Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote is beaming after the SA Under-19 Academy side had a proper go against their French counterparts. The intense workout took place at the French Rugby Federation’s High-Performance centre in Marcoussis, near Paris, where the South Africans are based during their European tour.
Friendly Fire Before the Big Game
Both teams are sharpening their claws for an international friendly in Châteauroux on Saturday. To get a feel for what’s coming, they engaged in unit sessions and a full-contact session at Marcoussis. This gave both sides a taste of the heat and intensity they can expect on game day.
Unit Sessions: Forwards and Backs Put to the Test
After the warm-ups and drills, the teams used each other as live opposition. The forwards locked horns in proper scrums and lineouts, while the backlines ran through attacking and defensive plays. This provided valuable experience and allowed coaches to assess their players under pressure.
Foote, who oversees the SA Under-19s, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity and satisfaction with the outcomes. “The practice was really good for us. We saw the good work that Lumumba Currie (forwards coach) has done in our lineouts, mauling, scrum, and set piece,” said Foote.
“Melusi Mthethwa (attack coach) had a chance to run some backline plays against the French, and it got quite heated at one stage. There was a bit of passion, and I think both teams are very excited about representing their country, of which we are very proud. Then we had a proper training hit out involving the full teams.”
Areas for Improvement
Following the unit sessions, the teams came together for a live training session, allowing both sides to rotate their full squads into the action. Foote noted one area needing improvement: “One work-on for us is definitely our breakdown. I think they challenged us really hard in that area and came with a lot of line speed.”
The Junior Boks are clearly taking this tour seriously and are working hard to prepare for the upcoming international friendly. This intense training session against the French U19s will undoubtedly help them sharpen their skills and build team cohesion.