Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote was left beaming with pride following his team’s 56-17 drubbing of Australia u20 to wrap up the 2026 Rugby Championship title with a game to spare.
In a ruthless display at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, the Junior Boks combined power and precision to underline their dominance in the competition.
“There was a huge improvement,” said Foote.
“I think the whole squad showed what it means to play for South Africa. We showed grit and I’m super proud of everyone.”
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Foote credited captain Riley Norton and his leadership group for setting the tone during a high-pressure week.
“Our preparation was excellent, and the leadership from Riley and the senior guys was really good,” Foote explained.
“From how we felt a year ago on this same night, there was a lot of motivation going into this game.”
While physicality remains central to the Junior Bok identity, Foote believes this group has evolved into a more rounded outfit after months of building cohesion.
“Our DNA is physicality, but it’s also skill,” he said. “You see the physicality in breakdown and how we want to play. This team plays with pride.”
Foote also singled out the impact of his bench, challenging them to respond after fading late in their previous outing – a challenge they answered emphatically.
“By their own admission, they wanted to fix last week, and I thought they did that today. Our discipline has also been excellent – we haven’t had a card in this competition yet, which is massive.”
The Junior Boks face New Zealand next Saturday in their final fixture, with the newly crowned champions determined to sign off in style.
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
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