Foote hails leadership and team spirit after Junior Boks rally to beat Pumitas

Foote commended his side for not letting their heads drop after Argentina pulled 10 points ahead shortly after half-time.

The SA U20s had to work very hard at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium to start their campaign with a 36-25 victory over the Pumitas. They were 20-15 down at the break and fell even further behind when the South Americans scored another try shortly after the restart to take a 10-point lead, but a superb fightback saw them earn a well-deserved victory to leave the crowd of close to 9,000 smiling.

Afterwards, Foote praised his team's resilience and leadership, acknowledging the initial nerves and the challenge of adapting to the slippery conditions.

"One of our biggest strengths is our leadership and after half-time, when they scored quickly, the guys didn't drop their heads," said Foote.

"The guys adapted really well after half-time and a lot of credit has to go to the leadership group and their ability to maintain confidence and belief, and go back to what we knew was going to work, playing a territory-based game and putting pressure on their opponents in their own half."

The Junior Bok coach also said the crowd played a big part and expressed his gratitude for the enthusiastic support from the local support.

"The atmosphere was electric, with the fans deeply involved and backing the team," said Foote.

"The warm welcome at the hotel and airport, complete with a marimba band, showcased the city's hunger and passion for hosting big rugby events. So, we are grateful for the people of Gqeberha for the amazing support they gave to us."

SA U20 captain Riley Norton, who was one of the try-scorers, echoed Foote's sentiments, expressing his appreciation for the support in the stands: "The crowd played their part and we could hear them and hear their support for us. It was something special to play in such an atmosphere."

Looking ahead to their next game against Australia on Tuesday, Foote identified a number of areas for improvement.

"Argentina are renowned for their defensive set piece and for us things perhaps did not go our way in the lineouts and scrums," said Foote.

"However, when we got the ball over the 15m line, we mauled quite well to put them under pressure. I also though our team's defensive efforts and their ability to scramble effectively during line breaks were impressive."

Junior Bok No 8 Wandile Mlaba had a solid game and said the team prepared well coming into the tournament, learning from every training camp they had: "While it was not a perfect display, there were numerous positives to build on in the next game."

The Junior Boks' next assignment is against Australia on Tuesday at the same venue, where the game will start at 16h10. The first game in the second round of action is between New Zealand and Argentina (14h00). Tickets are available online from Webtickets or at the stadium ticket office.

READ MORE: Junior Boks rally past Argentina to open U20 Rugby Championship with a win