NZ dogfight good World Cup prep for Junior Boks, says Foote

Being put through the meat grinder during an unrelenting dogfight against New Zealand will stand the Junior Boks in good stead when they defend their World Cup title in June and July, says SA coach Kevin Foote.

Anxious SA fans in the 18,138 crowd were on the edge of their seats during a cliffhanger contest before the Baby Boks emerged with a nail-biting 29-29 draw against New Zealand at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.

In the final stages momentum shifted between the sides as they fought tenaciously for victory in a high-intensity, pressure-cooker environment.

Foote and his team have now turned their attention to defending their U20 World Rugby Junior World Championship in Georgia from June 27 to July 18.

“New Zealand are a very good team and they are going to be well prepared at the World Cup,” he said. “It would have been nice to end the tournament with a win after we beat Argentina and Australia in the opening rounds.

“It is always a huge honour to play against New Zealand, especially for South Africans. There is a lot of history and tradition between us so it is always going to be a fight when we play one another.

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. 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. “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. “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). Follow The Herald WhatsApp channel today and stay connected to the stories shaping our world. The Herald

“Last year in Gqeberha we lost to them by three points and this year we drew.

“I thought the Junior Boks were really good in the scrums. SA pride ourselves on our physicality and we did that again and we were physical at the breakdown.

“I thought our set piece was good and so was New Zealand’s. They took some quick lineouts and that caught us off guard a bit.”

Foote said the tremendous depth of talent in SA will be vital at the World Cup.

“SA are so lucky to have the talent and depth we have, and that will be important going into the World Cup,” he said. “The guys who played in Gqeberha put their hands up and made a massive effort.

“We had a lot of guys here who are in their first year out of school. So 11 guys will still be around next year for the Junior Boks.”

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

Baby Bok skipper Riley Norton said there are areas of his team’s game that need to be worked on ahead of the World Cup.

“New Zealand did well at the end and stayed in the fight and I think there were some simple errors from us that we need to learn from,” he said.

“You can never think you are in complete control because things can swing. We understand that and we also have to keep the ball. If we can keep the ball, we are an awesome team and we have a dangerous attack.

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

“The Junior Boks have guys who can create chances by themselves. We need to learn to take care of the breakdown and we need to build continuous phases. That’s where can be really successful.”

The Rugby Championship provided the Junior Boks with an opportunity to play against top-class teams, Norton said.

“There are lessons we must learn and that is why we have tournaments like this against top opposition.

With two emphatic wins under their belt the Junior Boks are focused and ready to face their old foes New Zealand in what promises to be a titanic battle for supremacy in Gqeberha on Saturday, assistant coach Melusi Mthethwa says. Though the Junior Boks go into their final league game against the All Blacks with a handsome five-point lead on top of the log, it is mathematically possible they could be overtaken. In reality the Boks already have one firm hand on the trophy and only require a bonus point to seal a historic first U20 Rugby Championship triumph at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday (kickoff 4.10pm). Mthethwa said the squad were in high spirits ahead of the New Zealand clash, which is expected to draw a big crowd. “The coaches and management have done a fantastic job of keeping the players’ morale high,” he said. “Tuesday was a vital recovery day because the boys were involved in a very physical battle against Australia last Sunday. It doesn’t get bigger than this. With both teams in contention to win the tournament, it adds a massive extra dimension to the occasion “Returning to the training field, the focus was palpable. Despite the wet weather, there was great clarity and attention to detail from the guys. “The rivalry between SA and New Zealand is legendary. We have immense respect for them, and Saturday offers our players the incredible opportunity to face the haka and test themselves against our greatest rugby rivals. “It doesn’t get bigger than this. With both teams in contention to win the tournament, it adds a massive extra dimension to the occasion. We are well aware of the quality New Zealand brings. “We are incredibly grateful to Sanzaar and SA Rugby for staging this tournament. It has been a privilege staying in Gqeberha, and the hospitality and support from the Eastern Cape public have been top-class. “We have one more game, against a great opponent, and we hope the fans come out in their numbers to back us on Saturday.” All eyes on ‘The Tank’ SA’s wrecking-ball centre, Ethan “The Tank” Adams, will be gunning to add to his tally of three tries on Saturday. Head coach Kevin Foote says Kareedouw-born Adams is cherishing every opportunity he gets to pull on the green and gold jersey and play international rugby in front of his family, friends and a passionate crowd at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Crowd-favourite Adams, who scored two tries against Argentina and another against Australia during SA’s opening wins, will be a dangerman for New Zealand to contend with. The centre, who weighs in at 102kg and stands 1.75m, has proved to be too hot to handle for opposition defences during his team’s opening two games. Our job is not just about performance but developing individuals as people and rugby players, and I think Ethan is really maturing Asked about the 19-year-old Adams receiving a standing ovation from the 10,000-strong Gqeberha crowd on Sunday when the Boks beat Australia, Foote said: “The whole team put in a massive effort, and I think Ethan is a very special talent, and he is built for rugby. “He comes from the Eastern Cape, so I know this means a lot to him to play in front of his family and fans. Ethan has a great future ahead of him. “Our job is not just about performance but developing individuals as people and rugby players, and I think Ethan is really maturing. “Ethan has settled nicely into the squad and he brings a lot of good energy and backs that up with good performances. He has a long future ahead of him and we must make sure we keep him grounded.” Adams says he modelled his game on two-time World Cup winner Damian de Allende and All Black great Ma’a Nonu. “There wasn’t just one person I looked up to,” he said. 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

“There was a combination of things [at the breakdown] and New Zealand were good on the ball. Sometimes the aggressive, long clean that we have — and also the fight on the ground — needs to be better and that is up to the ball carrier. We will go back and look at the clips.

“I must say, New Zealand had some good guys over the ball. We have to find ways to stop people trying to slow down our momentum.”

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