Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

‘For their country’: Junior Springboks captain beams with pride after win

South Africa celebrate victory during The Rugby Championship U20 Round 3 match between Argentina and South Africa at Sunshine Coast Stadium on May 12, 2024 in Sunshine Coast, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

South Africa U20 captain Zachary Porthen beamed with pride after the Junior Springboks dug deep to record a last-minute 30-28 win over Argentina U20 on Australia’s Sunshine Coast on Sunday afternoon.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Junior Springboks had earned a 13-all draw with eventual champions New Zealand in their first match as a group before falling to tournament hosts Australia less than a week later at Sunshine Coast Stadium.

With one more match left in their Rugby Championship U20 campaign, the South Africans had to do it the hard way in an 80-minute battle with Argentina. Los Pumitas were leading with time almost up but it’s the score at the end that counts after all.

Video Spacer

Zachary Porthen immensely proud after South Africa’s win | TRC U20

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      Zachary Porthen immensely proud after South Africa’s win | TRC U20

      South Africa flyhalf Philip-Albert van Niekerk converted an 80th-minute penalty goal from close range to deliver a thrilling two-point win. The Junior Springboks burst into an almost euphoric state of celebration on the field before thanking the supporters in the stands.

      With one win, one draw and one loss from three starts, the Junior Springboks finished second on the four-team table. While New Zealand would go on to hoist the gigantic trophy, this was still a crucial win ahead of the World Rugby U20 Championship on home soil.

      “I’m feeling phenomenal, on top of the world. I had goosebumps throughout most of the game and after because you chase that result of the game,” Porthen told RugbyPass.

      “That feeling that you get when that final whistle blows and you win the game… it’s out of this world.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      “Without that crowd I don’t think the result would’ve gone the same way. They really cheered us on and got us going with eh momentum.

      “We needed that, I promise you we needed that.

      Related

      “It’s been a rough road leading up to this point but you want to end on a high note and that’s so important,” he added.

      “The way you finish is just so crucial.

      “We can take a lot of learnings, obviously we’ll focus on different things and we’ll learn a lot going forward and we’ll chase the junior World Cup, the Championship.”

      ADVERTISEMENT

      Throughout last year’s Rugby World Cup in France, the narrative or idea that South Africa were playing for more than just themselves became a regular storyline. On the way to a second consecutive title, it was spoken about a fair bit.

      The Blitzboks have expressed a similar love and respect for the jersey during their turbulent 2023/24 SVNS Series campaign, and the same mentality has also been shared in the Junior Springboks’ set-up.

      Last week, team vice-captain JF van Heerden choked up and held back the tears after being asked what it means to represent South Africa on the rugby field. That’s why the players were so joyous after van Niekerk’s penalty goal.

      It was about more than just themselves.

      “I’ll be cheering the boys, telling the guys, ‘Listen guys, this is why we play rugby, for these moments. We’re representing our country, it’s a lot bigger than us’ and that’s when guys just get their heads stuck in after hearing that and they did it.

      Related

      “They did it for their country. They can be so proud of themselves, every single one of those boys out there. I’m so proud of them.

      “I looked at the time, I looked at my boys and I said, ‘Guys, well done.’

      “I went to the ref and I said, ‘I think it’s a given that we’re going for poles’ because obviously we wanted that result, anyone would. Then I just got goosebumps immediately.”

      New tickets for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 are now available, with prices starting at £10 for adults and £5 for children. Buy now!

      ADVERTISEMENT

      Boks Office | Episode 41 | Investec Champions Cup final preview

      Hong Kong China vs Kazakhstan | Asia Rugby Emirates Women's Championship | Match Highlights

      Kubota Spears vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Quarter Final Replay

      Australia vs USA | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

      New Zealand vs Canada | Pacific Four Series 2025 | Full Match Replay

      South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

      Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

      The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

      The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      0 Comments
      Be the first to comment...

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      S
      Solenn Bonnet 13 days ago
      Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

      My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

      CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

      EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

      WhatsApp.. +15617263697

      website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

      Telegram.. +15617263697

      0 Go to comments
      TRENDING
      TRENDING Bordeaux players mock 'unbearable' Henry Pollock in post-match party photos Bordeaux players mock Henry Pollock in changing room celebrations
      Search