Wynona Louw's weekend hits-and-misses column covers a busy Saturday across Junior and senior rugby. The headline positive is the Junior Boks clinching their maiden U20 Rugby Championship title — not after last week's win over Australia as was prematurely reported, but via a 29-29 draw with New Zealand, secured when they banked the bonus-point try early in the second half. A late yellow card and penalty try to New Zealand made it nervy, but Kevin Foote's side had already done enough. On the URC front, Louw singles out referee Andrea Piardi for praise in the Stormers-Ulster draw — a 20-minute red for Iain Henderson, a penalty try awarded late, and a self-corrected call all handled decisively without killing the flow of the game. The bigger concern is what Henderson's deliberate croc roll did to Deon Fourie, whose age and injury history make any significant lay-off a serious worry for the Stormers. The column also revisits Edwill van der Merwe's disallowed try for the Lions against Leinster — a marginal offside call that wiped out what would have been the play of the weekend and arguably changed the complexion of a game the Lions weren't actually disgracing themselves in.
Junior Boks crowned, Fourie croc-rolled, and a Lions try that wasn't
The Junior Boks' U20 Rugby Championship title, Iain Henderson's croc roll on Deon Fourie, and the TMO call that killed the Lions' best moment against Leinster — Louw's column covers the weekend's sharpest talking points.
Junior Boks to host Georgia, Fiji and Chile in Cape Town International Series ahead of World Championship defence
The Junior Springboks will host Georgia, Fiji, and Chile in a three-match-day U20 International Series at City Park in Cape Town from 21 to 31 May. Coach Kevin Foote will use the series to give his full wider squad game time and sharpen combinations before the Junior World Championship defence in Georgia at the end of June. South Africa and Georgia are in the same JWC pool, lending added significance to the 31 May fixture.
Junior Boks take World Cup confidence from NZ dogfight
Foote and Norton reflect on what a grinding draw against New Zealand reveals about where the Junior Boks are — and what still needs fixing — ahead of their World Cup title defence in Georgia.
Keo & Zels: Stubborn All Blacks policy make Boks smile
The boys love that New Zealand keep picking their second-best, long may it continue.
Hooker targeting All Blacks opener after shoulder surgery, July Tests ruled out
Ethan Hooker is targeting the opening All Blacks Test in The Greatest Rivalry series after shoulder surgery, with the 23-year-old ruled out of all July Tests against England, Scotland and Wales.
Junior Boks crowned, Fourie croc-rolled, and a Lions try that wasn't
The Junior Boks' U20 title, Henderson's croc roll on Fourie, a standout refereeing display in Belfast, and the TMO call that killed the Lions' best moment against Leinster — Louw's column covers the weekend's highs and lows with some pointed observations on officiating and the 20-minute red card rule.