Foote praises Junior Boks' resilience after England comeback books final spot

After trailing 20-12 at the break, the Junior Boks produced a composed second-half display to set up a showdown with France on Saturday, with Foote revealing his half-time message was simply for the team to stay calm, trust their structures and keep building pressure.

"At half-time, it was really about us looking after the ball a little better and making sure we could keep applying pressure on England consistently," said the Junior Bok coach.

"England showed the spirit we expected from them and there were times when we probably started a little slowly again. The conditions weren't easy and perhaps didn't suit the style of rugby we always want to play, but what pleased us most was the maturity the players showed.

"They went back after half-time, stuck to our processes and executed very well in the second half."

The Junior Springboks again laid the platform for victory through a tireless effort from their forwards, whose dominance up front created the opportunities for the backs to capitalise.

"The forwards have worked incredibly hard since this group first came together, and players in our leadership group have really stepped up, but all our forwards are putting in a huge amount of hard work.

"This was our fourth game in three weeks, so everyone is feeling it physically. The fact that they keep going and keep pushing is very impressive."

As has been the case throughout the tournament, the Junior Bok bench again played a decisive role. Foote highlighted the value of a squad that has embraced every opportunity, regardless of playing time.

"The bench made a massive contribution," he added.

"We've spoken throughout the tournament about the importance of the entire squad. Some players have had to wait patiently for their opportunities, but when they come on, they make a real impact.

"We have a very talented squad with great depth, and we are fortunate to be working with a group that has that quality. When the replacements come on, they really lift the team."

The Junior Boks now turn their attention to France, who edged New Zealand 26-22 in the first semi-final to set up a mouth-watering clash on Saturday. The French arrive in the final as Six Nations champions - a fact not lost on the Junior Bok coach.

"France have been outstanding," he said. "Against New Zealand they worked hard, stayed in the fight right until the end and showed tremendous spirit. They're also the Six Nations champions, so we know they're going to be a huge challenge.

"For us, it's about recovering well, enjoying the opportunity to spend another week together as a group, and then looking forward to the final."

While the Junior Boks played all their matches so far at the Avchala Stadium, the JWC final will take place at the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi, where kick-off is scheduled for 18h30 on Saturday evening. 

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