Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton is adamant Saturday's U20 Rugby Championship finale against New Zealand at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (kickoff 4.10pm) carries full weight, despite South Africa holding a five-point lead at the top of the log with one round remaining.
The only scenario under which the Junior Boks could be displaced as champions involves a heavy defeat to the Baby Blacks — a side that were themselves beaten by Argentina in the second round — making the mathematical threat remote at best. Norton, however, is not entertaining any notion of easing off.
"You will naturally be up for a game against New Zealand, because they are one of our biggest rivals and we have a lot of respect for them," Norton said. "If we take our foot off the pedal now, rugby can come back and bite you."
Breakdown discipline is the primary area of focus heading into the decider. Despite running up 56 points against Australia in round two, Norton acknowledged the Wallabies got on top of the ball at times when the Junior Boks were loose in contact. He expects New Zealand to have noted that and target the same area.
"I don't think it even misfired against Australia — to put 57 points on the board shows you must be doing something right," Norton said. "But because of the attacking brand of rugby we continuously want to play, when we show our hand in the backs, there are sometimes opportunities for the opposition to get on the ball. Maybe it is something we can look at ahead of the New Zealand clash."
Head coach Kevin Foote, who praised his squad's discipline — no cards conceded across the tournament to date — highlighted the physicality-and-skill combination he regards as the team's identity. "Our DNA is physicality, but it's also skill. You see the physicality in the breakdowns and how we want to play. This team plays with pride."
Argentina face Australia in the earlier fixture at 2pm.