The Junior Springboks booked their spot in the Junior World Championship final against France after fighting back to beat England 53-37 in a high-scoring semi-final.
Trailing 20-12 at half-time, the SA U20S overcame a tough start to dominate the second half. Assistant coach Melusi Mthethwa praised the squad's composure and belief under pressure.
England started with intensity, placing the South Africans under immense pressure.
"We knew the first half was going to be very, very tough," said Mthethwa, the team’s attack coach. "They had a plan, and they tried to stop us, and they did that very well. Credit to the boys, they handled that well."
Instead of panicking, the coaching staff delivered a calm, measured message at half-time. They urged the players to trust their preparation and focus on accuracy rather than chasing the game.
"At half-time, we identified a few opportunities we needed to take," Mthethwa explained. "In the second half, we were able to take control and those opportunities, which was great."
Mthethwa highlighted the players' ability to remain calm on the scoreboard as the most pleasing aspect of the victory.
"We spoke about our detail and accuracy, and the guys responded very well," Mthethwa concluded.