Captain Siphosethu Mnebelele and back Luan Giliomee say the Junior Springboks’ buy-in to the game plan has primed them for Junior World Championship semi-finals action.
Kevin Foote’s charges head into Monday’s clash against England in Tbilisi (6:30pm SA time) buoyed by their preparation, though Mnebelele insists the lessons from a tense pool phase haven’t been forgotten.
“We’re a very close group,” Mnebelele said. “We’ve enjoyed the preparations and we’ve enjoyed spending time together throughout the tournament. The focus has been on preparing well for England.”
The defending champions reached the last four after grinding past Wales in a Pool A match Mnebelele described as effectively a knockout fixture.
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“We knew that if we lost against Wales, our route to the playoffs would be in serious jeopardy, so we approached it like a knockout game,” he said. “There were some nerves early on, but we are fortunate to have players who understand their roles.”
Those lessons now shape the semi-final approach, with Mnebelele adamant his troops cannot afford a slow start against the English.
“We need to start well from the opening whistle, execute our roles and not allow England to gain momentum,” he added.
Giliomee, back at fullback after sitting out the Wales game, added: “The coaches always have a plan for the team and it’s important that every player buys into that plan.”
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Mnebelele expects England to bring physicality, a strong kicking game and broad attacking threats, while remaining focused on his team’s own identity.
“England are a quality side, and they’ve shown throughout the tournament why they’ve reached the semi-finals,” he said. “For us, the focus remains on delivering a performance that reflects who we are as a team.”
Victory would extend the Junior Boks’ winning run to 10 straight Junior World Championship matches, one shy of New Zealand’s record 11-game streak between 2016 and 2018.
Photo: @SAJuniorRugby/X
The post Junior Boks fired up for England clash appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Captain Siphosethu Mnebelele and back Luan Giliomee say the Junior Springboks’ buy-in to the gameplan has primed them for Junior World Championship semi-finals action.
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