Junior Boks coach Chean Roux has named six capped players in his 28-man squad to face Georgia in the first warm-up match in Paarl on Tuesday.
This week’s U20 series will also see the Junior Boks go up against a senior Namibia XV and Argentina, who will host this year’s World Rugby U20 Championship. All three matches will be streamed live on DSTV Now, SuperSport YouTube and SuperSport.com.
The new law trials make provision for match-day squads of 28 players, although only eight of the replacements can be used.
Centre Rikus Pretorius, flyhalf David Coetzer and prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye all featured for the Junior Boks in the U20 Championship last year, as did Sharks flank Phendulani Buthelezi, who is on the bench.
Both prop Nkosikhona Masuku and fullback David Kriel, who are also on the bench, were part of the Junior Boks’ preparations last year, but did not travel to the U20 Championship.
Coetzer forms a halfback pairing with scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse, while Pretorius is in midfield with former SA Schools centre Mnombo Zwelendaba.
Qamani Kota is at fullback, with wings Caleb Dingaan and Thaakir Abrahams completing the backline.
The team will be led by Western Province No 8 Francke Horn, who is joined in the loose trio by Celimpilo Gumede and Sibusiso Sangweni. The second row is comprised of Elrigh Louw and Lunga Ncube.
Ntlabakanye, hooker Dameon Venter and loosehead Kudzwai Dube are in the front row.
Junior Springboks – 15 Qamani Kota, 14 Caleb Dingaan, 13 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 12 Rickus Pretorius, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 David Coetzer, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Celimpilo Gumede, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Elrigh Louw, 4 Lunga Ncube, 3 Asenathi Antlabakanye, 2 Dameon Ventre, 1 Kudzwai Dube.
Subs: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Hanro Jacobs, 18 Nkosikhona Masuku, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Jaco Labuschagne, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Vusile Dlepu, 23 Sabastiaan Jobb, 24 Phendulani Buthelezi, 25 James Mollentze, 26 Jay Cee Nel, 27 Marnus Potgieter, 28 David Kriel.
Photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images
