Latest news with #WorldRugbyU20s
TimesLIVE
19-07-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Junior Boks end 13-year wait for World Rugby U20 Championship title
South Africa are the World Rugby U20 Championship winners for the first time since 2012 after deservedly beating New Zealand 23-15 in Rovigo, with Junior Springboks captain Riley Norton calling it 'the greatest day of my life.' Junior Boks exerted pressure straight from the kick-off, forcing New Zealand to kick the ball out in their own 22. Having been so impressive during their tournament with their incisive back play, this time the Junior Boks proved they could play more directly too, Xola Nyali scoring the game's first try from a driving maul. They then produced an incredible defensive set to keep out New Zealand phase after phase. But South Africa were eventually penalised and from the resulting lineout, New Zealand came up with a clever trick play for Jayden Sa to touch down in the corner. Look at the scenes at full-time 🤩 The Junior Boks end their 13-year wait to win the #WorldRugbyU20s title 🇿🇦🏆 #SSRugby — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 19, 2025 Time and space on the ball was rare as the teams cancelled each defensively, combining impressive speed with dominant tackling. South Africa edged further ahead with a Vusi Moyo penalty, but they couldn't capitalise when New Zealand lost Mosese Bason to a yellow card, upgraded to a 20-minute red. After Moyo made it 13-5 from the kicking tee, South Africa lost Albertus Bester to a yellow card of their own to even up the numbers and leave the game still in the balance at half-time. It was New Zealand who started the second half on the front foot, but they had to make do with three points from a Rico Simpson penalty after more heroic South Africa defence. The gap was down to five points, a one-score game. As the tension rose, errors from both teams began to creep in. But South Africa were beginning to gain dominance in the scrum. Another penalty from Moyo made it 16-8 as the final quarter approached, The Junior Boks get their try ⚡ Haashim Pead spots the space and Jaco Williams finishes it off 💪💪 #SSRugby | #WorldRugbyU20s — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 19, 2025 From the next dominant scrum, Hassiem Pead appeared to have scored the decisive try, only for the referee to rule it out. Another scrum, another South Africa penalty – but this time Voyo pulled his kick wide, his first miss of the night. With New Zealand losing a second player to the sin bin, South Africa began to turn the screw in open play too. It was fitting that the decisive try was made by a moment of genius from Pead – arguably the player of the tournament. The scrum-half's inch-perfect kick ahead was touched down in the corner by Gilermo Mentoe. This time, Voyo made no mistake with his kick, the conversion taking the lead out to more than two scores. There was still time for New Zealand to grab a consolation try through Maloni Kunawave but their wait for a first U20 title since 2014 will go on for at least another year.
TimesLIVE
16-07-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Junior Boks, Baby Blacks set to write another chapter in special rivalry
The rugby rivalry between South Africa and New Zealand will enter another chapter on Saturday when they clash in the 2025 World Rugby U-20 Championship final at Stadio Mario Battaglini in Rovigo, Italy. The Junior Boks qualified for their first world U-20 final since 2014 when they beat Argentina 48-24 in Monday's semifinal in Viadana. The Baby Blacks defeated France 34-26 earlier in the day at the same venue. South Africa coach Kevin Foote spoke of the significance of the occasion on Saturday, highlighting the rivalry and rugby culture shared by both nations. 'Every child in South Africa and every child in New Zealand who has ever picked up a rugby ball dreams of this occasion,' Foote said after his team's hard-fought victory over Argentina. 'It's a special moment and they [New Zealand] are a special side. A final between these two teams is fantastic for rugby.' The transition from defence to attack 😮💨 South Africa have one foot in the door of the Grand Final 💪🇿🇦 📺 Stream #WorldRugbyU20s on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 14, 2025 Junior Boks captain Riley Norton said the final will provide the 'ultimate test' for his side. 'You don't need any extra motivation for a final such as this,' he said. 'As coach Kevin said, you dream of a match like this — facing the haka on Saturday; the history and tradition of rugby between South Africa and New Zealand is unbelievable. 'We love playing each other and have great respect for one another. It's going to be an 80-minute battle. We're excited for Saturday and I know the guys are up for it.' Foote emphasised that the Junior Boks remain focused on growth and continuous improvement. 'We'll keep improving and the thing is we've played some awesome rugby in this tournament. I couldn't be prouder of this group. 'I told them in the change room [after the Argentina victory] how proud I am — to be on this journey with them is special. They are absolute warriors and remain humble.' If you blink, you might miss it 🤏👀 Jaco Williams gets South Africa's third against Argentina 🇿🇦🔥 📺 Stream #WorldRugbyU20s on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 14, 2025 Foote also credited the U-20 Rugby Championship, held in Gqeberha in May, as a crucial part of their preparation for the world champs. 'Some of the northern hemisphere teams have more than 2,000 minutes of game time per calendar year for their younger players. 'We want to get as much high-quality game time as possible with our players. The reality is in the Rugby Championship, we were building towards the World Rugby U-20 Championship, using it to build synergy and combinations and so we're grateful for that tournament.' The Junior Boks enjoyed a non-training day on Tuesday to recover from their energy-sapping semifinal and resumed preparations on Wednesday at their base in Valpolicella outside Verona. Saturday's final (8.30pm SA time) marks the first time the two sides meet in a World Rugby U-20 Championship decider since South Africa's memorable 22-16 victory over New Zealand in the sold-out 2012 final at Newlands in Cape Town.
IOL News
15-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Junior Springboks set to challenge New Zealand in U20 Championship final
Junior Springbok scrumhalf Haashim Pead played another leading role for the side in their semi-final victory over Argentina on Wednesday in the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy. Image: Sabrina Conforti / World Rugby The Junior Springboks are one hurdle away from lifting the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy. After beating fellow Southern Hemisphere side Argentina 48-24 on Wednesday evening, they will face New Zealand's U20s in the final on Saturday in Rovigo. The Junior All Blacks beat France in the other semi to advance. The two sides recently played an exciting match in Gqeberha in the U20 Rugby Championship, so this final will be another humdinger between the teams. It is South Africa's first final since 2014 and they have a few things to fix, like the 16 penalties they conceded, ahead of the clash. 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 'They are desperate to do well on Saturday for the Springbok and for the country,' head coach Kevin Foote said after the victory over Argentina. 'We are full of belief for what is to come.' On Wednesday evening, another clinical performance on the attack saw the South African U20s run in six tries to dispatch the Pumitas in a hot and humid Viadana. Five of the scores came from the backs with inside centre Albie Bester scoring twice. Scrumhalf Haashim Pead, who has been excellent throughout the tournament also dotted down. The stage is set and the final awaits 🤩 One game. Everything on the line 🔥#WorldRugbyU20s — World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 14, 2025 Four first-half tries brought a 28-10 lead at halftime, but the Junior Boks were made to work in the second half as their opponents tried to fight back. The Argentinians put together some decent rolling mauls and scrums that put the Junior Boks under immense pressure. They struggled to stop them and with a yellow card to props Simphiwe Ngobese and Oliver Reid in both halves of the game, the South Africans had to mount a good defensive effort. For most, they did well to weather the storm of attacks launched at them when they were only 14, but some defensive lapses led to three tries scored against them. However, they'll be happy with the strong test their defence received ahead of playing the Kiwis. "That is an unbelievable try!" 🇿🇦@SAJuniorRugby are bringing their pace and power to the pitch ⚡#WorldRugbyU20s — World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 14, 2025 'It was a very challenging match with the conditions slippery because of the humidity. It was physical as well. The players have built up a lot of belief since the U20 Rugby Championship and now through the World Rugby U20 Championship. They are humble yet confident. 'Our leaders are driving it, alongside the rest of the team. They just want to do well for the country.' Captain Riley Norton said their discipline cost them at times and it put the side under a lot of pressure. That allowed the momentum to swing in the favour of the Pumitas. But some strong defence got the side back in the game. If you blink, you might miss it 🤏👀 Jaco Williams gets South Africa's third against Argentina 🇿🇦🔥 📺 Stream #WorldRugbyU20s on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 14, 2025 Despite penalties going against them, Norton and his leadership group kept the team calm. 'We managed to stay in the present and in the fight. That is why we could defend for long periods of time and score while being under pressure.' Points scorers Junior Springboks 48 (28): Tries: Albie Bester (2), Haashim Pead, Jaco Williams, JJ Theron, Cheswill Jooste. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (4), Dominic Malgas. Penalties: Moyo (2). Argentina U20: 28 (10): Tries: Agustín Garcia campos Fiszman, Timoteo Silva, Ramon Fernandez Miranda. Conversions: Rafael Benedit (2), Pascal Senillosa. Penalty: Benedit.
TimesLIVE
14-07-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Mnebelele, Junior Boks know what's coming in U-20 semi against Argentina
Siphosethu Mnebelele and Vusi Moyo have been dreaming of playing rugby for South Africa since their early high school days at King Edward VII School (KES) in Johannesburg. Now the two schoolboy friends are forming an integral part of the Junior Springboks' World Rugby U-20 Championship campaign in Italy. Mnebelele, a former South African Schools captain, and Moyo have been stalwarts for the Junior Boks as they seek to advance to their first final since 2014. Such a feat would provide their first U-20 world champs triumph since the Handré Pollard, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Steven Kitshoff inspired victory in 2012 at a packed Newlands in Cape Town. The Junior Boks progressed to the semifinals on the back of three impressive victories in the group stage over Australia, defending champions England and Scotland. Running rugby 🤌🤌 Dominic Malgas finishes a beautiful Junior Boks' team move 👏👏 📺 Stream #WorldRugbyU20s on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 9, 2025 On Monday evening they face fellow southern-hemisphere rivals Argentina at Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana (8.30pm Italy and SA time) for a spot in the 2025 final. Hooker Mnebelele recalled how he and flyhalf Moyo dreamed of higher honours while enjoying their schoolboy rugby days. 'We spoke the other day about how we often said to each other how great it would be to, when we are older, achieve national honours for the country,' said Mnebelele, whose nickname is 'Esethu'. 'Vusi and I have been playing together since our early high-school days for the Golden Lions and last year we both played for the SA Schools side, as well as the SA U-18 team. Now here we are, playing together for the Junior Boks, which is a dream come true. Playing for the Junior Boks is a huge honour and something we don't take for granted.' The soft-spoken Mnebelele and Moyo are part of the South Africa U-20 leadership group in Italy. Looking forward to the all-important semifinal against Argentina, the hard-working hooker said they know what to expect from the South Americans. What a start for the Junior Boks 🇿🇦⚡ Jaco Williams does it all himself 👏👏 📺 Stream #WorldRugbyU20s on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 9, 2025 'They are good with their set piece, on attack and defence they are direct and play with a lot of passion. We have done our homework on them and had a good week of preparation, fixing what went wrong against them in the Rugby Championship. 'Coach [Kevin Foote] used to tell us how tough our group would be as soon as our camp started back home in Stellenbosch. Looking back over the past three weeks, I believe our tough group has prepared us well for the knockout stages. 'However, those games are behind us and we will have to work hard against Argentina, who are a quality side.' Moyo is the tournament's leading points-scorer with 34, while Junior Bok scrumhalf Haashim Pead leads the try-scoring list with five. New Zealand and France play in the earlier semifinal at the same venue (6pm). Junior Springbok team to face Argentina: 15 Gilermo Mentoe 14 Cheswill Jooste 13 Demitre Erasmus 12 Albie Bester 11 Jaco Williams 10 Vusi Moyo 9 Haashim Pead 8 Wandile Mlaba 7 Bathobele Hlekani 6 Xola Nyali 5 JJ Theron 4 Riley Norton (captain) 3 Herman Lubbe 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele 1 Simphiwe Ngobese Replacements: 16 Jaundré Schoeman 17 Oliver Reid 18 Jean Erasmus 19 Jaco Grobbelaar 20 Matt Romao 21 Ceano Everson 22 Dominic Malgas 23 Stephanus Linde SA Rugby media
TimesLIVE
09-07-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Junior Boks make it three from three against Scotland
The Junior Springboks recorded their third straight bonus-point victory in the pool phase of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship as they beat Scotland by 73-14 on a sunny Wednesday afternoon in Calvisano to seal top spot in their group in Italy. The South Africans also beat Australia (73-17) and England (32-22) to book their spot in the semifinals and on Wednesday they probably did enough to secure the top-seed position for the playoffs, which are scheduled for Monday. Playing with purpose and showcasing their silky skills, the first half belonged to South Africa, who scored at more than a point per minute as they crossed the Scottish try line seven times. Left wing Jaco Williams scored after four minutes when he launched a counterattack from inside his own 22. Six minutes later captain and flanker Thando Biyela was driven over, with centre Dominic Malgas adding the third in the 13th after a sniping break and great run from the back of a great scrum by scrumhalf Ceano Everson. What a start for the Junior Boks 🇿🇦⚡ Jaco Williams does it all himself 👏👏 📺 Stream #WorldRugbyU20s on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 9, 2025 The bonus point try was in the bag in the 16th minute when Williams scored his second try from a line-out move and prop Oliver Reid added his name to the score sheet five minutes later from a maul. Scotland pulled one back through Seb Stephen, but fullback Gilermo Mentoe's try in the 31st, followed by prop Jean Erasmus crashing over four minutes later, pushed the Junior Boks past 40 points in the half. It could have been 50 had Reid not dropped the ball on the try line from a 30m rolling maul on the stroke of halftime. From the restart after the break, Williams came within centimetres of grabbing his hat-trick as he just stepped on the dead-ball line as he dotted down. In the next few minutes, Cheswill Jooste (wing) and Jaco Grobbelaar (lock) were held up over the line as the South Africans kept hammering away as Kevin Foote (head coach) brought on the replacements. Running rugby 🤌🤌 Dominic Malgas finishes a beautiful Junior Boks' team move 👏👏 📺 Stream #WorldRugbyU20s on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 9, 2025 The Junior Boks lost a margin of momentum as Scotland stepped up their game, but the men in green and gold were probably also guilty of becoming a bit too loose as they tried to stretch their lead. They finally scored again on the hour as Everson stepped his way through the Scottish defence, and four minutes later No 8 Stephanus Linde rounded off a brilliant team try that started from a counterattack in the Boks' 22, with the handling simply brilliant. Everson scored his brace in the 71st to push the Junior Boks past 60 points as they grew in confidence, but replacement prop Oliver Finlayson-Russell grabbed a second for the Scots as they refused to give up. However, replacement scrumhalf Haashim Pead scored his fifth try of the competition at the death from a move that started with a scrum in their own half, to push the Junior Boks past 70 for the second time in Italy. Scorers Junior Springboks 73 (45) — Tries: Jaco Williams (2), Thando Biyela, Dominic Malgas, Oliver Reid, Gilermo Mentoe, Jean Erasmus, Ceano Everson (2), Stephanus Linde, Haashim Pead. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (4), Ian van der Merwe (5).
