Latest news with #WorldRugbyU20ChampionshipFinal
The South African
4 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Junior Springboks united to conquer the world, says captain Norton
Captain Riley Norton led his Junior Springboks to a 23‑15 victory over New Zealand in the U20 World Championship final. The Junior Springboks became the third South African team to claim world champion status by outplaying New Zealand in the World Rugby U20 Championship Final in Rovigo on Saturday night. The Junior Springboks' tournament victory – their first since 2012 – came on a hot and humid night in Italy where they once again proved the masters of their southern hemisphere foes, beating the Kiwis for a seventh consecutive time in this tournament and the second time in a final, the same as in 2012, when the SA U20s outplayed NZ by 22-16. The SA U20s join the reigning Rugby World Cup champions, the Springboks, and the Blitzboks at the top of the World Rugby competition podium. Speaking to the media after the game, Norton emphasised the team's combined work-rate and unity as the core drivers of their success in Rovigo. 'I'm quite emotional, but I'm just so proud,' said the Paul Roos old boy. 'The amount of work that we put in after not a great TRC, our backs were against the wall and we just came out and gave it everything. 'The group is unbelievable, the management, the coaches – we all pulled into a common idea. It wasn't easy at times, but ja, this is the greatest day of my life.' Norton highlighted traditional South African strengths – physicality in scrums, mauls, and defensive intensity – as decisive. He explained that 'our DNA' carried the game, sustaining energy and aggression for the full 80 minutes. 'We had to show up physically. That's our DNA. That's where we South Africans get our passion and our energy from. The set-phase, the maul, the scrum, the hits – the guys did that for 80 minutes and that's where we get our DNA from.' He lauded Junior Springboks flyhalf Vusi Moyo for his key penalties, saying Moyo's goal-kicking kept them ahead. Of course (Vusi) Moyo with his unbelievable boot always putting us on the front foot and kicking those penalties, it's just unbelievable.' Norton revealed the Junior Springboks' appreciation for fan support from home, citing messages, videos, and encouragement as vital inspirations. Asked whether the Junior Springboks felt any pressure being the top seed coming into the tournament, Norton said there were nerves but never really pressure. 'The amount of support we received from South Africa, videos from our mates, people sending us messages and just backing us was just unbelievable. I'm so proud to be South African and we couldn't have done it without our fans back at home cheering us on every step of the way.' Junior Springboks 23 (13) – Tries: Xola Nyali, Gilermo Mentoe. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (2). Penalty goals: Moyo (3). New Zealand 15 (5) – Tries: Jayden Sa, Maloni Kunawave. Conversion: Will Cole. Penalty goal: Rico Simpson. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
4 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Junior Springboks join seniors as world champions
The Junior Springboks became the third South African team to claim world champion status by outplaying New Zealand 23-15 in the World Rugby U20 Championship Final in Rovigo on Saturday night. The SA U20s join the reigning Rugby World Cup champions, the Springboks, and the Blitzboks at the top of the World Rugby competition podium. The Junior Springboks' tournament victory – their first since 2012 – came on a hot and humid night in Italy where they once again proved the masters of their southern hemisphere foes, beating the Kiwis for a seventh consecutive time in this tournament and the second time in a final, the same as in 2012, when the SA U20s outplayed NZ by 22-16. The class of 2025 won the final on the back of good defence, good discipline and scoring the crucial points when it mattered. They were leading 13-5 at the break and never took their foot off the pedal against a New Zealand team that fought until the end, but to no avail. The Junior Boks started in the best way possible with an early maul try by flanker Xola Nyali, converted by the trusted boot of Vusi Moyo and the 7-0 lead was good early value for money. New Zealand focussed on a stack attack early on, something that worked well for them in their previous encounter against South Africa, by this time around, the Junior Boks' defence held out. A good cover tackle kept New Zealand from scoring from such an attack, but they could not keep out the team in black from a resulting lineout when lock Jayden Sa scored. New Zealand outfoxed their foes in the lineout and Sa come around the front to score and cut the lead to two points. Vusi Moyo extended the lead to 10-5 soon after with a penalty goal and then New Zealand's prop Sika Pole was sent to the sin bin, with his high tackle upgraded to a 20 minute red card. The Junior Boks pressed hard to make the numerical advantage count, but Moyo missed a drop goal as South Africa looked to confirm their upper hand in general play. An injury to Nyali resulted in him being replaced by Stephanus Linde, but the pressure remained on New Zealand, who were guilty of forcing play to combat their absent defender. SA U20 centre Albe Bester was yellow carded for a dangerous ruck entry, but Moyo kicked another penalty when the Junior Blacks strayed offside to push the lead to 13-5 at the break. New Zealand started strongly in the second half, taking the ball through numerous phases and earned a penalty for their efforts. Flyhalf Rico Simpson kicked the points to cut SA's lead to 13-8 after 47 minutes. Moyo cancelled that out with another penalty goal that pushed the lead to 16-8. The Junior Boks were starting to dominate and a try by Haashim Pead seemed to seal the deal, but it was disallowed by the TMO. Moyo then missed a penalty attempt as well, but the South Africans were in control as the championship minutes came into play. They were held up over the tryline and were dominating play, but with no scoreboard reflection. That changed three minutes from full-time though when Pead chipped to the corner, into the waiting arms of fullback Gilermo Mentoe. At 23-8 it was game over and although New Zealand scored a minute later, the win was secured and the bogey finally buried. Junior Springboks 23 (13) – Tries: Xola Nyali, Gilermo Mentoe. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (2). Penalty goals: Moyo (3). New Zealand 15 (5) – Tries: Jayden Sa, Maloni Kunawave. Conversion: Will Cole. Penalty goal: Rico Simpson. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
