Foote: Defence drove Junior Boks into U20 final
Coach Foote praised his squad's unwavering defensive focus after Argentina briefly wrestled back momentum in the second half.
'Every player gave his all, leading exceptionally well in his respective position,' Foote said, highlighting the team's structure during pressure moments.
He emphasised that the players' unified effort was the result of 'hard work and alignment', backed by a strong leadership group. Foote pointed to the humidity and physical confrontation as the conditions that tested their preparation and resolve.
He added that their performance was a direct reward for their sustained effort against a hostile Argentinian side.
Captain Norton echoed his coach's sentiment, focusing on how the team's defensive systems have improved since the Rugby Championship.
'I think our defence has improved tremendously from the Rugby Championship,' Norton confirmed, 'and working on it more coming into Italy helped a lot.'
He praised the squad's game-time in tight tournament conditions, stating it honed their defensive discipline under fatigue. Norton stressed that they were primed for Argentina's maul-based attack, saying players managed it through constant focus on each next action.
'That's why we could defend for such a long period,' he explained, underlining the role of repetition in mastering defensive phases.
Foote also praised his backroom team's logistical planning in blistering Italian summer conditions.
They secured a base near the stadium to avoid the stress of a two-hour bus trip right before kick-off, he said.
He credited the team manager, Zingi Hela, for orchestrating the arrangements and enabling optimal focus during the game.
'The bus trip to get to the game takes two hours and we finished our captains run at around 10am the previous day, so its boils down to getting your preparation right,' said Foote.
'We found a little base close to the stadium where we could relax before the game, and the guys didn't have to worry about getting stuck in traffic or other things which might have been out of our control.
'Zingi Hela, our team manager, and the backroom staff have been outstanding with that preparation. Even sitting in the coach's box tonight our hands were sweating; I must give credit to our handling skills of the ball under very taxing conditions.'
Saturday's final between the Junior Boks and New Zealand in Rovigo will kick off at 20h30 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
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