'Time for talking is done': Junior Boks eye redemption and podium place against England

Having lost to Ireland in the World Rugby U20 Championship semi-finals, the Junior Springboks want to deliver a performance that will leave a legacy for the 2023 team when they face England at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Friday.

The two teams meet in a decider to determine who finishes in third place in the tournament.

For SA U20 captain Paul de Villiers, the match is about trying to win the bronze medal and for his troops to deliver a performance they can all reflect on in years to come.

“We really want to beat England and finish on a high note – that will leave some sort of legacy for us as a team," said De Villiers after he took the team through their last training session and traditional captain's practice.

READ | Nhleko rings the Baby Bok changes ahead of third place play-off against England

"We are still going out there to represent our country, and people are still paying money to come and see us play, so we cannot disappoint them. 

"We had our ups and downs in the tournament, but if we deliver a good performance on Friday, that is what people will remember. So, yes, we are going into this game with the win on our minds.

"There are some mixed emotions now, this being the last time we have trained together and me in charge of the so-called captain's run, but emotions are not going to take us anywhere tomorrow.

"We will have to be focused on what England will bring to us and how we are going to cope with that."

England have won the most tackle turnovers (18) – more than twice as many as South Africa (7) – and they are the only team to have made over 500 passes (520).

From a discipline standpoint, they've struggled, however, conceding 11.5 penalties on average per match and have had four players sent to the sin bin.

De