
Relentless Baby Boks claim title
But the Baby Boks are just a little bit better.
New Zealand's next generation of stars restored the nation's reputation at under-20 level but could not quite get the glory in Italy yesterday.
They were beaten 23-15 by South Africa in the final of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship at the Stadio Mario Battaglini in Rovigo.
The Baby Blacks were chasing their first world junior title since 2017, a significant drought given they thoroughly dominated the early years of the tournament.
But the power in world rugby right now — at all levels, it seems — is South Africa.
They were too big, too relentless and too utterly determined to take the trophy home for the first time in 13 years.
New Zealand had to do a lot of defending, and while they did it with courage, it eventually took its toll.
South Africa made the perfect start to the final when they drove from a lineout and scored a try within three minutes.
Classy first five Vusi Moyo, already with 50 points for the tournament, added the conversion.
New Zealand fought back after 15 minutes when, from a nifty lineout move, lock
Jayden Sa crashed over in the corner.
Things went south when prop Sika Pole was sin-binned for a high shot that was quickly upgraded to a 20-minute red card, but South African could add only a penalty in that period, while losing a man of their own to a yellow card, to lead 13-8 at halftime.
Rico Simpson and Moyo exchanged penalties as the game stayed in the balance heading into the final quarter.
The Baby Blacks went back to 14 men when lock Xavier Treacy was binned, and the Baby Boks scored a cracking try thanks to an inch-perfect kick from outstanding halfback Hassiem Pead.
Winger Maloni Kunawave scored a late consolation try for the New Zealanders.
Otago halfback Dylan Pledger capped a fine tournament with another solid performance, while Southland midfielder Tayne Harvey got 20 minutes off the bench.
'It was a tough game for the boys, a tough pill to swallow,' New Zealand captain Manumaua Letiu said.
'South Africa showed us how to dominate in the collisions and we couldn't get our attack right.
'It's been an awesome campaign. We've built a really strong culture, and to see New Zealand back in the final makes me proud.' U20 final
The scores
South Africa 23
Xola Nyali, Gilermo Mentoe tries; Vusi Moyo 2 con, 3 pen.
New Zealand 15
Jayden Sa, Maloni Kunawave tries; Will Cole con, Rico Simpson pen.
Halftime: South Africa 13-8.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

1News
9 hours ago
- 1News
Black Caps secure comfortable T20 win over South Africa
Tim Seifert's aggressive half-century on a tricky pitch led New Zealand to a comfortable seven-wicket win over South Africa in a tri-series T20 match overnight. Opening batter Seifert, dropped in the first over before he had scored, hit an unbeaten 66 off 48 balls to guide the Black Caps to their target of 135 with more than four overs to spare. Earlier, South Africa tinkered with its batting order but the experiment of using captain Rassie van der Dussen as an opener failed to pay off as the team could only make 134-8. Reeza Hendricks top-scored with 41 off 37 balls and George Linde stroked an unbeaten 23. The two teams will meet again in Saturday's final after host Zimbabwe, which takes on New Zealand in a dead rubber on Thursday, lost three games in a row. New Zealand will go into the final with a 2-0 record against South Africa after beating the Proteas by 21 runs earlier in the tri-series. ADVERTISEMENT Lucky Seifert leads the chase Seifert made full use of his let-off after Andile Simelane failed to hold onto a skier at mid-off. Seifert and Devon Conway (14) combined for the tournament's highest tally in the batting power play. (Source: Three NOW) Seifert and Devon Conway (14) combined for the tournament's highest tally in the batting power play as New Zealand cruised to 55-1 in the first six overs. The South African bowlers were wayward with their line and length and conceded a total of 17 wides. Simelane made late amends for his earlier lapse when he found the outside edge of the bat to remove Conway, before spinner Senuran Muthusamy (2-24) picked up the wickets of Rachin Ravindra (3) and Mark Chapman (10). But Seifert continued to dominate and raised his half-century off 38 balls when he hit Muthusamy over his head for a straight six. ADVERTISEMENT South Africa's below-par effort in the field was summed up when fast bowler Kwena Maphaka's low full toss was perfectly timed by Seifert to long-leg for the winning boundary. South Africa top-order flop South Africa's batters struggled to find momentum on a two-paced wicket after New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner had won the toss and elected to field. The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including Ozzy Osbourne dies, a worrying find on Rakiura Stewart Island, and new Coke coming. (Source: 1News) Van der Dussen (14) struck three boundaries but attempted an over-ambitious shot against Adam Milne, only to see his stumps knocked back. Chapman delivered a spectacular run-out of Rubin Hermann when he sprinted from mid-wicket before diving in at the non-striker's end to break the stumps. South Africa then lost its way completely when in-form batter Dewald Brevis feathered a catch to wicketkeeper Seifert as he tried to upper-cut Will O'Rourke in the 10th over. Santner stifled the middle-order by removing Lhuan-dre Pretorius (1), who was demoted to middle-order from his usual opening slot, and Simelane in an economical spell of 2-26. Jacob Duffy (2-33) ended Hendricks' 37-ball toil when he had him caught at cover, and he followed it up with the wicket of Gerald Coetzee, who attempted an upper-cut but gave Seifert his second catch.


Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Relentless Baby Boks claim title
The Baby Blacks are good. But the Baby Boks are just a little bit better. New Zealand's next generation of stars restored the nation's reputation at under-20 level but could not quite get the glory in Italy yesterday. They were beaten 23-15 by South Africa in the final of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship at the Stadio Mario Battaglini in Rovigo. The Baby Blacks were chasing their first world junior title since 2017, a significant drought given they thoroughly dominated the early years of the tournament. But the power in world rugby right now — at all levels, it seems — is South Africa. They were too big, too relentless and too utterly determined to take the trophy home for the first time in 13 years. New Zealand had to do a lot of defending, and while they did it with courage, it eventually took its toll. South Africa made the perfect start to the final when they drove from a lineout and scored a try within three minutes. Classy first five Vusi Moyo, already with 50 points for the tournament, added the conversion. New Zealand fought back after 15 minutes when, from a nifty lineout move, lock Jayden Sa crashed over in the corner. Things went south when prop Sika Pole was sin-binned for a high shot that was quickly upgraded to a 20-minute red card, but South African could add only a penalty in that period, while losing a man of their own to a yellow card, to lead 13-8 at halftime. Rico Simpson and Moyo exchanged penalties as the game stayed in the balance heading into the final quarter. The Baby Blacks went back to 14 men when lock Xavier Treacy was binned, and the Baby Boks scored a cracking try thanks to an inch-perfect kick from outstanding halfback Hassiem Pead. Winger Maloni Kunawave scored a late consolation try for the New Zealanders. Otago halfback Dylan Pledger capped a fine tournament with another solid performance, while Southland midfielder Tayne Harvey got 20 minutes off the bench. 'It was a tough game for the boys, a tough pill to swallow,' New Zealand captain Manumaua Letiu said. 'South Africa showed us how to dominate in the collisions and we couldn't get our attack right. 'It's been an awesome campaign. We've built a really strong culture, and to see New Zealand back in the final makes me proud.' U20 final The scores South Africa 23 Xola Nyali, Gilermo Mentoe tries; Vusi Moyo 2 con, 3 pen. New Zealand 15 Jayden Sa, Maloni Kunawave tries; Will Cole con, Rico Simpson pen. Halftime: South Africa 13-8.


Otago Daily Times
4 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Ill-discipline costly for U20 Kiwis in final
A first-half red card proved the undoing of the New Zealand Under 20 team, beaten 23-15 by South Africa in the World Championship final in Italy. Prop Sika Pole had his marching orders after 23 minutes for a clumsy high shot on Junior Boks loose forward JJ Theron, initially given a yellow card that was swiftly upgraded to red in Rovigo on Saturday (local time). Even though it was a 20-minute red card under tournament rules, and the South Africans found themselves down to 14 just before halftime with a yellow card, it proved to be a real turning point in the game. In New Zealand's first final in seven years, Pole leaving the field meant that he had to be replaced by another front rower, so influential loose forward Mosese Bason had to head off too for the 20-minute period. The South Africans struck early through a lineout drive try after only four minutes, converted from the sideline by classy first five-eighth Vusi Moyo. The difference in doctrine between the two sides was evident, as the New Zealanders seemed intent to run the ball while the South Africans favoured a heavy kicking game. Jayden Sa struck back for the Kiwis with a slick try off a sneaky lineout move after 16 minutes, before Moyo kicked a couple of penalties to make the score 13-5 at halftime. A very long period of attack by New Zealand after the break saw them batter the Junior Boks' line, but they couldn't crack it and had to settle for a Rico Simpson penalty. Moyo cancelled that out with a long range penalty off a scrum penalty after 56 minutes. The Junior Boks' scrum proved to be the decisive factor in the second half, as the big South Africans dominated the New Zealanders. Halfback Haashim Pead looked to have scored off the back of a big shove but it was disallowed, however by then it was obvious New Zealand would need something special after being pinned in their own half. They had one chance after an excellent turnover by Eli Oudenryn with 12 minutes to go, but the replacement hooker went from hero to zero at the subsequent attacking lineout with a crooked throw and then getting penalised for backchatting to the referee. Another yellow card, to lock Xavier Treacy, and a late try to Junior Bok fullback Gilermo Mentoe sealed their fate as time ran out. The Kiwis managed to grab a consolation try in a frantic last couple of minutes - but it was too little, too late, The Junior Boks secured their first World Championship win since 2012, snapping a Northern Hemisphere grip on the title dating back to 2018.