The Junior Springboks will contest a second consecutive Junior World Championship final after overcoming England 53-37 in Tuesday's semi-final in Tbilisi, having trailed 20-12 at half-time.
Coach Kevin Foote's message at the break was straightforward: look after the ball, stay structured, and maintain pressure. The team responded with a commanding second-half display that put the match beyond England's reach.
"At half-time, it was really about us looking after the ball a little better and making sure we could keep applying pressure on England consistently," said Foote. "They went back after half-time, stuck to our processes and executed very well."
The pack again provided the platform, as they have throughout the tournament, while the bench proved decisive in maintaining intensity and preventing any drop-off when replacements came on. Foote was emphatic about the squad's collective contribution: "Some players have had to wait patiently for their opportunities, but when they come on, they make a real impact."
With this the squad's fourth game in three weeks, Foote also highlighted the physical and mental resilience his forwards have shown: "The fact that they keep going and keep pushing is very impressive."
Saturday's final is against France, who beat New Zealand 26-22 in the other semi-final. The French arrive as Six Nations champions, and Foote is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge. "Against New Zealand they worked hard, stayed in the fight right until the end and showed tremendous spirit," he said.
The final moves from the Avchala Stadium to the Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi, with kick-off at 18h30 on Saturday.