The Junior Springboks put Australia U20 to the sword with a commanding U20 Rugby Championship victory in Gqeberha on Sunday that secured this year's title for the world champions.
Image: @SanzarTRC
The Junior Springboks may have wrapped up the Under-20 Rugby Championship with a match to spare, but there is little sense of a job completed as they turn their attention to both a final statement against New Zealand and the defence of their world title later this year.
A commanding 56-17 victory over the Junior Wallabies at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha secured the crown, with head coach Kevin Foote revealing that the pain of last year’s narrow defeat to the Junior All Blacks had fuelled their charge.
“From how we felt a year ago, there was a lot of motivation going into this game,” Foote said.
That hurt has been channelled into a more complete and connected team, one that blends the traditional South African edge with a growing emphasis on skill and cohesion.
“There was a huge improvement,” said Foote.
“I think the whole squad showed what it means to play for South Africa. We showed grit and I’m super proud of everyone.”
Captain Riley Norton and his leadership group have been central to that evolution, setting standards from the opening win over Argentina U20 and ensuring the squad remained grounded in a high-pressure title decider.
“Our preparation was excellent, and the leadership from Riley and the senior guys was really good,” Foote noted.
While physical dominance remains a cornerstone, Foote believes this group’s identity runs deeper.
“Our DNA is physicality, but it’s also skill. You see the physicality in the breakdown and how we want to play. This team plays with pride.”
Equally pleasing was the response from the replacements, who bounced back after fading late against Argentina.
“By their own admission, they wanted to fix last week, and I thought they did that today,” said Foote, who also highlighted the side’s discipline after going through the tournament without picking up a yellow card.
Norton echoed the emphasis on unity and accountability in the squad.
“For us it’s about character and care,” he said.
"The off-field connection has been unbelievable, and that carries onto the field. We’ve got an awesome group of guys who are willing to sacrifice for each other
Despite the title being secured, there will be no easing off against the Junior All Blacks in Saturday’s closing fixture in Gqeberha. Revenge for last year’s defeat remains a motivating factor, but more importantly, it offers a final opportunity to fine-tune combinations ahead of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia from 27 June to 18 July.
“If you take your foot off the gas, a team like New Zealand will punish you,” Norton warned. “We want to finish this tournament properly and keep improving.”
With one eye already on their global title defence, Foote is expected to rotate his squad, balancing freshness with the need to maintain momentum and test player depth.