Foote praises Junior Boks for remarkable JWC win

Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote praised his team's resilience, strength, and unbreakable bond after South Africa was crowned Junior World Championship winners following a hard-fought victory over France in Tbilisi on Saturday evening. The SA U20s triumphed over France with a score of 16-5, having led 6-0 at halftime in this exciting championship decider, successfully defending the title they had won the previous year in Italy.

Foote highlighted that this victory was a matter of great pride for the team and the nation. "It means everything to us; it means everything to South Africa," Foote expressed after the final match. "South Africa is a very special place, and we are lucky to represent our people. Right now, we’re just feeling incredibly grateful for the opportunity."

The final experienced delays due to a lightning storm before the kick-off, and France’s physical style forced the Junior Boks to face significant challenges throughout the match. Foote commended his players for maintaining their composure under pressure, stating, "We knew France were big, physical, and they just kept coming at us. We had to soak up a lot of pressure, but the story of this team has been that they never give up. We always felt that if we got our opportunity, we’d take it."

Foote also noted that the leadership and defensive effort displayed were satisfying aspects of the win, and he credited the substitutes for providing valuable contributions: "The starting players had absorbed so much pressure, and the fresh legs brought energy at a crucial time. That’s been a strength of this squad all season."

Siphosethu Mnebelele, the captain of the SA U20 team and a member of last year’s victorious squad, shared the significance of winning another world title, saying, "It feels seriously special. This was a completely different team, with different connections and a different journey. One thing about this team is that we just keep grinding it out because of our care for each other."

Mnebelele further explained how the squad remained focused despite the lengthy weather delay before the match: "It was tough waiting because you prepare for a certain kick-off time, and then suddenly you have to sit and wait. But this group is very adaptable. We made sure we stayed switched on, kept our energy up, and focused on the job we had to do."

He expressed that the spirit of the team was evident even from the sidelines during the match's closing stages. "All you want is for the team to do well and succeed. I was incredibly nervous watching, but I was so happy the boys managed to get the result. Now we’re going to celebrate together."

This victory capped a remarkable campaign for the Junior Boks and marked South Africa's third U20 world crown, following successes in 2012 and 2025. The Junior Boks will return to South Africa on Monday morning.