Baby Boks hope to secure consolation prize

In seven outings at the Junior World Cup‚ the Junior Springboks have claimed bronze four times‚ and now they have an opportunity to finish third for the fifth time.

The South African under-20 rugby side faces France tomorrow evening (6.30pm kick-off) in the northern Italian city of Cremona.

After failing to reach the final of the tournament following their 28-20 defeat to England on Monday‚ Dawie Theron’s Junior Boks have vowed to finish off their campaign with a bang by clinching the bronze medal.

The French team is a side the Baby Boks have faced only twice before‚ and have beaten them on both occasions.

In 2009 the two teams were in the same pool‚ and the South Africans emerged emphatic 43-27 winners.

They met again in 2013 in France‚ and that time the Junior Boks won 26-19.

In 2008‚ 2009‚ 2010 and 2013 the Junior Boks claimed the bronze medal at the under-20 tournament.

Their worst showing came in 2011 where they finished fifth.

In 2012 the side captained by Wian Liebenberg won the tournament on home soil‚ and last year they finished runners- up to England.

While the Boks will be keen to end their campaign on a high‚ so will the French.

The European side will also have the added motivation of trying to claim their best finish at the event.

The best the French have done was when they finished fourth in 2011.

They finished in either fifth or sixth place in all the other tournaments between 2008 and 2014.

The side had a formidable start to this year’s event.

They topped Pool A after claiming three wins from three matches — victories over Wales (19-10)‚ Japan (47-7) and finalists England (30-18).

France‚ South Africa and New Zealand were the only sides to finish the pool stages without defeat.

The Europeans met the end of their fairytale run in the semifinal where they were thumped 45-7 by the Baby Blacks‚ prop Clement Castets offering their only try of that match.

After their discipline let them down in the semi against England‚ Theron’s troops will be eager to redeem themselves.

The 2012 captain’s younger brother‚ Hanro Liebenberg — captain of the current squad — will also be hoping to add to the Liebenbergs’ medal tally‚ even if this time it is not gold.

The third-fourth playoff between SA and France will be followed by the final between New Zealand and England at 8.30pm.

This will be defending champs England’s third consecutive final.

The Kiwis will be looking to win their fifth title.

They were crowned champs for four consecutive years from 2008 to 2011. -RDM News Wire