Junior Springboks set to challenge New Zealand in U20 Championship final

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.

“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.

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.

“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.

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.