Foote praises Junior Bok composure against physical Georgians

Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote praised his team's composure and maturity after the SA U20s secured a 33-5 victory over hosts Georgia in a bruising Junior World Championship Pool A clash in Tbilisi on Thursday evening.

While the five-tries-to-one scoreline suggested a comfortable win for the Junior Boks, Foote admitted afterwards that the match was far from straightforward.

“It wasn't a pretty game by any stretch of the imagination," said Foote after the physical encounter against the tournament hosts.

Foote credited Georgia for disrupting South Africa's rhythm and preventing the Junior Boks from fully settling into their attacking structure.

The SA U20 coach had anticipated a fiercely physical and emotional challenge from the hosts and was pleased with the way his players handled the intensity.

Three Georgian players were yellow carded during the match, with one upgraded to a 20-minute red card at the start of the second half.

“We knew it was going to be physical and quite emotional but I think that we stayed on the right side of the referee,” said Foote.

“That's important because it shows maturity when you don’t retaliate and obviously when the opportunities came, we managed to capitalise on them.”

Although satisfied with collecting a second consecutive pool win, Foote stressed that there remains room for improvement as the tournament enters its decisive phase.

“It's certainly good to get a second game under our belts but it was maybe a little wake-up call for us,” he said.

“We need to sharpen up in certain areas and we’ll definitely look at that. However, the team kept in the fight and matched the physicality of a very determined Georgian side.”

South Africa's final pool fixture is against Wales, who have also impressed in the opening rounds of the competition, beating Georgia and Uruguay for a second spot in the group.

With a place in the semi-finals at stake, Foote believes the encounter against the Welsh will effectively be a pool decider: “From here it's knockout rugby. Wales are a good team, and they've done really well in the tournament so far, so we're expecting a big challenge. Everyone in the squad has played and we will now turn our attention to Wales.”

Score

Georgia U20 5 (5) - Try: Luka Tabatadze.

Junior Springboks 33 (12) - Tries: Siphosethu Mnebelele (2), Cheswill Jooste, Luan Giliomee, Luke Cannon. Conversions: Giliomee (3), Alzeadon Felix.

Junior Boks’ Pool A fixtures and results

27 June v Uruguay (SA won 104-7)

2 July v Georgia (SA won 33-5)

7 July v Wales

Play-offs

12-13 July: Semi-finals

17-18 July: Ranking play-offs and final

Junior Boks’ 2026 World Junior Championship squad

Props: Oliver Reid (DHL Stormers), Rambo Kubheka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jordan Jooste (DHL Stormers), Danie Kruger (DHL Stormers), Luan van der Berg (Vodacom Bulls).

Hookers: Siphosethu Mnebelele (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks), Liam van Wyk (Hollywoodbets Sharks).

Locks: Heinrich Theron (Vodacom Bulls), Jaythen Orange (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), JD Hattingh (Fidelity Securedrive Lions).

Loose forwards: Kebotile Maake (Vodacom Bulls), Risima Khosa (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Luke Cannon (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Wasi Vyambwera (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Vuyo Gwiji (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Gert Kemp (DHL Stormers).

Utility forward: Thomas Beling (Vodacom Bulls).

Scrumhalves: Hendré Schoeman (Vodacom Bulls), Jayden Brits (DHL Stormers).

Flyhalf: Yaqeen Ahmed (DHL Stormers).

Centres: Ethan Adams (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Samuel Badenhorst (DHL Stormers), Markus Muller (DHL Stormers).

Outside and utility backs: Luan Giliomee (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cheswill Jooste (Vodacom Bulls), Jack Benade (DHL Stormers), Jordan Steenkamp (DHL Stormers), Akahluwa Boqwana (Vodacom Bulls), Alzeadon Felix (Fidelity Securedrive Lions).

Team management

Kevin Foote – Head coach

Lumumba Currie – Assistant coach

Melusi Mthethwa – Assistant coach

Barend Pieterse – Coaching consultant

Zingi Hela – Team manager

Dr Clement Plaatjies – Team doctor

Warren Adams – Head of athletic performance

Farhaanah Nagia – Physiotherapist

Robin Williams – Physiotherapist

Rayaan Adriaanse – Media and PR manager

Zwonaka Mbedzi – Technical analyst

Franklin van Wyk – Logistics manager