Baby Boks have the right 'attitude'
Hosts South Africa showed they have the right attitude, as they head for a showdown with arch rivals New Zealand in the final of the 2012 IRB Junior World Championships.
The two teams will meet in the Grand Finale at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday, after disposing of Argentina and Wales respectively in this past weekend's semifinals.
New Zealand produced a stirring revival with decisive tries either side of half-time to overcome Wales 30-6 in the first semifinal at Newlands on Sunday, ensuring the defending champions reached their fifth successive Junior World Championship.
And Dawie Theron's Baby Boks advanced to the Final after a comprehensive 35-3 drubbing of Argentina in the second semifinal at the same venue.
The junior Boks' coach, Theron, lauded his team's defence and ability to adapt to the conditions.
South Africa scored four tries, three of them in a commanding first half, where the team executed well on the drive, from turn-over ball and benefitted from some great running lines by replacement wing Raymond Rhule.
The Free State wing replaced Paul Jordaan early in the match – after the Sharks player aggravated a hamstring injury he took into the game – and Rhule scored two great tries.
"Raymond played a great match and I am very happy for him, as he stayed positive at a time when he was not picked," Theron said.
"He ran some great lines and the team found the balance between attacking and kicking. In the second half, when the rain came down, we reverted to a kicking game and again, it worked well for us."
Theron highlighted the defensive effort. "We again did not concede a try, even though Argentina hammered at our line. It was a massive effort by the team to keep them scoreless and I am very proud of the effort."
There are some injury concerns, with Jordaan the obvious casualty, but Theron reserved judgment on that.
"We will only have a full report on the injury situation [later] on Monday, but I am confident that we will have a full complement of players."
