The Junior Springboks have landed in Tbilisi but they’re not here for a holiday. Wednesday’s bruising training hit-out against the Lelo Saracens proved one thing, Kevin Foote’s charges are ready to bring the heat to Georgia U20 when the two sides collide on Sunday.
The Baby Boks officially opened their Georgian tour account with a high-octane 15 vs 15 training simulation in the capital, using the Saracens as the perfect litmus test for what promises to be a physically demanding international double-header.
While the session was technically “non-contact,” don’t let that fool you. This was no gentle jog in the park.
“It was more of a training simulation than an actual match, non-contact, but very fast,” Junior Bok head coach Kevin Foote explained afterwards. “It gave us the opportunity to test our structure, attack, and defence. We had a very excellent block for units; it was very physical over there.”
Georgian grunt up front
The Saracens brought exactly what Foote and his coaching staff were hoping for, uncompromising physicality in the engine room. Georgia has built its rugby reputation on granite-like forward packs, and their club sides are no different.
“They came at us in the mauls and scrums, which is what we expected,” Foote said. “It was great for our pack to get that hit-out before Sunday, and for our backs to get some running in the legs.”
The session allowed the Junior Boks to fine-tune their set-piece work and defensive structures while giving the backline crucial game-speed running. With Sunday’s opener looming large, the timing couldn’t be better.
Physicality front and centre
Foote is under no illusions about what awaits his side when they take the field against Georgia U20. The Eastern European nation’s age-grade teams punch well above their weight, particularly in the collisions.
“We’re expecting physicality,” Foote confirmed. “It’s a great opportunity for us to keep building our connections on the field and test our structures and our strike play.”
This tour serves as vital pre-season conditioning for South Africa’s emerging talent. With two internationals scheduled, the Baby Boks will get ample opportunity to develop combinations and build match fitness ahead of the business end of the season.
Pleasant surprise in Tbilisi
Georgian winters can be notoriously harsh, but the South African contingent has caught a break on the weather front.
“The weather’s not bad as we expected, it’s actually very pleasant,” Foote revealed. “All in all, a great facility for us to train and to grow as a squad. We are very grateful to the Georgians for hosting us in such a great way.”
The Junior Boks are based in Martkopi, a village on the outskirts of Tbilisi, for the duration of their two-week Georgian adventure. The Georgian Rugby Federation’s high-performance training centre in Martkopi is a world-class facility that regularly hosts international teams, providing the perfect environment for preparation.
Culture and connection
Beyond the tactical and physical preparation, Foote has been delighted with the squad’s cohesion and team culture developing on tour.
“The players are really settling nicely, there’s a great synergy developing, and everyone is enjoying the environment, which is crucial,” he said. “We’re taking a lot of good connection pieces out of this tour, and it’s helping us build towards the full 31-man rotation we’ll use on Sunday.”
Tour environments are the crucible where team cultures are forged, and the Junior Boks appear to be making the most of their time together in Georgia.
Sunday showdown
All eyes now turn to Sunday’s opening international. The Junior Boks know they’ll face a pumped-up Georgian side playing in front of their home crowd, desperate to make a statement against one of world rugby’s traditional powerhouses at age-grade level.
With the hit-out against the Saracens providing valuable preparation and the squad chemistry bubbling nicely, the Baby Boks appear primed and ready to make their mark in Tbilisi.
