Ball security key as Junior Boks eye Aussie test

Composure under pressure and retaining possession will be vital ingredients in the Junior Boks’ recipe for success in their remaining two matches against Australia and New Zealand at the U20 Rugby Championship tournament, says coach Kevin Foote.

The mentor said important lessons were learnt during the final 20 minutes about the importance of looking after the ball when the Junior Boks ran out 48-21 winners over Argentina in Gqeberha on Monday.

After running up a 36-0 lead at halftime, the Boks lost momentum, and Argentina hit back with three second-half tries to take some of the fizz out of the Bok win.

The Junior Springboks are primed to hit the ground running with a fast-paced game centred on physicality and ball‑in‑play time when they face Argentina in their opening encounter at the U20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha on Monday, says coach Kevin Foote. The SA versus Argentina clash (kickoff 4.10pm) is the second game of a double header at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, which kicks off with a showdown between defending champions New Zealand and Australia (2pm). Foote said one of the team’s big objectives at training camps had been to step up fitness levels ahead of three tough matches in two weeks. “Playing southern hemisphere teams presents a different type of challenge,” he said. “They produce far more ball‑in‑play time compared to a team like Georgia, who are heavily set‑piece orientated.” Foote said SA’s focus on conditioning was shaped by lessons learned in last year’s tournament. “Our experience in Gqeberha was that the surface can be soft underfoot, which led to several players cramping,” he said. “So we want to ensure our fitness levels match how we intend to play, especially against teams who favour a fast‑paced game.” SA Rugby chief executive Rian Oberholzer said it was all systems go for Gqeberha to host the tournament for a second time, and a memorable experience was expected. “Last year’s event was a massive success, and we are thrilled that this tournament will be returning to Gqeberha,” he said. Sanzaar chief executive Brendan Morris said: “The third edition of this important championship will again be played at the wonderful Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha as Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa go head-to-head over three rounds. “As in previous years, the tournament will provide a vital pathway for up-and-coming rugby talent through exposure to essential international competition and provide development opportunities for the next generation of coaches, team management and match officials. The Argentina U20 team (Los Pumitas) has been putting in the hard yards ahead of their first big test of the 2026 season. Eusebio Guinazu, one of the Argentina coaches said: “We have very good expectations for this Rugby Championship, with two fundamental priorities. The first is the personal development of the players, players who are all part of a national high-performance plan. “For many of these boys it will be their first experience competing at this level, and we believe that this tournament has to be an experience that adds value in the development of the players and, that adds value not only to compete in this instance, but a value that can remain with them throughout their careers. “We believe that in this way we will really be making a contribution to the personal development of each of these players who are part of the national high-performance system. And the best way to develop players is the second priority we have, which is to compete. “It’s a great opportunity to play against South Africa, New Zealand and Australia, to really prepare ourselves and the team to be prepared for this level of competition, with the ultimate goal of getting very good results. “But that those results come from the awareness and naturalisation of many habits, and a certain work ethic that leads us to obtain those results. “We believe that if we continue to prepare in that way we can get those results, so our expectations are very good and are based on these two big priorities. “The group is really very good. All the players come from doing their respective pre-seasons. “We believe that we have a very good combination and a very good mix between many players who have done their pre-seasons with Super Rugby Americas franchises, and many of them have even had minutes of competition.” Fixtures Monday: 2pm: New Zealand v Australia; 4.10pm: Junior Boks v Argentina May 3: 2pm: New Zealand v Argentina; 4.10pm: Junior Boks v Australia May 9: 2pm: Argentina v Australia; 4.10pm: Junior Boks v New Zealand Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

SA lead the standings after the opening round on five points, followed by New Zealand on four and Australia on one, while Argentina have still to open their account.

Bok skipper Riley Norton said character, heart and a spirit of togetherness had helped the Junior Springboks to power their way to a commanding win at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium

A delighted Norton also praised the Boks for fronting up for 80 minutes against a physical Los Pumitas outfit, which ended strongly in front of a passionate crowd of 11,000 fans.

Norton will be looking for more of the same from the Junior Boks in their second outing against a dangerous Australian side at the same venue on Sunday (kickoff 4.10pm).

The Bok try scorers against Argentina were Jack Benade (3), Ethan Adams (2), Hendre Schoeman, Yaqeen Ahmed and Oliver Reid.

Despite going down 34-29 in their opening clash against defending champions New Zealand, the Junior Wallabies impressed with their slick handling skills and all-round play.

“Our composure and control were huge, and that is Test match rugby,” Norton said. “You have to keep yourself composed under pressure, and also you have to keep the ball.

“When we did keep ball, we were very good on attack — but when we turned it over, the Argentinians always came back with passion and heart, and we had to defend well.

“There were good lessons for us in the last 20 minutes to just look after the ball. The Junior Boks want to play an exciting brand of rugby, and when you start falling into the trap of not playing Test match rugby, you can maybe make mistakes.

“We never want to stop the guys from expressing themselves. The main thing is understanding when the pass is on and when it is time to carry the ball. Our journey is just starting now, and the reality is we will grow from this, and we are grateful for the experience.”

Norton praised Argentina for staying in the fight until the final whistle.

The Junior Springboks lit up the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium with a feast of sizzling first-half tries when they beat Argentina 48-21 in their opening match at the Sanzaar U20 Rugby Championship tournament on Monday. Though they lost momentum in the second half, it was an enterprising start for the next generation of Bok stars at the second edition of the four-team tournament to be held in Gqeberha. In the opening game of a double-header, defending champions New Zealand beat Australia 34-29 in an entertaining encounter to set the tone for the late game. Backed by a partisan 11,000 crowd, the ruthless Baby Boks showed the sort of form that saw them crowned world champions in 2025 during a commanding first-half display. The Boks, who led 36-0 at half-time, outscored Argentina by eight tries to three. SA made a blistering start when dynamic centre Ethan Adams powered his way through Argentina’s defence to crash over for the first try in the second minute. The Baby Boks continued to swarm onto the attack, and the pressure paid off when scrumhalf Hendre Schoeman was over for SA’s second try after eight minutes. Flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed made no mistake with the conversion to give the Boks a handy early 12-0 lead. Seven minutes later, Ahmed jinxed his way through the Pumas’ defence to register SA’s third try to push the lead up to 17-0. SA’s opening try-scoring blitz continued when wing ⁠Jack Benade latched onto a perfectly directed cross-field kick from the ever-present Ahmed to put the Boks 24-0 ahead. The try fest continued when the powerful Adams scored a second try to add to Argentina’s misery in the 25th minute. At this stage it was one-way traffic, with Argentina struggling to match the Boks’ high-tempo game. Try predator Benade lifted the Boks into a 36-0 lead after 33 minutes with his second try to round off an impressive first half. Early second-half tries from replacement prop Oliver Reid and a third for try-hungry Benade put the Boks 48-0 ahead after 55 minutes. Despite being outplayed, Argentina never threw in the towel and punctured the SA defence for the first time in the 62nd minute when Federico Torre crossed the line. They added further respectability to the scoreline when Tomas Dande and Torre went over for further late tries. Scorers: SA 48: Tries: Ethan Adams (2), Hendre Schoeman, Yaqeen Ahmed, Jack Benade (3), Oliver Reid. Conversions: Yaqeen Ahmed (4). Argentina 21: Tries: Federico Torre (2), Tomas Dande. Conversions: Manuel Giannantonio (3). The opening game got off to a bright start, with New Zealand and Australia scoring early tries to set the tone for the match. The Baby Blacks scored the first five-pointer after four minutes when fullback Cohen Norrie dived over after enterprising play by his back division. Two minutes later, Australia hit back with a try of their own from loose forward Marshall Le Maitre after strong play among the forwards. The sides continued trading blows, and New Zealand had a second try when prop Henry Stuart powered his way over the tryline. Both teams were full of running, and Australian wing Riley Whitfield danced his way through the New Zealand defence and put his team on level terms at 12-12 after 20 minutes. Further tries by Taione Taka and Finn Mackay allowed Australia to grab a useful 24-12 halftime lead. New Zealand struck the first blow of the second half when the lively Norrie crossed for his second five-pointer. When Australia went down to 13 men after cards to Cooper Watters and Angus Grover, New Zealand surged into a 34-29 lead with 13 minutes remaining. Scorers: New Zealand 34: Tries: Cohen Norrie (2) , Henry Stuart, Haki Wiseman, Caleb Woodley, Logan Williams. Conversions: Mika Muliaina (2). Australia 29: Tries: Marshall Le Maitre, Riley Whitfield, Taione Taka, Finn Mackay, Leo Jaques. Conversions: Finn Mackay (2). Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

“Credit to Argentina, and they are a very passionate team with a strong set piece. As a forward I know they have an awesome scrum, and their set piece is their bread and butter, and they like to attack you there. Their maul is also great, so it was an intense game, and credit to them,” he said.

“They never stopped fighting for 80 minutes and they never hung in the boot. I am proud of the guys for fronting up because playing Argentina is always intense and physical, and it was no different this time.

“This Junior Bok side has character and we are a close team, and I think defence is all about that. Even if you don’t have the greatest technique, this team always fights for the guy next to him and that is important.”

Remaining fixtures

Sunday:

• 2pm: New Zealand vs Argentina;
• 4.10pm: Junior Boks vs Australia.

May 9:

• 2pm: Argentina vs Australia;
• 4.10pm: Junior Boks vs New Zealand.

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