EXCLUSIVE: Junior Boks want to emulate class of 2012
WATCH as Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton speaks to @rugby365com ahead of their World Rugby Under 20 Championship campaign in Italy.
The Junior Boks come off a disappointing home U20 Rugby Championship campaign winning just one of their three matches.
The most disappointing aspect of their two losses against Australia and New Zealand was that they were leading by 17 and 19 points, respectively, before succumbing to defeat.
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Captain Norton believes that they have learnt from those losses and highlighted a key element that made his side stronger as a group during their unsuccessful campaign.
“The team is in a great space at the moment. We have great players on the field, but the biggest thing for me is being connected off the field and learning about different people and where they come from.
“Our connection off the field during the TRC [U20 Rugby Championship] is something we got right and we are closer as a group now.
“We’re excited to be heading to Italy. It’s been something we’ve been talking about in the groups and camps for the past couple of months.
“We’re just excited to get running. We’ve got a great pool we’re competing in and we know the extent of the competition in U20 rugby and what it offers.”
Norton added that cohesiveness and trust within the group will be of utmost importance if the class of 2025 were to achieve success.
“Definitely. In tough moments trust is the biggest thing,” Norton said when asked if being tighter as a a group will help their U20 Championship hopes.
“We always talk about character in this group and of course in South African teams in general.
“If we can trust each other and know what we’re getting from the guy next to you in the tough times you can back him to get the job done.
“We’ve spoken about going through those inconsistent phases, but it’s something we back ourselves to fix in the next few weeks.”
The 19-year-old said his side is determined to break the drought and repeat the heroics from the class of 2012 which includes double World Cup winners Steven Kitshoff, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Handre Pollard.
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“The 2012 team is one we look up to. It’s the first and only team to win the U20 championship and it’s something we would love to do again this year.
“We back ourselves and the ability of our players. The team is in a great space at the moment and of course, looking at the amount of those [2012] players that went on to make the Springbok team.
“We’re excited to get going and hopefully we can repeat the heroics from the class of 2012.”
See the full interview below
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