Junior Boks look like the real deal as they advance to under-20 Championship semifinals

The Junior Springboks have already secured their spot in the semifinals of the World Rugby under-20 Championship after a brilliant 32-22 win over defending champions England on Friday evening.

In fairness, a large percentage of England’s 2024 under-20 Championships squad have aged out of the contesting this year’s tournament, but this crop of junior English is still very strong. They only lost one match in the Six Nations under-20 Championship this year, falling two points short of eventual winners France.

South Africa’s victory was built on a resolute, single-minded attitude on defence and a flair-filled attack, opting to run the ball – extremely effectively – from all over the Stadio Mario Battaglini in Rovigo, Italy.

Friday evening’s win was South Africa’s second in the tournament, having squashed Australia 73-17 in their opening group stage match. They face Scotland on Wednesday – who so far have lost to Australia and England – in their final group game before their semifinal clash.

“We’ll take a lot of confidence from this victory, but Scotland are a good side, they ran England close in the Six Nations, and we certainly will not underestimate any team, ever – we’ll keep our feet on the ground and focus on the next job,” Junior Springboks coach Kevin Foote said.

The Junior Boks were down 14-0 early against England before clawing their way, but were still behind 22-19 at half-time.

Flyhalf Vusi Moyo slotted two penalties, including a long-range kick from about 55m, before a brilliant individual try by scrumhalf Haashim Pead extended the Juniors Boks lead as they kept England scoreless in the second half.

“I thought the boys showed massive character to come back from 14-0 down, take the lead with some great attacking play, and then keep England out for the rest of the match,” Foote said.

“I have to applaud the leadership in our team as well – the players never panicked and those two penalty goals by Vusi [Moyo] early in the second half gave us momentum, after which I was super proud of our defence at the end.”

New leader

This Junior Springboks group, led by Foote at the under-20 Championship for the first time this year, have so far exceeded pre-tournament expectations. Not so much in the two victories they have picked up, but the supreme dominance they displayed, particularly against Australia.

Two months ago, South Africa played Australia in the under-20 Rugby Championship, at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, and lost 29-24. It was a forgettable campaign for the Baby Boks, who finished behind the Aussies and New Zealand.

But two months later the side looks reborn under Foote. The experienced Foote, who was coaching in Australia from 2017 until taking over the Junior Boks reins last year, has stamped his footprint onto the team — starting with brilliant, resilient defence.

“We knew it was going to be tough, but I’m very proud of our defence at the end, as it’s something we pride ourselves on as South Africans,” captain Riley Norton said about the tackling efforts against England.

“We’re out here giving everything for our country and we’re all very proud of the win, but we’re still building, and we’ll take massive confidence from this game.

“To be honest, it’s not quite sunk in yet… It’s [a few] days until we face Scotland [but] we have the bigger picture in mind, so we’re very excited for the next three games.”

France and New Zealand – who have been the most dominant sides, along with England, at this level – are the two other undefeated teams in the tournament so far.

South Africa’s semifinal is on 14 July, with their opponents decided after matchday three on Wednesday. DM