Johan Ackermann believes the Junior Springboks lag behind their international peers in physical development.
South Africa produces world-class schools rugby players, yet have not won the World Rugby U20 Championship since 2012 and finished seventh in last years’ tournament in South Africa.
In the recent U20 Rugby Championship in Port Elizabeth, the Junior Boks ended third on the four-team log with just one victory (against Argentina) and two defeats (against Australia and back-to-back title winners New Zealand).
“The big thing I have observed is that people tend to compare our players with the overseas teams and say: ‘But why are our schools so good and don’t we win the U20s every year?’” Ackermann told Netwerk24 ahead of the 2025 U20 World Championship in Italy from 29 June to 19 July.
“We have now played against Australia, New Zealand and Georgia, and for me the guys from those countries are a year or two ahead of our players in their physical development at this age. It’s probably just in their genetics.
“Georgia make no secret of it. They believe that their players are among the best in the world in terms of their physical development at the age of 19 and 20. The other teams then catch up with them. Some of the players from the Pacific Islands who play for New Zealand look 25.”
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“I would almost say our outjies are still becoming men. I saw the Argentina, New Zealand, Australia and Georgia players up close for the first time. We always say that our players are big, but to me they are almost bigger. By that I mean more physically developed.
“Where our schools develop our outjies is with skills. We have exciting backs, but I think we are systematically getting stronger.”
Ackermann said Junior Boks captain Riley Norton is a good example of a player still growing into his body.
“Riley is going to develop a lot in the next two years and that is the exciting part.”
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
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