The Junior Boks overcame New Zealand in the World U20 Championship final to complete an unbeaten run at the tournament in Italy, who was South Africa’s best player?
It took wins against Australia, England and Scotland in the pool phase, followed by playoff victories over Argentina and then the Baby Blacks, for the Junior Boks to break a 13-year drought in matching the achievements of the class of 2012.
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The 2012 Junior Boks featured the likes of future World Cup winners Handre Pollard, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Steven Kitshoff.
A host of South Africans starred at the 2025 tournament, including flyhalf and leading point-scorer Vusi Moyo who kicked 13 points in the final, while Junior Boks featured among the top try-scorers, including scrumhalf Haashim Pead (2nd with 6 tries), flyers Jaco Williams and Gilermo Mentoe (tied 4th with four tries each), captain Riley Norton ranked third with 63 tackles, and speedster Cheswill Jooste came in third for clean breaks (9).
Other standout players were barnstorming flanker Batho Hlekani, hard-grafting hooker Sipho Mnebelele and punchy centre Albie Bester.
Photo: World Rugby
