Baby Boks primed for dream Final in Rovigo
SPOTLIGHT: The rivalry between South Africa and New Zealand will enter another chapter on Saturday.
The Junior Springboks face their New Zealand counterparts in the Final of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Rovigo, Italy.
The Baby Boks qualified for their first Final appearance since 2014 when they defeated Argentina this past Monday in Viadana, while New Zealand beat France in their semifinal played earlier in the day at the same venue.
Baby Bok coach Kevin Foote spoke of the significance of the occasion, highlighting the rivalry and culture shared by both nations.
“Every child in South Africa and every child in New Zealand who has ever picked up a ball dreams of this occasion,” said Foote in the aftermath of his team’s victory over Argentina in Viadana.
“It’s a special moment, and New Zealand is a special side.
“A Final between these two teams is fantastic for the game.”
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“That is an unbelievable try!” 🇿🇦@SAJuniorRugby are bringing their pace and power to the pitch ⚡#WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/FgUbzQXCJk
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 14, 2025
Baby Bok captain Riley Norton echoed his coach’s sentiments, calling the Final the “ultimate test” for the South African Under-20 side.
“You don’t need any extra motivation for a final like this,” said Norton.
“As coach Kevin [Foote] said, you dream of a match like this – facing the haka on Saturday, the history and tradition between South Africa and New Zealand is just unbelievable.
“We love playing each other and have great respect for one another.
“It’s going to be an 80-minute battle.
“We’re extremely excited for Saturday, and I know the guys are up for it and very keen.”
While the SA U20 team is excited for the Final, Foote emphasised that the Baby Boks remain focused on growth and continuous improvement.
“We’ll keep improving, and the thing is that we’ve played some awesome rugby in this tournament. I couldn’t be prouder of this group.
“I told them in the changeroom [after the Argentina victory] how proud I am – to be on this journey with them is very special. They are absolute warriors and remain humble.”
If you blink, you might miss it 🤏👀
Jaco Williams gets South Africa’s third against Argentina 🇿🇦🔥
📺 Stream #WorldRugbyU20s on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/XOSnjeaHdn
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 14, 2025
Foote also credited the recent U20 Rugby Championship, held in Port Elizabeth in May, as a crucial part of their preparation for the Italian tournament.
“Some of the Northern Hemisphere teams have over 2,000 minutes of game time per calendar year for their younger players,” the Junior Bok coach said.
“We want to get as much high-quality game time as possible with our players. The reality is that in the Rugby Championship, we were building towards the World Rugby U20 Championship, using it to build synergy and combinations and so we’re extremely grateful for that tournament.”
The matchday squad to face New Zealand will be announced on Thursday.
Saturday marks the first time the two sides meet in a World Rugby U20 Championship Final since South Africa’s memorable victory over New Zealand in the 2012 sold-out match at Newlands in Cape Town.
