South Africa U20 player ratings vs New Zealand | World Rugby U20 Championship final

An iconic rivalry took centre stage at the World Rugby U20 Championship 2025, as South Africa and New Zealand clashed in the title decider.

The Baby Boks hit the ground running, scoring first. Their lead was tested and tried, but never relinquished. After 80 minutes at Stadio Comunale Mario Battaglini, it was the South Africans lifting the trophy for the first time in 13 years.

Here’s how they rated.

15. Gilermo Mentoe – 7.5

The fullback looked lively with the ball in hand, although he had few opportunities. Some sharp return runs and contributions to the kicking battles kept him in the game.

Like his backfield teammates, all Mentoe needed was a sniff and his pace and effort would be enough, as evidenced by his 76th-minute try. Led the game with 106 run metres, double that of the next best tally.

14. Cheswill Jooste – 8

In a game where the winger didn’t get to stretch his legs in the open field like he would’ve liked, Jooste still managed to make his presence felt.

The Bulls’ flyer made great decisions all game and put the Kiwis under pressure with his work rate and pace. His efforts came to the fore in the 60th minute, with a long-range chip and chase, followed by a rapid charge at Rico Simpson when the Kiwi playmaker wanted to make his clearance, but instead was caught by Jooste in-goal.

13. Demitre Erasmus – 6

It was a final that demanded dirty work from the midfielders, and while Erasmus had the stomach for it, he didn’t get to contribute all that much. The centre was guilty of being offside early and missed a tackle leading to Maloni Kunawave’s try.

12. Albie Bester – 7

It was a tale of two halves for the bruising inside centre, who was one of the best players on the park up until his 31st-minute yellow card.

Bester’s defence was outstanding, whether it was a nimble outside back or a bulking forward he had in front of him, he held his own. The accuracy just wasn’t enough to avoid the attention of the whistle, and his handling wasn’t quite perfect, either.

11. Jaco Williams – 8.5

Williams played with immense hustle throughout this final, chasing everything at full pace and contesting wherever he could. The winger handled pressure well and led the game with his two linebreaks.

10. Vusi Moyo – 8.5

Moyo’s accuracy off the boot was a huge contributor as South Africa applied plenty of early pressure in this final, pinning the Kiwis deep in their own territory where the Junior Boks went to work.

Around the park, his efforts were mainly positive, but he was caught offside early, which amplified pressure on his side when their backs were already against the wall.

The 10 attempted a wayward drop-goal when his side weren’t under advantage and had a shaky exit in the 67th minute.

A 5/6 record off the tee kept his side’s score ticking over and was crucial to maintaining a two-score lead throughout much of the second 40.

Territory

22%

31%

25%

22%

47%

Territory

53%

9. Haashim Pead – 9

The star halfback’s contestable kicks were on point, and with some darting snipes around the ruck, he certainly kept the defence honest.

There weren’t a huge number of opportunities for Pead to have his usual impact on the game, but when there was space, he ensured his team took it.

A dart from the side of the scrum saw the halfback get over the line, only for the effort to be ruled out when the TMO deemed the gap he exploited was created illegally. Minutes later, a chip kick from Pead sat up perfectly for his fullback to score the title-sealing try. He also made a game-high three offloads.

8. Wandile Mlaba – 6

The No. 8 claimed the first try of the game, but was comfortably outshone by his fellow loose forwards. There was some robust work around the park throughout his 54 minutes without imposing his physicality like some of the other young loosies in this contest.

7. Bathobele Hlekani – 8.5

The flanker was huge throughout his 80 minutes on the park, carrying hard and winning collisions.

There were little plays like deflecting Dylan Pledger’s early grubber attempt, and game-breaking moments like his early midfield carry that created a break.

Hlekani was asked to deal with some awkward passes and couldn’t hang on to the ball in the wide channels, but overall, he was a great asset to his side in the final.

6. Xola Nyali – N/A

Off after 25 minutes.

5. JJ Theron – 8

Off after 22 minutes and then reappeared 10 minutes later. Was a physical and constant presence on defence, forming one of the more solid links in the brick wall that was South Africa’s defence.

Theron complemented his captain well in the second row, running up the stat sheet despite only playing 44 minutes.

4. Riley Norton (captain) – 9

The captain was the workhorse that his side needed in the decider, chewing through tackles at will. His decision-making both in open play and as captain steered his side well. He rewarded the faith shown in him with the captaincy.

A game-high of 24 tackles was registered, with the lock well and truly leading from the front in a historic win.

3. Herman Lubbe – 7

Lubbe was guilty of some less-than-accurate moments around the ruck and had some clumsy moments defensively. No such criticisms could be levelled at the prop for his set piece or carry game, though.

With the ball in hand, Lubbe made powerful carries that consistently got over the gain line, and the South African scrum barely took a backwards step throughout his 46 minutes.

2. Siphosethu Mnebelele – 9

The hooker couldn’t get the ball over the Kiwi lineout defence early, but the Bok pack found their feet in that respect as the game progressed.

Mnebelele was everywhere defensively, offering quantity and quality in the collisions and proving to be an immovable object in the process. The hooker was reluctantly pulled from the park in the 72nd minute after a very impressive final performance. A team-high 10 carries contributed powerfully.

1. Simphiwe Ngobese – 9

Ngobose again proved himself to be a powerful scrummager in the decider and looked to have the temperament and composure for finals football. The prop contributed well across the park and was a standout throughout his 54 minutes.

Replacements

16. Jaundré Schoeman – 8

It was the reserve hooker’s breakdown steal that secured the Baby Boks’ win in the 79th minute.

17. Oliver Reid – 8

Reid brought plenty of energy off the bench and kept the Junior Boks’ scrum rolling for the most part.

18. Jean Erasmus – 7

19. Jaco Grobbelaar – 8

20. Matt Romao – 6

Some gamesmanship got his halfback’s try disallowed, and Romao also let one restart slip through his hands.

21. Stephanus Linde – 7.5

An early introduction when Xola Nyali went down in the 22nd minute. Linde provided strong defence throughout his hour on the park, handling New Zealand’s biggest ball-runners well. Another player guilty of a dropped restart.

22. Ceano Everson – N/A

On in the 79th minute.

23. Dominic Malgas – N/A

On in the 79th minute.