terrific turnaround since the TRC, where the Junior Boks went down to Australia 29-24 and New Zealand 48-45, with their only win coming against Argentina, to finish third in the competition. They turned that around spectacularly in Italy to thrash the Aussies in their pool encounter, and backed it up with their results against England and Scotland. Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick, speaking ahead of their clash against Italy in Gqeberha on Saturday, praised the effort of the youngsters and backed them to the hilt. Go all the way 'I remember watching them here against New Zealand (in the TRC) earlier this year. They lost that game and they also lost against Australia (in the same competition),' said Stick. 'So to see them now giving Australia 70 points, and also Scotland 70 points as well. What those young men are doing is great for us as a country and hopefully they can go all the way. 'I have been there (with the Junior Boks) in 2005. To win a Junior World Cup changes a lot of peoples lives, and hopefully those boys can also create those memories. They have already made us proud and we hope they can go all the way and become world champions.' Springbok captain for the match last weekend, Salmaan Moerat, who has represented the Junior Boks himself, was also effusive in his praise for the rising generation of future Springbok stars. 'We are extremely proud of them and the way they have been playing. Especially the step up they made from losing against Australia in the (U20) Rugby Championship, to beating them convincingly at the World Champs really says a lot about them as a team,' said Moerat. 'You can see that there are a number of potential future stars who will become really big players one day, and we wish them all of the very best. We really are supporting them to go all the way.'
The Citizen
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Junior Springboks now genuine U20 Championship contenders
The Junior Springboks have signaled their intent for a run at the World Rugby U20 Championship title with two big pool wins over Australia and England. Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton is satisfied with his teams performances but is keeping his eye on the prize in the World Rugby U20 Champs. Picture: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images The Junior Springboks proved that they aren't just a flash in the pan and should be considered genuine contenders for the World Rugby U20 Championship title, after their impressive 32-22 win over defending champions, England, in Italy over the weekend. Earlier this year the Junior Boks produced an underwhelming U20 Rugby Championship (TRC) campaign on home soil, going down against New Zealand and Australia, while beating Argentina, to finish third in the Southern Hemisphere competition. But in their first pool match of the U20 champs they erased that pain with a monstrous 73-17 win over Australia U20s, unbelievably turning around a loss from just a few months prior, into a massive victory. If anyone was wondering whether that was just an aberration, they should have had those worries washed away by a superb follow up performance against one of the pre-tournament favourites. Heading into the competition, France and England were clear favourites, due to the English being defending champs, while the French pipped them to the 2025 U20 Six Nations title. It would have been hard to pick who was more favoured as, despite France having won the previous three U20 World Championship titles before last year, England had won their last two games against the French, 21-13 in last year's final and 27-10 in this year's Six Nations, before slipping up against Wales. Hat in ring But the Junior Boks have firmly thrown their hat right in the ring now, and should have no trouble securing their place in the competition semifinals, with them just needing a win over Scotland in their final pool match on Wednesday. The Scots have struggled in the world champs so far, going down 56-19 to England and 34-24 to Australia, but despite this Bok coach Kevin Foote believes they can't be underestimated. 'We'll take a lot of confidence from this victory (against England), but Scotland are a good side. They ran England close in the Six Nations, and we certainly will not underestimate any team ever. We'll keep our feet on the ground and focus on the next job,' said Foote. Junior Bok captain Riley Norton, who also tempered expectations after their monster win over Australia, was again measured in his praise after the England win, explaining that the job was far from over for his team. 'We're out here giving everything for our country and we're all very proud of the win, but we're still building, and we'll take massive confidence from this game,' said Norton. 'To be honest, it's not quite sunk in yet (their performances). We will celebrate, but then we go again. Next up is Scotland and we have the bigger picture in mind, so we're very excited for the next three games.'
