VIDEO: Foote outlines key factors for Junior Boks' U20 Championship hopes
WATCH as Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote explains the areas of his side’s game that will be important ahead of their World Rugby Under-20 Championship campaign in Italy.
The Junior Boks hosted the 2025 U20 Rugby Championship, which culminated in disappointment as they won just one out of their three matches.
One of the issues was their inability to hold onto a lead and their conversion rate when they worked themselves into good scoring positions.
The Junior Boks held a 17-0 lead against Australia and a 19-0 lead against New Zealand only to lose both matches by five and three points respectively.
Foote admitted that it’s been an issue but that it’s been addressed and will hopefully pay off in the upcoming U20 Championship by playing to their strengths.
The Junior Boks will meet Australia again in their opening match of the tournament.
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“Playing Australia and coming close in that game was important for us to learn.
“We started well against them and the same against New Zealand and then they came back before we were back on top of them at the end of that match.
“From a fitness and conditioning [point of view] we can start well and end well, but it’s that gap in between [that’s an issue].
“We know Australia pride themselves on quick ball and they have some trick plays at the line-out.
“We had to defend 14 line-outs in the first half against them [in the U20 TRC] so we have to be sharp around that.
“It’s about managing the game throughout the 80 minutes and making sure we do well and going to our set-piece, which is a strength of ours against them and it will be important.”
Foote also conceded that his side’s conversion rate has been an issue and stressed that his side should show patience when they get into the opposition’s red zone to come away with points.
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“It has [their conversion rate being an issue]. There were times when we were a bit impatient, or the players thought we had to chase the game when actually there were certain things we could have done that were within our strengths,” Foote told @rugby365com.
“Again, it’s getting those game callers the opportunity to be in the heat for the first time playing inside a full stadium in Gqeberha.
“You can imagine the pressure on those players. We want to give them the best opportunity to make good decisions and also get my communication from the box to them to make sure we are all aligned.
“We want to fix that middle part of the game and ensure that in Test match rugby we don’t chase the game. We want to get in front nice and early and know how to keep that lead.”
Thoroughly deserved 👌🏻 https://t.co/a4Ujq3BiMq
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) June 11, 2025
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