Forwards Siphosethu Mnebelele and JJ Theron are relishing the challenge for the Junior Springboks at the World Rugby U20 Championship, which kicks off this week.
The South Africans will launch their campaign against Australia in Italy on Sunday, with pool matches against England and Scotland to follow.
Kevin Foote’s young troops had their traditional capping ceremony last Friday in Cape Town and wrapped up their preparations in Stellenbosch on Monday afternoon.
The Junior Boks will depart to their tournament base in Verona on Tuesday, and hooker Mnebelele and lock Theron have shared their thoughts on the team’s readiness for the tournament.
Mnebelele, SA U18 captain last year, highlighted the importance of their recent experience in the U20 Rugby Championship: “The intensity will be quite different than what we’re used to, and that is why we are so grateful that we played in the Rugby Championship.
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“Playing against Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand prepared us well for the challenges ahead.”
He also described Springbok Damian Willemse’s motivational talk at the capping ceremony as truly inspiring: “He told us to be ourselves, play to the best of our abilities, and fight for each other, our team, and the country.”
Regarding the tournament format, 2023 SA Schools captain Theron added: “It is a very demanding tournament with a five-day turnaround [between matches], but as South Africans, we always embrace a challenge.
“Australia, England, and Scotland – each game will be an enormous test, but we don’t look too far ahead. Our aim is to always stay in the moment and do the job at hand, what is necessary.
“We pride ourselves on our physicality, and that’s what we aim to display when we take the field, to play to our strengths. We are all enormously proud to be selected for the Junior Boks, and we are excited about the tournament and the opportunity to play for our country.”
The Junior Boks are scheduled to have their first session on Italian soil on Wednesday afternoon.
South Africa’s Pool A fixtures:
vs Australia, Sunday, 29 June, Stadio San Michele
vs England, Friday, 4 July, Stadio Mario Battaglini
vs Scotland, Wednesday, 9 July (June Stadio San Michele)
U20 Championship playoffs:
Semi-finals (Verona and Viadana), Monday, 14 July
Final and ranking matches (Calvisano and Rovigo), Saturday, 19 July
Photo: @SAJuniorRugby/Twitter
