Haashim Pead has broken Antoine Dupont’s record for the most metres gained by a scrumhalf at a World Rugby U20 Championship.
The 20-year-old has been a key figure in the Junior Boks’ run to the semi-finals, starting in emphatic wins against Australia (73-17) and defending champions England (32-22), and making an impact off the bench against Scotland (73-14).
Pead has racked up 232 metres from just 15 carries during the pool stage – the most by a No 9 since Opta began recording data for the tournament. The only other scrumhalf to surpass 200 metres was France’s Dupont, who made 227 in 2016.
Pead has also been directly involved in eight tries (scoring five and assisting three), the most by any player in the pool stage since 2010. That breaks the previous mark of seven, jointly held by New Zealanders Braydon Ennor (2017) and Jason Emery (2012).
The young South African talent, identified as winger Thabo Mokoena, turned heads in the 57th minute when he intercepted a loose pass near his own 10-meter line. With Dupont—widely regarded as the best scrum-half in the world—giving chase, the crowd expected the experienced Frenchman to make a try-saving tackle. But what followed stunned everyone: Mokoena switched gears, accelerating like lightning and leaving Dupont in his wake as he surged 60 meters downfield to score under the posts.
Social media erupted instantly. Clips of the try have gone viral, with rugby fans and analysts alike praising Mokoena’s raw pace, power, and composure under pressure.
“This kid is something else,” said former Bok Bryan Habana, himself no stranger to legendary tries. “Beating Dupont in a foot race is no small feat—this isn’t just about speed; it’s about vision, timing, and nerves of steel.”
While the match itself ended in a narrow 31-28 win for the French side, the standout moment belonged to Mokoena. Scouts from top European clubs were reportedly in attendance, and the buzz around the young wing’s future has skyrocketed overnight.
South African head coach Rassie Erasmus was quick to downplay any comparisons to senior players, but even he couldn’t hide his grin: “We’ve known about Thabo’s talent for a while. Tonight, the world saw it.”
One thing is clear—if Mokoena keeps producing moments like this, he won’t be a “junior” for much longer.
