AUDIO: Baby Boks in a 'good place' after loss to 13-man NZ

REACTION: South African coach Kevin Foote believes his team is on the right track, despite failing to overcome a 13-man New Zealand team in the final match of the Under-20 Rugby Championship.

The Baby Boks fell short in their bid to capture the U20 Rugby Championship when they lost to a 13-man New Zealand team in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.

However, Foote said the players can take ‘huge positives’ from their courageous effort against the Baby Blacks.

New Zealand beat the Junior Springboks 48-45 in front of nearly 15,000 spectators at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium to retain the title dramatically, after South Africa led 26-24 at the half-time break.

Foote said his players can be proud of their effort, although they just fell short in a brilliant, high-scoring, and hugely entertaining match.

“There are a lot of positives to take from that performance,” the Baby Boks coach said.

“We are on a massive journey together.

“I’ve only met Riley Norton and the guys back in November, so we are working hard on our game model and principles, which everyone understands now,” Foote added.

“From a character and leadership perspective, we are in a good place.

“The lessons we learnt will be of huge benefit as we approach the World Rugby U20 Championship next month in Italy.”

(SA U20 coach Kevin Foote reviews a losing campaign…..)

The South Africans played their part in a breathtaking attacking game, which delivered more than 90 points and went down to the wire, with New Zealand under huge pressure and playing with 13 men for the last 11 minutes.

“I think Melusi [Mthethwa, the team’s backline coach] has done a great job in terms of our attack and I really feel that the players have clarity on how we want to play,” said Foote.

“We played some exciting and brilliant attacking rugby during the tournament and just to hear the crowd get behind us when we started to light it up was exceptional.

“We know we are not the finished product, and we know we have a lot of work to do, but I do think our attack has come a long way and the guys are loving the way we are attacking.”

Foote said the Junior Bok coaching staff are keen to send some players back to their provincial unions to play in the domestic U21 competition.

“We will take it case by case, but some players will go back to their provinces to play in the U21 competition,

“It’s a strong competition and the players are well-coached there, and we are keen for them to keep going. There will be some whose load we will have to manage, but we will do our medicals and take it case by case.”