Triumphant Junior Boks learn lessons before World Cup, says Norton

Though it was a bittersweet moment for the Junior Boks to lift the U-20 Rugby Championship trophy after being held to a 29-29 draw by arch-rivals New Zealand, valuable lessons were learnt before the World Cup, SA skipper Riley Norton said.

After being crowned world champions in 2025, the Baby Boks added another title to their growing list of achievements in front of 18,138 delighted supporters at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.

The Boks clinched the title in the 42nd minute when hard-running centre Samuel Badenhorst scored his team’s fourth try.

It was a try that earned the Baby Boks the vital bonus point they required to give themselves an unassailable lead at the top of the log.

Though the Junior Boks have all but bagged the U20 Rugby Championship trophy, Saturday’s clash against arch-rivals New Zealand should not be downgraded as a meaningless dead rubber fixture, SA skipper Riley Norton says. Despite enjoying a seemingly unshakeable grip on the title, a wary Norton says the Boks will not be taking their foot off the pedal against a dangerous Baby Blacks team at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (kickoff 4.10pm). With a handsome five-point lead at the top of the log, there is only a remote mathematical possibility of the Baby Boks being overtaken on the final day of the tournament. For that to happen, SA would have to suffer a meltdown and crash to a heavy defeat against the New Zealanders, who were beaten by Argentina in the second round. The Boks’ inspirational leader says he will have no problem in firing up his team for the clash because no game against New Zealand can ever be described as irrelevant. “The Junior Boks want to finish this tournament properly and keep on improving. “You will naturally be up for a game against New Zealand, because they are one of our biggest rivals and we have a lot of respect for them. “If we take our foot off the pedal now, rugby can come back and bite you.” Norton says the Junior Boks will be looking to improve their breakdown play when they bid to end the U20 Rugby Championship tournament on a high. The Boks swept to convincing wins over Argentina and Australia in the opening rounds to put themselves at the top of the log. Asked about losing the ball at breakdown against Australia, Norton said: “Credit to Australia, and I thought they had good tacklers, and they got on top of the ball when we were loose. “I think this is a factor going into the match against the All Blacks. “They will look at that and take some notes, but we do pride ourselves on our breakdown and sometimes on the day it can misfire. “But I don’t think it even misfired against Australia. “To put 57 points on the board shows you must be doing something right. “I think because of the attacking brand of rugby that we continuously want to play, when we show our hand in the backs, there are sometimes opportunities for the opposition to get on the ball. “Maybe it is something we can look at ahead of the New Zealand clash. “For us it’s about character and care. “The off-field connection has been unbelievable, and that carries onto the field. “We’ve got an awesome group of guys who are willing to sacrifice for each other.” SA head coach Kevin Foote praised his team after the Junior Boks thrashed Australia 56-17. “There was a huge improvement,” he said. “I think the whole squad showed what it means to play for South Africa. We showed grit, and I’m super proud of everyone. “Our preparation was excellent, and the leadership from Riley and the senior guys was really good. “Our DNA is physicality, but it’s also skill. “You see the physicality in the breakdowns and how we want to play. This team plays with pride. “Our discipline has also been excellent, and we haven’t had a card in this competition yet, which is massive.” Saturday’s fixtures: 2pm: Argentina vs Australia; 4.10pm: Junior Boks vs New Zealand Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

New Zealand then launched a ferocious assault on the Bok line and were rewarded with a penalty try which left the teams tied at 29-29 in the 76th minute.

Norton and his team have now switched their focus on the U-20 World Rugby Junior World Championship in Georgia from June 27 to July 18.

“This draw was a bit bittersweet, but I told the guys they can be unbelievably proud of how they represented themselves and the Junior Bok jersey,” Norton said.

“I think we have left this competition in a better place than we did last year.

“We will now work towards the World Cup.

“I think this draw will teach us a lot more than if we had just won.

“This [a draw] is the best thing we could have had as we head into our next camp.

“It is time to work even harder now before the World Cup, and we want to make South Africa proud.

“Last year was disappointing to be at home representing South Africa in Gqeberha and not raising the trophy.

“I think a lot of people were annoyed with that.

“It was a process because coach Kevin Foote and I were new and there were a lot of things that were new.

The Junior Springboks wrote their name into the record books when they drew 29-29 with arch-rivals New Zealand in Gqeberha on Saturday to win the U20 Rugby Championship title for the first time. After being crowned world champions in 2025, the Baby Boks added another title to their growing list of achievements in front of 18,138 delighted supporters at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The Boks clinched the title in the 42nd minute when hard-running centre Samuel Badenhorst scored his team’s fourth try. It was a try that earned the Baby Boks the vital bonus point they required to give themselves an unassailable lead at the top of the log. New Zealand then launched a ferocious assault on the Bok line and were rewarded with a penalty try which left the teams tied at 29-29 in the 76th minute. It was South Africa who made all the early running, and their efforts were rewarded when flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed landed a penalty to put the Junior Boks 3-0 ahead in the third minute. New Zealand showed their early intent when burly prop Dane Johnston muscled his way over the Bok tryline to give his team a 5-3 lead. The big crowd were brought to their feet after 10 minutes when livewire Bok fullback ⁠Akahluwa Boqwana dived over in the corner after scintillating interplay among the Bok backs. New Zealand took the lead in the 14th minute when wing Oliver Guerin latched onto a kick-ahead to score the Baby Blacks’ second try. The Baby Blacks were breathing fire, and they had a third try after 21 minutes when powerful loose forward Caleb Woodley crashed over to put his side ahead. This stung the Boks into action, and tries from Rambo Kubheka and a second from Boqwana took the Boks into the halftime break with a crucial 22-15 lead. Scorers: South Africa 29: Tries: Akahluwa Boqwana (2), Rambo Kubheka, Samuel Badenhorst. Conversions: Ahmed (3). Penalty: Ahmed. New Zealand 29: Tries: Dane Johnston, Oliver Guerin, Caleb Woodley, Finn McLeod, Penalty Try. Conversion: Mika Muliaina. In the opening match of the day, Australia registered their first win of the tournament when they beat Argentina 32-30 after an exciting finish. Australia took full advantage when referee Christopher Allison yellow carded Argentina’s Bautista Benavides for a professional foul in the 31st minute. With Los Pumitas a player short, Leo Jaques and Tom Robinson went over for tries in quick succession to give the Junior Wallabies a valuable 17-10 halftime lead. Early second-half tries by Edwin Langi and Ewald Kruger took Australia into a 29-10 lead after 47 minutes. Argentina, however, stayed in the fight with late tries from Benjamín Ledesma (2) and Fabrizio Cebron, which reduced Australia’s lead to 32-30. Scorers: Australia 32: Tries: Edwin Langi (2), Leo Jaques, Tom Robinson, Ewald Kruger. Conversions: Jonty Fowler (2). Penalty Fowler. Argentina 30: Tries: Manuel Camargo, Benjamín Ledesma (2), Fabrizio Cebron. Conversions: Federico Serpa (2). Penalties: Serpa (2). Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

“We just needed to find ourselves and build connections. Now we can fast forward to this.”

Norton said the time the squad had spent in Gqeberha had been enjoyable, and they were grateful for all the support.

“The amount of support was unbelievable here in Gqeberha,” he said.

“When you come in the bus to the stadium, we can see everyone is behind us.

“This is not the end of the road for us, and we still have two and a half more months until the end of the World Cup.

Blown away by the support they have received at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in 2025 and 2026, the Junior Boks want Gqeberha to be named as the forever hosts of the U20 Rugby Championship tournament, SA coach Kevin Foote says. When Gqeberha was named as host city for the tournament in 2025, SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said the four-nation event featuring SA, New Zealand, Australia and Argentina would be played in the city for three years until 2027. With one more tournament set to be hosted at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Foote and his team would like to see an extension of that deal after crowds of 11,000 and 10,000 turned up to watch the opening two days of the 2026 event. We hope this tournament stays here in Gqeberha forever, so please make a plan. “We hope this tournament stays here in Gqeberha forever, so please make a plan,” Foote said. “This is an absolutely amazing stadium. I am in the coaches’ box, and I cannot hear what is going on because everybody is screaming and shouting. The music and entertainment is also fantastic “We are really grateful to be here in Gqeberha and the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is a very special place for us. It is just brilliant being here, and the facilities have been awesome. All the coaches from New Zealand, Australia and Argentina have said what a pleasure it is to be here.” Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton said passionate Gqeberha fans helped to push his team to victory over Argentina and Australia. “It means a lot playing at home,” he said. “You feel the crowd, and it pushes you to give more for the guy next to you. “The Junior Boks have been on overseas tours, but nothing beats playing at home in front of your own supporters. The team can hear them cheering and singing the national anthem and the Junior Boks are incredibly grateful for them.” In 2025 almost 15,000 fans flocked to the stadium to watch the final day of the tournament, and organisers are hoping for an even bigger turnout to watch the Junior Boks on Saturday. SA have a five-point lead at the top of the log ahead of their final match against New Zealand after they thrashed Australia 56-17 on Sunday. Alexander said it was decided the U20 Rugby Championship tournament would stay in Gqeberha for three years after the inaugural tournament in 2025 proved to be a resounding success. At one stage there are plans to expand the four-nation mini World Cup event and turn it into a two-week festival of rugby, which will include schools from Gqeberha and the Border region. The Eastern Cape has a rich rugby culture and a passionate fan base. SA Rugby chief executive Rian Oberholzer said it was remarkable that 15,000 fans flocked to Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium for the final round of matches in 2025. “The region showed it is ready for big events,” he said. “We had 15,000 people here for an U20 tournament, which is remarkable, and we are very happy with that. “The Eastern Cape has a rich rugby culture and a passionate fan base. The combination of top-notch facilities at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and superb accommodation and training options, coupled with the enthusiastic support of the people of the Eastern Cape, makes this a memorable experience for everyone involved.” Sanzaar CEO Brendan Morris said: “Following the success of the tournament in Gqeberha in 2025, Sanzaar is pleased the 2026 U20 Rugby Championship is again in South Africa. “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.” Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

“So the Junior Boks will celebrate this win and be happy.

“I think we have played some unbelievable rugby in the past three games against New Zealand, Australia and Argentina.”

Coach Foote said breakdown efficiency and ball security were areas where his team could have been better against the Baby Blacks.

“We probably turned over the ball too easily at times, and that’s something we’ll definitely work on,” he said.

“Against a team like New Zealand, you get punished if you’re not clinical.

“We’ve won the tournament, we’ve tested our depth, and we’ve learnt a lot about ourselves.

“This experience will serve us well in the future.”

“To have more than 40,000 people through the turnstiles across the three rounds at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is simply incredible.

“From the moment we arrived, Gqeberha made us feel at home.

“The energy in the stadium was incredible, and that support — right up until the final whistle of today’s [Saturday] game — was a massive factor for the boys.

“We are deeply grateful to every fan who came out to back us, and they were truly fantastic.”

Scorers:

South Africa 29: Tries: Akahluwa Boqwana (2), Rambo Kubheka, Samuel Badenhorst. Conversions: Yaqeen Ahmed (3). Penalty: Yaqeen Ahmed.

New Zealand 29: Tries: Dane Johnston, Oliver Guerin, Caleb Woodley, Finn McLeod, penalty try. Conversion: Mika Muliaina.

In the opening match of the day, Australia registered their first win of the tournament when they beat Argentina 32-30 after an exciting finish.

Australia 32: Tries: Edwin Langi (2), Leo Jaques, Tom Robinson, Ewald Kruger. Conversions: Jonty Fowler (2). Penalty Jonty Fowler.

Argentina 30: Tries: Manuel Camargo, Benjamín Ledesma (2), Fabrizio Cebron. Conversions: Federico Serpa (2). Penalties: Federico Serpa (2).

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