Lessons learned: Junior Springboks eye redemption following narrow losses in Rugby Championship U20
The Junior Springboks' tightly contested and highly entertaining 48-45 loss to the Baby Blacks on Sunday means they ended the Rugby Championship U20 in third place, behind Champions New Zealand and Australia.
It's the second consecutive loss the Junior Boks suffered, having lost 29-24 to the Junior Wallabies five days earlier. In the opening round they had to come from behind to beat Argentina 36-25 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, where all the matches in the competition took place.
Last year the Junior Boks finished second, when the inaugural tournament was held in the Sunshine Coast in Australia.
They were also beaten by Australia then while drawing with New Zealand and beating Argentina.
Both of South Africa's defeats this year came after initially opening up a substantial lead and then allowing the Australasian sides back into the contest. Against Australia, the Junior Boks held a 17-0 lead shortly after halftime before the Junior Wallabies clawed their way back.
Similarly, South Africa scored three tries in the first 15 minutes to take a 19-0 lead against New Zealand only to see the deficit reduced to two points by halftime as the home team led 26-24.
While the Junior Springboks' results have disappointed home supporters who have seen this edition of the team run out for the first time over the past two weeks, head coach Kevin Foote has said the Rugby Championship U20 was just part of the journey. The destination is the Under-20 World Championship, which gets under way at the end of June in Italy.
'There are a lot of positives to take from that performance,' Foote said.
'We are on a massive journey together and I only met (captain) Riley Norton and the guys back in November, so we are definitely working hard on our game model and principles, which everyone understands now.
'From a character and leadership perspective, we are in a good place, and the lessons we learnt will be of huge benefit as we approach the U20 Championship next month in Italy.'
High scoring
The Junior Springboks were entertaining with ball in hand, scoring 14 tries across the three matches with Foote crediting young attack coach Melusi Mthethwa. South Africa's set piece got better as the tournament went on, but soft shoulders in defence let in more points than scored.
'I think Melusi [Mthethwa] has done a great job in terms of our attack, and I really feel that the players have clarity on how we want to play,' Foote said.
'We played some exciting and brilliant attacking rugby during the tournament, and just to hear the crowd get behind us when we started to light it up was exceptional.
'We know we are not the finished product, and we know we have a lot of work to do, but I do think our attack has come a long way and the guys are loving the way we are attacking.'
Enforcer lock and captain of the junior side Riley Norton, like Foote, sees the tournament as a stepping-stone for the Under-20 World Championships.
'To have played these high-pressure games against such quality opposition before the World Champs is going to be vital for us,' he said.
'The lessons we learnt, the connections and relationships we have managed to build, not only on the field but off-field as well, and the trust we managed to create, are extremely important to us.'
In order to ensure the players remain sharp and in top condition in the 50 days before the World Championship kicks off, Foote will be sending a number of players back to their unions to play in the ongoing Under-21 Cup competition.
'We will take it case by case, but some players will go back to their provinces to play in the U21 competition,' he said.
'It's a strong competition and the players are well coached there, and we are keen for them to keep going. There will be some whose load we will have to manage, but we will do our medicals and take it case by case.'
The last time South Africa won the Junior World Championship was more than a decade ago in 2014, and they have only made the final four twice in the 11 years since.
Last year, a strong Junior Boks side finished fifth overall. With a new coaching structure this year and the second year of the Under-20 Rugby Championship, more is expected from the national junior side. DM
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
5 hours ago
- The South African
Sharks load squad with Junior Springboks for trip to Loftus Versfeld
The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV have named a blend of youthful talent and experienced heads in their matchday squad for their Currie Cup clash against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. Kick-off is at 17:10. Head coach JP Pietersen has made several changes to his side, including the introduction of four Junior Springboks, fresh off their successful World Rugby U20 Championship campaign. Jaco Williams, Simphiwe Ngobese, Matt Romao, and Vusi Moyo have all earned spots in the matchday squad, bringing a new wave of energy to the Sharks. Williams, who impressed with his pace and finishing ability in the U20 Championship, takes up a position on the left wing, replacing Khuthi Rasivhaga, who moves to the bench. Ngobese, who has been versatile in the forward pack, will provide depth at prop, while Romao, a back-row powerhouse, is named as a replacement forward. Moyo, the top scorer of the Junior Boks in their victorious 23-15 final against the Junior All Blacks, will also start from the bench. Known for his precise kicking, distribution skills, and strong physical presence, Moyo scored 63 points in the tournament, making him the highest point scorer at the global U20 showpiece. The Sharks' forward pack sees some key changes as well, with lock Corne Rahl and flanker Tino Mavesere stepping into the starting line-up. Rahl takes over from Gideon Koegelenberg, while Mavesere replaces Mawande Mdanda. These changes are expected to bring added solidity and experience to the Sharks' pack. Additionally, the inclusion of tighthead prop Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, the 28-year-old former Western Province and Stormers stalwart, is a significant boost to the Sharks' scrummaging strength. Mazibuko returns to South Africa after a season with Racing 92 in France. The Sharks were hammered 46-5 by the Lions in their opening round Currie Cup clash last weekend, while the Bulls beat Western Province 48-23 in their opener. TBA 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Phiko Sobahle, 13 Litelihle Bester, 12 Janco Purchase, 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Jean Smith, 9 Bradley Davids (vice-captain), 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Bryce Calvert, 1 Phatu Ganyane Replacements: 16 Jacques Marais, 17 Simphiwe Ngobese, 18 Dian Heunis, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Matt Ramao, 21 Ceano Everson , 22 Vusi Moyo, 23 Albie Bester Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Kick-off: 17:10 Referee: Sean Muller (South Africa) Assistant referees: Dylen November (South Africa), Lulutho Matomela (South Africa) TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa) Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
8 hours ago
- The Citizen
OPINION: Currie Cup has lost its bang … but hopefully some new talent will emerge
The Currie Cup is under way once again, but unfortunately this country's top players are not likely to be a part of it. So, the Currie Cup is back, but unfortunately there's little bang to go with it. What was once this country's most prestigious rugby competition is now little more than a development competition or feeder programme. Gone are the days of the country's best players going head-to-head in pursuit of the Currie Cup trophy, one of the most sought-after titles in South African rugby. Of course, it's still lekker to win it, but it's not nearly as glamorous or important as it once was. Now there are bigger things to play for … and I'm not referring to the Springboks' involvement in the Rugby Championship each year. Other competitions Now our best players have the United Rugby Championship to focus on, an international competition that runs on and off for eight months, between October and June the following year. It's a demanding schedule, and then there are still Champions and Challenge Cup matches taking place on the weekends when the URC takes a break. There are now just too many competitions going on for the top players to also still be involved in the Currie Cup. That is why I refer to it as a development competition – it's an opportunity for all the promising young players at the unions to show what they can do to try get into the URC squads. So while the Currie Cup may not be what it once was it's still an important competition for the unions to stay relevant and for the young players to have a platform to push for higher honours. Over the course of the two months of Currie Cup action a few players who might have been overlooked by the URC coaches might put their hands up for consideration to play at a higher level, while the Junior Springboks stars and even a few U19 players could get a look in as well. Boland getting into the mix again this season is also good news, because there's just so much talent down in the Western Cape. Hopefully a few promising youngsters emerge in the coming weeks who one day will be able to say they got their big break in the Currie Cup.
IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Rudy Paige: Haashim Pead will be a Springbok . . . sooner rather than later
Scrumhalf Haashim Pead, who starred for the Junior Boks at the World Rugby U20 Championship, is currently training with the Springboks. Image: Maurilio Boldrini / World Rugby Former Springboks scrumhalf Rudy Paige says Junior Springboks star Haashim Pead has all the attributes to become a star for the Springboks following his incredible performances at the World Rugby Under-20 World Championships. Pead won the Player of the Tournament award after the Junior Boks beat their New Zealand counterparts in the final to lift the trophy for the first time since 2012. The speedy No 9 scored six tries and assisted four during the tournament. He also surpassed France star Antoine Dupont's record for running metres by a scrumhalf at the tournament, racking up 232m from 15 carries during the pool stages. 'When I met him, I really liked how he sees the game and his hunger to evolve as a player and go to bigger heights,' Paige said, during an event hosted by Generation Schools in Cape Town on Wednesday. 'On the field, he ticks all the boxes. His fundamentals are really good and he has got the pace. But he also has the instincts and his feel for the game is superb. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 'We must celebrate him and what he has achieved in his short career and what the team achieved. He has got a really bright future ahead of him.' Pead is currently in camp with the Springboks ahead of their home Rugby Championship matches against Australia. He and fellow Junior Boks, flank Bathobele Hlekani and outside centre Cheswill Jooste, were invited to see first hand how the Boks prepare for a big tournament. Paige, who played 13 Test matches for the Springboks and played in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, says Pead's involvement in the Bok camp is massive for his development, as he will be able to see first-hand what it takes to play for the Springboks. 'I always say you learn a lot through the ears and the eyes. He is going to learn a lot from people like Grant Williams and Cobus Reinach, what they do on a day-to-day basis, what they do post training, their habits and what type of questions they ask in team meetings,' the former Bulls scrumhalf said. 'I think being there is going to put him and the others ahead of their peers. It's going to be three amazing weeks for them with the Boks. 'He still has a lot to learn and needs to play in big competitions such as the United Rugby Championship to develop his game even more. But we are going to see Haashim Pead in a Springbok jersey sooner rather than later. He has all the capabilities to make it.' Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus just week said Pead and other two Junior Boks have fitted in nicely. While he doesn't foresee them playing any Test matches this year, the Bok mentor is hoping that the exposure will give them the desire and hunger to improve their game and push for a senior call-up. 'The coaches will be involved in the team until 2027, so it's important for us to continue developing our depth and ensuring that we have at least three players to pick from in each position,' Erasmus said. 'We don't see the Young Guns playing Test matches this year, but exposing them to this environment and allowing them to participate in all our boardroom and field sessions is great for them to learn. 'They've fitted in well and they appear to be enjoying it, while it's also good for the more experienced players to see the talent that is coming through the ranks.' The Springboks start their Rugby Championship campaign against the Wallabies at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on August 16. The Boks and Aussies will then travel to Cape Town for their second match a week later on August 23.
