'I can’t wait to get stuck into South Africa': New Zealand U20s on TRC decider

“Heartbreaking” was Finn McLeod’s frank summation of New Zealand’s defeat to South Africa in the final of last year’s World Rugby Junior World Championship in Italy.

New Zealand was beaten 23-15 by the Junior Springboks in an ugly contest marred by a red card to New Zealand loose-head prop Sika Uamaki Pole. He received a yellow card in the 22nd minute, but his head-on-head collision was upgraded to a 20-minute red card.

It was South Africa’s second win against New Zealand in a Junior World Championship final following their 22-16 success in Cape Town in 2012 – a triumph that included future Rugby World Cup winners Handre Pollard, Steven Kitshoff, and Pieter-Steph du Toit.

“It’s a team sport. Sika didn’t intend to get a red card. It could have been any of us. At the end of the day, we had to get around him and say it’s alright,” McLeod told RugbyPass.

“I can’t wait to get stuck into South Africa. We know what they bring: big physical forwards and electric pace out wide. We need to win the collision and stop them at the source, lineouts and scrums.”

After two convincing wins over 2026 Junior World Championship hosts Georgia in February, South Africa smashed Argentina 48-21 and Australia 56-17 in the first two Under 20 Rugby Championship matches at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.

By contrast, twice defending champions, New Zealand, scrambled to a 34-29 win against Australia and lost for the first time at the under-20 level to Argentina 25-17. McLeod, a second-year loose forward from Canterbury whose grandfather is All Blacks legend Alex Wyllie, admits the performances aren’t good enough.

“We played too often in our own 22 with too many penalties and mistakes,” rued McLeod.

“We knew Argentina would bring plenty of passion and niggle. That’s an exciting part of the game. We know we can play better.”

Indeed, New Zealand rallied from 19-0 down to beat South Africa 48-45 in the 2025 Rugby Championship decider, finishing with 13 players. Winger Harlyn Saunoa scored a hat-trick while McLeod, fellow flanker Caleb Woodley, Charlie Sinton, Micah Fale, Haki Wiseman and Dane Johnston were all part of the team.

Against Argentina, the Pumas’ powerful lineout secured 18 of their 20 throws and stole four of New Zealand’s 13. Despite making 51 more tackles, Argentina led for 64 minutes as New Zealand fumbled over a dozen times.

An exciting new addition to the New Zealand team is lively winger or fullback Logan Williams.

Williams was born in Dundee, Scotland, and moved with his family and two siblings to New Zealand when he was two. Raised on a farm just outside Canterbury, his family relocated back to Scotland when he was a teenager. He played First XV rugby for Strathallan School, whose alumni include Scottish internationals Jamie Ritchie, Zander Fagerson, Matt Fagerson, George Horne, and Ollie Smith.

He returned to New Zealand after high school and has been a standout for Sydenham Rugby Club in central Christchurch, the club of current All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan.

He says his favourite player is Christian Cullen, and his approach is similar. In the 34-29 win against Australia, Williams helped change the game.

Ahead 24-14 in the 53rd minute, Australia lost winger Cooper Watters to a 20-minute red card for lifting McLeod’s leg past the horizontal. The Cantabrian had won the jackal, and Watters panicked.

In the 61st minute, Williams, who cuts a conspicuous figure with a boy-band blonde haircut, snaffled a cross-kick and dashed 50 meters. At the next ruck, influential halfback Angus Grover was yellow-carded, leaving Australia down to 13.

From the ensuing scrum, Sinton easily created an overlap for captain and second five-eighth Wiseman. Mika Muliaina converted, and it was 29-24.

In the 67th minute, with scores tied 29-29, Williams put in two kicks to space for himself to score. He caught Australia napping after captain Tom Robinson (son of World Rugby Chairman Brett Robinson) appeared to have won a breakdown turnover, but the referee ordered play on.

“It’s pretty cool to be part of this team. I’ve had a lot of great coaching and support at Sydenham from my family and the boys,” Williams said.

“When I come on, I’m trying to achieve the best possible outcome for the team. In this case, we needed to identify and play in space. That’s easier against 13 players, but we want to do that all the time.”

From the bench against Argentina, Williams made two line-breaks, but New Zealand was unable to overhaul the deficit. However, Williams has been rewarded with a start against South Africa on Saturday.

Contrary to media reports that have already declared South Africa champions, New Zealand has a faint chance of defending their title. To do that, however, they would have to beat South Africa by 69 points and secure a four-try bonus point.