Junior Boks named for Japan clash
Junior Springbok coach Dawie Theron on Monday named a strong team to face Japan in their opening match at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship at the Academy Stadium in Manchester, England, on Tuesday.
Captain and centre Jeremy Ward will partner with JT Jackson in the midfield. Jackson is one of two survivors of the 2015 edition of the tournament in Italy.
The loose trio that featured in all three of the team’s warm-up matches in South Africa, flankers Zain Davids and Ernst van Rhyn and No8 Junior Pokomela, has been retained for the match, while flyhalf Manie Libbok and Southern Kings Vodacom Super Rugby scrumhalf James Hall will form an exciting halfback combination.
The team also includes a talented back three of wingers Mosolwa Mafuma and S’busiso Nkosi and fullback Curwin Bosch.
In the front row, props Kwenzo Blose and Jaco Holtzhausen will pair up with hooker Tango Balekile.
“We selected a strong team to lay the foundation for our campaign against a highly-motivated Japan side, said Theron. “These players all proved their worth in the warm-up matches as individuals and as combinations, and we are excited by what they can do if they play to their potential.
“The players have settled in well since we arrived in Manchester and I have been pleased with the quality of our training sessions and the players’ attitude, and hopefully they will transfer that onto the field on Tuesday.”
Theron said the weather was surprisingly pleasant in Manchester, and he said if it continued through to tomorrow, it could assist them.
“The weather has been amazing since Friday,” said the coach. “The sun has been shining and it has been very warm. On Sunday the players were scrambling for sunblock at training and we have had to have short sharp training sessions to prevent them from being in the sun too long. This is a real bonus because it is weather conditions we are used to; we have been training in this weather since the squad assembled early in April.”
Looking ahead at the clash against Japan, Theron expected them to spread the ball wide and test the Junior Boks’ defence.
“We expect Japan to be motivated, competitive and they will try to run at us,” said Theron. “They will also put a lot of effort into the set pieces, so we are anticipating a tough challenge all around.”
The match will kick off at 15h15 local time (16h15 SA Time).
Junior Springbok team vs Japan in the World Rugby U20 Championship:
Name
Position
Province
Date of Birth
Curwin Bosch
Fullback
Cell C Sharks
25 June 1997
S’busiso Nkosi
Right Wing
Cell C Sharks
21 January 1996
Jeremy Ward (Captain)
Centre
Eastern Province
10 January 1996
JT Jackson
Centre
Vodacom Blue Bulls
10 July 1996
Mosolwa Mafuma
Left Wing
Toyota Free State
13 February 1996
Manie Libbok
Flyhalf
Vodacom Blue Bulls
15 July 1997
James Hall
Scrumhalf
Eastern Province
2 January 1996
Junior Pokomela
No 8
Eastern Province
10 December 1996
Ernst van Rhyn
Flanker
DHL Western Province
19 September 1997
Zain Davids
Flanker
DHL Western Province
4 May 1997
Eli Snyman
Lock
Vodacom Blue Bulls
25 January 1996
Cobus Wiese
Lock
DHL Western Province
2 June 1997
Jaco Holtzhausen
Prop
Vodacom Blue Bulls
12 January 1996
Tango Balekile
Hooker
Eastern Province
7 March 1996
Kwenzo Blose
Prop
Toyota Free State
12 May 1997
Replacements
Franco van den Berg
Prop
Vodacom Blue Bulls
31 October 1996
Jan-Henning Campher
Hooker
Vodacom Blue Bulls
10 December 1996
Carlü Sadie
Prop
DHL Western Province
7 September 1997
Ruben de Villiers
Lock
DHL Western Province
22 March 1997
Denzel Hill
No 8
Vodacom Blue Bulls
17 January 1996
Embrose Papier
Scrumhalf
Vodacom Blue Bulls
24 April 1997
Franco Naude
Centre
Vodacom Blue Bulls
28 March 1996
Keanu Vers
Fullback
Eastern Province
4 February 1996