Foote praises composure and tactical growth after Junior Boks hold Baby Blacks to lift title

Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote praised the composure and fighting spirit his SA U20 side showed in battling back to earn a pulsating 29-29 draw with New Zealand on Saturday and clinch their maiden U20 Rugby Championship title in front of a packed Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium crowd in Gqeberha.

Needing only to avoid defeat to finish unbeaten and secure the trophy, South Africa were pushed to the limit by a determined New Zealand side in a seesaw contest. The hosts recovered from a shaky start and overturned a two-try deficit to take a 22-15 halftime lead before surviving a tense final quarter to share the spoils.

For Foote, the result reflected the character his side had developed during a tournament that went down to the wire after confusion over the points table briefly sparked premature celebrations.

“We had moments where things didn’t go our way, but what stood out was the fight in the group and the resilience to keep coming back,” said Foote afterwards. “That’s what you need in games like this, especially on occasions like these.”

The coach highlighted the noticeable improvement in South Africa’s tactical maturity compared to previous meetings with the Baby Blacks, particularly through their kicking game and physical edge.

“Twelve months ago, we came here and didn’t kick particularly well,” Foote explained.

“This time our kicking was mature, contestable, and it allowed us to play in the right areas of the field. There’s been real growth in our game.”

Despite lifting the trophy, Foote acknowledged there were still valuable lessons ahead of bigger challenges later this year.

“We probably turned over the ball too easily at times, and that’s something we’ll definitely work on,” he said. “Against a team like New Zealand, you get punished if you’re not clinical.”

Captain Riley Norton echoed those sentiments after another influential display in the second row, admitting the chaotic closing stages tested the team’s composure. 

“Those last 10 minutes were hectic,” Norton said.

“Momentum kept swinging and that’s where you learn the most. We made a few simple errors and lost shape at the breakdown, and that gave them chances.”

Still, the skipper believed the demanding contest would prove invaluable as the Junior Boks continue building towards the defence of their World Rugby U20 Championship title later this year.

“These are exactly the kind of pressure situations we’ll face at a Junior World Cup,” Norton said. “You have to stay composed, control what you can, and trust your systems.”

South Africa finished the tournament unbeaten on 13 points, with New Zealand second on eight, while Australia and Argentina ended on seven points apiece.