Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote hailed his team’s resilience, unity and unwavering belief after South Africa successfully defended their World Rugby U20 Championship title with a hard-fought 16-5 victory over France in Saturday’s final.
The Junior Boks produced a disciplined defensive display to overcome a physical French side, leading 6-0 at half-time before sealing the win to lift their second consecutive U20 world title. The triumph also secured South Africa’s third World Rugby U20 Championship crown, adding to their successes in 2012 and 2025.
An emotional Foote described the achievement as a proud moment for the team and the nation.
It means everything to us; it means everything to South Africa,said Foote.
South Africa is a very special place and we are very lucky to represent our people. Right now, we’re just feeling incredibly grateful for the opportunity.
The championship decider was delayed before kick-off due to a lightning storm, while France’s relentless physicality ensured the Junior Boks were tested throughout the contest.
Despite absorbing long periods of pressure, the South Africans remained composed and capitalised on their opportunities when they came.
We knew France were big, physical and they just kept coming at us,” Foote said. “We had to soak up a lot of pressure, but the story of this team has been that they never give up. We always felt that if we got our opportunity, we’d take it.
Foote also praised the impact of his replacements, saying the depth within the squad proved decisive in the closing stages.
The starting players had absorbed so much pressure and the fresh legs brought energy at a crucial time. That’s been a strength of this squad all season.
Captain Siphosethu Mnebelele, who was also part of last year’s title-winning side, said the latest triumph was special because of the bond shared within the group.
It feels seriously special,said Mnebelele. This was a completely different team, different connections and a different journey. One thing about this team is that we just keep grinding it out because of the care we have for each other.
He added that the team’s togetherness and commitment to playing for one another inspired their remarkable run to the title.
We talk about giving love on defence, giving love on attack, and doing it for the guy next to you and for the people back home in South Africa. That’s what drove us throughout the tournament.
Mnebelele also reflected on the lengthy weather delay before kick-off, saying the squad remained mentally focused despite the disruption.
It was tough waiting because you prepare for a certain kick-off time and then suddenly you have to sit and wait. But this group is very adaptable. We made sure we stayed switched on, kept our energy up and remained focused on the job we had to do.
Watching the tense closing moments from the sidelines was an emotional experience for the skipper.
All you want is for the team to do well and succeed. I was incredibly nervous watching, but I was so happy the boys managed to get the result. Now we’re going to celebrate together.
The victory capped an outstanding tournament for the Junior Boks, who once again demonstrated the character and defensive resolve that has become the hallmark of Kevin Foote’s side. The team is expected to return to South Africa on Monday morning to celebrate another historic achievement on the world stage
Images: SA Junior Rugby (Twitter)