SA Rugby general manager for high performance Dave Wessels has credited the Springboks with helping to drive the Junior Boks’ success.
The SA U20 squad arrived back in South Africa on Monday after successfully defending their Junior World Championship title in Georgia on Saturday.
Earlier that day, two former Junior Boks, flyhalf Vusi Moyo and winger Jaco Williams, made their Test debuts against Wales in Durban. Ex-captain Riley Norton also would have earned his first Bok cap in July, against England at Ellis Park, had he not suffered an injury during training.
“The Springboks deserve credit for everything that’s happening here,” Wessels said during a press conference at OR Tambo airport. “They have set such a high standard for everybody, and every team underneath them is trying to emulate them.
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“They spend a lot of time with us. We talk to guys like [Bok defence coach] Felix Jones daily about what’s happening in their environment and ours. There’s a real synergy, and it takes a lot of effort from their side.”
While Junior Boks coach Kevin Foote and his assistants have focused on developing the players’ skills, they have also worked to instil the values of the Bok culture.
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“It’s not only about the rugby stuff,” Wessels explained. “There’s something about the way you carry yourself as a Springbok, the way you prepare and all of that soft stuff that takes a little more time, especially with younger men.
“So the rugby stuff is the easy part. It’s the culture of being a Springbok that we are trying to embed in the players. Coach Foote and his coaches do a great job with that.
“That’s why you see Jaco Williams and those guys fit into the Springbok team and look like they belong there. It’s not only about the rugby stuff. They are used to the environment.”
Photo: Tamuna Kulumbegashvili/ World Rugby
