Junior Boks at full-strength for semi

The Junior Springboks have made just two changes to the side that defeated New Zealand in the pool stage for the semi-final rematch in Albany on Sunday.

While there were a number of changes to the team that struggled past Samoa on Tuesday, the inclusion of André Esterhuizen and Jacques Vermeulen are the only changes to the team that eased past the Baby Blacks at Eden Park. Both players missed that game due to injuries suffered in the Boks' opening match against Scotland.

Esterhuizen will start at inside centre once again, with Jesse Kriel outside of him, while Jesse's twin brother Dan will play off the bench.

Returning for the Boks is the front row of Dayan van der Westhuizen, Corniel Els and Thomas du Toit, who destroyed the New Zealanders at scrum time in their earlier meeting but featured off the bench against Samoa.

Other players who failed to start the match against Samoa but will return here, are fullback Warrick Gelant and winger Lloyd Greef.

Handré Pollard will captain the side once again as he looks to continue his unbeaten record. It will be his fourth meeting with New Zealand, a run which dates back to the 2012 Junior World Championship final victory.

The winners will earn the right to face either England or Ireland in the final at Eden Park next Friday.

South Africa U20 – 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Lloyd Greef, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Handré Pollard (c), 9 JP Smith, 8 Aidon Davis, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5  Nico Janse van Rensburg, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Corniel Els, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Subs:16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Abongile Nonkontwana, 20 Victor Sekekete, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23 Dan Kriel.

Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images