Several survivors from last year's World Rugby U20 Championship will start for the Junior Springboks in their opening match against Italy in Calvisano on Tuesday.
Sharks prop Thomas du Toit, Bulls lock Abongile Nonkontwana, Sharks flank Jean-Luc du Preez and Bulls fullback Warrick Gelant will all start, while Cheetahs hooker Joseph Dweba is on the bench.
Coach Dawie Theron stuck mainly to the combinations that earned his team a morale-boosting 2-0 series win over Los Pumitas in Argentina last month.
'This is a well balanced team and the squad is overall in good shape,' said Theron. 'We have done a lot of mental preparation for this match because Italy will come out fighting all the way.'
Junior Springboks – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Khanyo Ngcukana, 13 Daniel du Plessis, 12 JT Jackson, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Brandon Thomson, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Rikus Bothma, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Abongile Nonkontwana, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Jan van der Merwe, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Njabulo Gumede, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Dan du Preez, 21 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Malcolm Jaer.
Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images
