Foote pleased as Junior Boks claim dominant JWC opener

The Junior Springboks made a powerful statement in their opening match of the Junior World Championship, securing a resounding 104-7 victory over Uruguay in Tbilisi, Georgia, on June 28. SA U20 head coach Kevin Foote expressed satisfaction with both the scoreline and the approach his players took to the game.

"It’s awesome to finally get going after a long period of preparation," Foote commented. "The players showed great intent from the start, and it’s pleasing to begin the tournament with a strong performance."

The South African team led 50-0 at halftime and conceded their only try after the final whistle. They scored 16 tries in total, including a penalty try, with Jordan Steenkamp (wing) and Risima Khosa (flanker) each contributing three tries in a well-rounded team effort.

Despite the heavy defeat for Uruguay, Foote acknowledged the competitive spirit demonstrated by the South American side, particularly in contact areas and set pieces. "Uruguay were very competitive at the breakdown and also challenged us in the lineouts," he noted. He added that the windy conditions made gameplay challenging, but South Africa adapted well and demonstrated good energy and purpose.

Foote commended the collective effort of the team and noted the significant contributions from individual players. "There were plenty of strong performances and a number of players really put their hands up for selection. That’s exactly what you want in a competition like this, where the whole squad will be needed," he remarked.

Uruguay continued to fight until the end and was rewarded with a try, which Foote felt spoke volumes about their character. "Full credit to Uruguay for finishing the game the way they did," he said. "Scoring at the end shows their determination and spirit, and that’s something we expected from them."

Looking ahead, Foote indicated that squad rotation will be essential as South Africa aims to maintain consistency and manage player workloads throughout the tournament. "That’s the nature of a World Championship," he said. "We have a very good squad, and we’ll give other players opportunities in the next game. The focus is on continuing to build and improve."

The Junior Boks now set their sights on their next match against host nation Georgia, who narrowly lost their opening fixture against Wales 25-24. Foote expressed awareness of the challenge posed by Georgia, noting their energy and passion.

"You can feel the energy and passion in Georgia already," Foote mentioned. "They’ll be hurting after that loss and will come back strongly. We know they’ll bring a big physical challenge, so we’ll need to be ready for that."