Beefy SA and England set for bruising showdown.
WE don’t want to make promises, but we will go to make South Africa proud.” Those were the last words Baby Boks captain Handre Pollard spoke before the SA U20 side jetted out three weeks ago, en route to New Zealand for the Junior World Championships.
Pollard did not make any promises, but delivered on his word by reaching the final of the tournament. Now the Baby Boks will hope to make SA prouder by beating defending champions England when the teams meet in the final at Eden Park in Auckland at 9.35am today.
The Boks, who beat the Baby Blacks twice, Scotland and Samoa on their way to the final, are unbeaten at the event. So is England.
The champs have had an impeccable run, beating Italy, Australia and Argentina in the pool stage before knocking out Ireland in the semifinal. A bruising, physical battle is expected between the forward packs – the two biggest at the tournament. The Baby Boks starting pack weighs in a hefty combined weight of 888kg, with the frontrow at 350kg.
The English are not much lighter with a combined size of 847kg and 323kg in the frontrow.
England coach Nick Walshe was in disbelief at the size of the youngsters. “This game is going to be not far off Test match level because these guys are as big as senior Test players and it’s quite frightening how big these boys are,” he said.
Baby Boks coach Dawie Theron drew comparisons between the two sides, coming to the conclusion that they are very much alike and both players and spectators can brace themselves for an epic battle.
“In more ways than one we are very similar sides,” said Theron.
“They want to be dominant upfront as we like to do. They scored a lot of tries from set-pieces and that is also a very important facet for us. I the guys if we can dominate upfront, we have the best chance of winning.”
Both mentors have played it safe, making minimal changes to the sides that won the semis. Walshe has stuck to the same team, with Theron making one change.
The Boks have opted for more brawn on defence by bringing in Dan Kriel in place of Lloyd Greeff at wing. Kriel will play on the outside of his twin, Jesse, wearing the number 13 jersey.
Pollard will be playing in his second final after winning the 2012 title. The flyhalf knows what it takes to win, and is hungrier now to lift the trophy again and lead the Baby Boks in becoming only the second team after New Zealand to lift the trophy more than once.
“This year has been amazing. Now it’s the climax. This is probably the biggest match of my career,” Pollard said of today’s match.
The Baby Blacks will take on Ireland in the third-fourth place playoff before the final.
Final war for Baby Boks
WE don’t want to make promises, but we will go to make South Africa proud.” Those were the last words Baby Boks captain Handre Pollard spoke before the SA U20 side jetted out three weeks ago, en route to New Zealand for the Junior World Championships.
Pollard did not make any promises, but delivered on his word by reaching the final of the tournament. Now the Baby Boks will hope to make SA prouder by beating defending champions England when the teams meet in the final at Eden Park in Auckland at 9.35am today.
The Boks, who beat the Baby Blacks twice, Scotland and Samoa on their way to the final, are unbeaten at the event. So is England.
The champs have had an impeccable run, beating Italy, Australia and Argentina in the pool stage before knocking out Ireland in the semifinal. A bruising, physical battle is expected between the forward packs – the two biggest at the tournament. The Baby Boks starting pack weighs in a hefty combined weight of 888kg, with the frontrow at 350kg.
The English are not much lighter with a combined size of 847kg and 323kg in the frontrow.
England coach Nick Walshe was in disbelief at the size of the youngsters. “This game is going to be not far off Test match level because these guys are as big as senior Test players and it’s quite frightening how big these boys are,” he said.
Baby Boks coach Dawie Theron drew comparisons between the two sides, coming to the conclusion that they are very much alike and both players and spectators can brace themselves for an epic battle.
“In more ways than one we are very similar sides,” said Theron.
“They want to be dominant upfront as we like to do. They scored a lot of tries from set-pieces and that is also a very important facet for us. I the guys if we can dominate upfront, we have the best chance of winning.”
Both mentors have played it safe, making minimal changes to the sides that won the semis. Walshe has stuck to the same team, with Theron making one change.
The Boks have opted for more brawn on defence by bringing in Dan Kriel in place of Lloyd Greeff at wing. Kriel will play on the outside of his twin, Jesse, wearing the number 13 jersey.
Pollard will be playing in his second final after winning the 2012 title. The flyhalf knows what it takes to win, and is hungrier now to lift the trophy again and lead the Baby Boks in becoming only the second team after New Zealand to lift the trophy more than once.
“This year has been amazing. Now it’s the climax. This is probably the biggest match of my career,” Pollard said of today’s match.
The Baby Blacks will take on Ireland in the third-fourth place playoff before the final.
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