Underwhelming Junior Boks still have a chance

The Junior Boks are alive — but whether they have a spring in their step, remains to be seen in the World Rugby U20 Championship.

They got bogged down in the mud in Paarl as they suffered a shock defeat to Italy in pool C of the tournament on Thursday. They now have to beat Argentina in their final pool match at Athlone Stadium on Tuesday to secure safe passage to the next round.

Thankfully for the hosts, who suffered a 34-26 defeat to Italy, the pool is wide open with all four teams having won and lost a match thus far.

They may have a lifeline but the Junior Boks have underwhelmed thus far in the tournament. They laboured to victory against lowly Georgia in their opening game, yet their defeat against a fired-up Italian side sent shock waves through the rugby community.

The defeat should have put paid to their hopes of winning the event for the first time since 2012, when they also hosted the tournament.

However, Georgia’s 20-0 defeat of Argentina left the door ajar. South Africa, Argentina and Italy have five log points, while Georgia have four, with the pool to be decided on Tuesday.

Many reasons for the loss to Italy have been put forward. The weather, the racial makeup of the squad, and even the credentials of the coach Bafana Nhleko were familiar chestnuts.

It, perhaps, undermined the team’s short-term cause that 10 changes were made to the starting team for the match against Italy.

Nhleko lamented his team’s set piece, kicking game and defence and they may well get aid from higher up in the SA Rugby food chain before Tuesday’s clash.

Earlier in the week, director of rugby Rassie Erasmus was quizzed about the team’s lacklustre performance against Georgia. “Coach Bafana is working really closely with us,” Erasmus said.

“Jacques (Nienaber, the Springbok coach) has helped there a few times, as well as some of our other coaches. We get the weekly schedule on what Bafana is planning, and what he is planning with his assistant coaches. And with the boys being in the Academy, it helps.”

Erasmus said they know the players really well. “They have been on our radar since U15 and U16, and even when we do Poni (players of national interest) selection, we get the input of Bafana and Herman Masimla.”

Erasmus said they were following the tournament closely. “We are certainly watching all those games and seeing who are future Springboks who can slot in. Look at a guy like Canan (Moodie); some of these boys are not far away from playing for us,” he said.

“I saw a photo of the jersey presentation by Salmaan Moerat, and the two youngsters next to him were actually bigger than him. So those boys quickly grow up and become Springboks.”

On the evidence of last Thursday, Bok fans will hope for a dramatic turnaround.