ROVIGO, ITALY – The Junior Springboks are primed for a titanic clash with traditional rivals New Zealand in the final of the World Rugby U20 Championship on Saturday evening. As they prepare for the ultimate test in Rovigo, the team’s leaders are drawing confidence from their past, crediting South Africa’s famously competitive schoolboy rugby environment for hardening them for the global stage.
The much-anticipated final pits the tournament’s two unbeaten teams against each other in a battle for age-grade supremacy. Speaking from their base in Valpolicella, the Junior Boks’ leadership group expressed a calm confidence ahead of the encounter.
Forged in the Fires of Schoolboy Rugby
For captain Riley Norton and vice-captain Haashim Pead, the immense pressure of a World Championship final is a familiar feeling, thanks to their experiences in schoolboy rugby.
“It prepared us very well for a tournament like this,” said Norton, who captained the renowned Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch last year. “We’re used to big games at school, and we’ve always enjoyed them. Playing in front of huge, passionate crowds back home has definitely helped us handle the pressure.”
Pead, an alumnus of Bishops in Cape Town and the tournament’s leading try-scorer with six, agreed that the key is to trust their process. “It’s great to be part of a game of this magnitude, but it doesn’t mean we need to change our preparation or approach,” he said. “We’ll stick to our routine, trust our processes, and enjoy the occasion.”
Stars on the Rise
The Junior Boks’ path to the final has been powered by standout individual performances within a cohesive team structure. Pead has not only scored six tries but has also created several for his teammates, crediting the coaches for giving the backline freedom.
One of the tournament’s revelations has been flyhalf Vusi Moyo. He is the competition’s leading points-scorer with 50 points, and his tactical kicking and composure under pressure have been instrumental.
“Vusi puts a lot into his training and has learnt a lot during his time playing next to Haashim, who’s more experienced and played here last year,” said head coach Kevin Foote. “We saw what he did against England – kicking from over 50 metres. He’ll take a lot of confidence into the final.”
Excitement Trumps Pressure
Coach Foote praised his team’s “outstanding strike plays” and “gutsy defence” in their semi-final victory over Argentina, but he is under no illusions about the challenge ahead. “New Zealand back their attack and they’ve grown in confidence as the tournament has progressed,” Foote noted. “Like us, they’re passionate and composed – it’s going to be a great game.”
Despite the high stakes and the fact that the Junior Boks haven’t reached a final in 11 years, the overwhelming feeling in the camp is one of anticipation.
“Pressure is always going to be there,” captain Norton admitted. “But our confidence comes from our preparation. This is a special moment. Each player truly cares for the team. It’s less about pressure and more about excitement.”
Coach Foote has named an unchanged lineup for the final showdown.
Match Details:
- Fixture: Junior Springboks vs New Zealand
- Competition: World Rugby U20 Championship Final
- Date: Saturday, 19 July 2025
- Time: 20:30 SAST
- Venue: Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo
- Broadcast: Live on SuperSport Rugby
