Junior Boks eye redemption

Skipper Paul de Villiers says the Junior Springboks are eager to ship a efficiency that can depart a legacy for the 2023 crew once they face England in Athlone on Friday.

The groups do battle within the World U20 Championship third-place playoff at Athlone Stadium, and in keeping with De Villiers, the match just isn’t solely about successful the bronze medal.

“We actually wish to beat England and end on a excessive word – that can depart some form of legacy for us as a crew,” mentioned the SA flanker after he took the crew by means of their final coaching session and conventional captain’s observe.

“We’re nonetheless going on the market to signify our nation and individuals are nonetheless paying cash to return and see us play, so we can’t disappoint them.

“We had our ups and downs within the event, but when we ship a great efficiency on Friday, that’s what folks will bear in mind. So sure, we’re going into this sport with the win on our minds.

“There are some blended feelings now, this being the final time we have now educated collectively and me answerable for the so-called captain’s run, however feelings are usually not going to take us wherever tomorrow. We must be focussed on what England will deliver to us and the way we’re going to address that.”

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England have gained essentially the most sort out turnovers (18) – greater than twice as many as SA (7) – and so they the one crew to have made in extra of 500 passes (520), however they’ve additionally conceded 11.5 penalties on common per match and have had 4 gamers despatched to the sin-bin.

De Villiers was on the sector in June 2022 when the Junior Boks defeated England 30-22 within the Six Nations U20 Summer time Collection in Italy, however event historical past just isn’t within the hosts’ favour as England gained the final 5 encounters earlier than that.

No crew has performed in additional third-place playoffs than SoA (9) and that is the sixth event in a row that they’ve contested the bronze last. They’ve gained eight and misplaced as soon as solely in these playoffs, with their solely defeat at this stage of the event coming in opposition to Argentina (49-19) in England in 2016.

De Villiers, in his ninth and final look for the Junior Boks, mentioned stats won’t deter them of their quest to win the match. SA’s sort out success fee is the second finest within the event at 88.7% and so they have the quickest common ruck pace in assault (2.90 seconds), however the Junior Bok captain additionally factors to effort.

“Initially of the event there was room for hypothesis in regards to the potential of the group and what we probably might obtain,” he mentioned.

“There isn’t any room for that anymore, time for speaking is completed and we have now yet another alternative to talk by means of our actions and energy on the sector. That’s all that basically issues.

“The crew have proven their struggle thus far and we did play some actually good rugby at occasions. Sadly additionally, we had poor moments as properly and tomorrow will likely be about delivering a efficiency that will likely be worthy for the Junior Springboks and what it represents. For that we should pitch up tomorrow and keep within the sport till the final minute.”

Picture: @JuniorBoks/Twitter