New Zealand U20 player ratings vs South Africa | World Rugby U20 Championship final

The Baby Blacks have fallen just short at the World Rugby U20 Championship final in Rovigo, going down to the Junior Springboks, 23-15.

In hot and difficult conditions, the Kiwis were in the game for long periods of time, but couldn’t get their attack going against a spirited and tough Junior Springboks side.

Ultimately, discipline hurt the Baby Blacks in the final, receiving a yellow and red card on the night.

Here’s how the New Zealand U20 players rated:

1. Sika Pole – 4

Struggled at the first couple of scrums, and his final was cut short after Pole was penalised and yellow carded for a high shot in the 22nd minute. Pole’s yellow was upgraded by the off field review to a 20 minute red card.

2. Manumaua Letiu – 7

The Baby Blacks’ captain was fairly accurate at lineout time, and carried hard throughout.

Letiu led the Kiwis’ tackle count at the time he was substituted, highlighting an inspirational performance from the captain in the final.

3. Robson Faleafa – 6
The 124kg was physical defensively, making six tackles in the first half, but was penalised once at scrumtime.

Despite the scrum going backwards in the second half, Faleafa was one of the busiest for the Kiwis on the night, in a huge 62 minute shift.

4. Xavier Treacy – 8

Treacy continued his streak of playing every game for New Zealand U20 in 2025, and did so with an elite work rate across the field. Try saving covering tackle in the 51st minute as he tracked back to bring down a Junior Springboks attacker.

You had to feel for Treacy, who was on the end of a collapsed maul by the team, ending his campaign with a yellow card in the 71st minute.

A huge shift from the second rower, making twelve carries and twelve tackles.

5. Jayden Sa – 7

Sa was a solid option for the Kiwis at lineout time, and stole a couple from the Junior Springboks. Sa then fooled everyone at an attacking maul, powering over the line on the short side to score New Zealand’s first try.

Sa got through mountains of work in the finall, showcasing what the 20-year-old can do on the world stage.

6. Finn McLeod – 6.5

McLeod passed a fitness test just prior to kick off, but didn’t look to be affected too much by the injury, as the big bruising blindside flanker was busy during the first half.

McLeod managed to play the full 80 minutes in the final, making eight carries and nine tackles.

7. Caleb Woodley – 7

Woodley was often used as a crash and bash ball carrier in midfield, getting over the gain line on multiple occasions.

Woodley struggled at the breakdown to get any sort of reward, but worked tirelessly throughout a huge 80 minute shift in Rovigo.

Made a game-high 14 tackles.

8. Mosese Bason – 5

It wasn’t an ideal first half for Bason, who was the one to give way when Pole was red carded and the Kiwis needed a prop on the pitch to field a scrum. Bason returned to the field just after half time and his first involvement was being held up just inside the Junior Springboks’ half.

In a slightly interesting substitution, the Baby Blacks’ vice captain was taken off in the 58th minute, even after sitting out the Pole red card in the first half.

9. Dylan Pledger – 7

Pledger was at his usual sniping best, but the Junior Springboks were aware of the danger and limited Pledger to only a couple of dangerous moments. Pledger made a solid covering tackle on the Junior Springboks winger, who looked to be closing in on a try in the left hand corner.

Like many of the Baby Blacks players, it wasn’t his best performance of the tournament, but Pledger defnitely has a huge career ahead of him in a black jersey.

10. Rico Simpson – 6

Missed touch trying to gain too much distance, but made some nice touches with ball in hand early in the first half.

Was a calm hand when the Kiwis were trying to exit on multiple occasions, but struggled to really open up the Kiwis attack with ball in hand. Off at 62.

11. Maloni Kunawave – 6

Kunawave couldn’t find any gaps in the Junior Springboks defensive line in the first half, and he also made an unforced error by kicking the ball out on the full from in midfield.

Kunawave started the second half with a hiss and a roar as he started to get involved with the game in and around the ruck. Kunawave was quiet for the rest of the second half, until he popped up just before the final whistle, stepping past one to score a consolation try for the Baby Blacks.

12. Jack Wiseman – 6.5

Part of a really reliable, and effective midfield combination with Roberts. Wiseman’s work rate and skillset around the park is elite, but like many of the other backs, ball in hand was where he struggled to impact the game.

Wisemen’s 80 minute performance included ten carries and eleven tackles.

13. Cooper Roberts – 6.5

Roberts, like Wisemen, as exactly what the Kiwis needed at times, a solid and effective ball carrier with nice soft hands on attack.

Roberts couldn’t break the resolute Junior Springboks defence, but it wasn’t from a lack of trying.

Off at 58 with nine carries.

14. Frank Vaenuku – 5

It wasn’t Vaenuku’s best performance of the tournament, as he was mostly limited to carries close to the ruck.

A slight high shot late in the first half seemed to slow Vaenuku down, struggling to find any time or space out there in Rovigo.

15. Stanley Solomon – 6

Solomon looked dangerous during the first half, but his pick and go attempt close to the line was easily pushed over the touchline by South Africa.

A couple of errors by Solomon didn’t help the Baby Blacks in attack, and the Junior Springboks were able to nullify any danger thrown at them by the fullback.

Bench:

16. Eli Oudenryn – 6 

Oudenryn’s first touch was an error at lineout time, but his second was a key one, getting over the ball at the ruck to win a penalty for his side.

17. Israel Time – 4

Was forced to play 55 minutes because of the Pole red card, worked hard around the field, but really struggled at scrum time after being penalised in the 55th minute.

18. Dane Johnston – 5

Johnston’s short cameo was far from ideal, giving away a scrum penalty almost immediately after coming onto the field.

19. Aisake Vakasiuola – N/A

20. Micah Fale – 5

Fale’s short stint off the bench didn’t have it’s usual punch, struggling to impose himself physically like has done all tournament.

21. Jai Tamati – N/A

22. Will Cole – N/A

23. Tayne Harvey – 5

Harvey was on for just over 20 minutes, and wasn’t able to make an impact.