Junior Springbok captain Siphosethu Mnebelele and flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed have expressed confidence and unity ahead of Saturday's Junior World Championship Final against France Under-20 in Tbilisi, with kick-off at 18.30 SAST.
The Junior Boks are chasing back-to-back JWC titles after defeating New Zealand in last year's final in Italy. Mnebelele, playing in his second JWC and lining up at hooker, says the squad has remained locked in on the task ahead. "We are well prepared for the final match, and we are all excited to represent South Africa in the Final. Our focus is to be ready to take on a very good French side who have demonstrated their abilities by reaching the Final."
Ahmed credited the environment built by SA U20 coach Kevin Foote's management team as central to the squad's campaign. "Our coaching staff and medical team have been awesome in preparing us, not only for this match, but for the entire time that we've been together. They make it a really good environment for us, and all the boys are so focused and disciplined in their preparation and recovery."
The flyhalf also highlighted the collective spirit within the group, noting that players outside the match-day side contribute directly to preparation. "Those who are not in the team help the coaches prepare the guys who are playing. We motivate and push each other, and we keep learning and improving with each session."
"We have 80 minutes left of this campaign, and we will give it our absolute best," Ahmed added.
The Junior Boks will wear black armbands on Saturday in memory of former SA Under-18 prop Luqobo Makwedini, who died on 10 July following a training session with his French club AS Béziers Hérault.