Former SA Schools stars named in the SA Under-20 Team
School Rugby
Former SA Schools stars Lean Schwartz (flanker) and Jean Cook (flanker) was on Tuesday named in the SA Under-20 starting line up that will take on the Argentinean Under-20s at the Vredenburg RFC on Wednesday at 17h00.
Both players represented the SA Under-18 High Performance team in international friendlies against France last year. They will team up with captain CJ Stander (No 8) who represented the Baby Boks at the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan to form the loose-forward combination for the Baby Boks.
Fullback Garth April, centre Jaco Taute and lock Kenny Okafor who missed the SA Under-20’s recent tour to France due to injury are all selected in the 24-man squad for Wednesday’s international.
Toute and Ruan Combrink will form the centre combination. Winger Clayton Blommetjies, who was a member of the SA Under-20 squad that competed at the 2009 World Championship in Japan, and Jamba Ulengo (wing), will join April to complete the back three formation for the hosts.
Francois du Toit (Shimlas) who has been one of the outstanding performers for the Shimlas in the FNB Varsity Cup this season has been selected at flyhalf, while Justin van Staden, who represented Tuks during their 64-17 defeat to Maties in Monday night’s Varsity Cup match, has been drafted on to the bench for Wednesday’s Test. Van Staden added seven points after kicking one conversion and scoring one try.
“We want to build on from where we left off in France, said SA Under-20 coach Eric Sauls.
“There were certain aspects in our play such as our defence, scrums and line outs that were good, but can get better with the more games we play as a team. Due to the extreme cold and wet conditions in France, it was difficult to play much attacking rugby which is also something we hope to get right during our games against the Argentineans.
“However we all know that any Argentinean national team scrums well and have always boasted a strong pack of forwards. So I am looking forward to see how our guys compete up front against them.
“Argentinean teams have always prided themselves with solid defensive systems. We want to test ourselves against them and see how we cope with our plays.”
SA Under-20s: Garth April, Clayton Blommetjies, Jaco Taute, Ruan Combrink, Jamba Ulengo, Francios du Toit, Frederick Muller, CJ Stander (captain), Jean Cook, Lean Schwartz, Mlungisi Bali, Peet Marais, Marcel van der Merwe, Francois du Toit, Wessel du Rand. Reserves: Shaun Malton, Brummer Badenhorst, Sebastian de Chaves, Hendrick van der Waldt, Helmut Lehmann, Kenny Okafor, Tiaan Dorfling, Gary van Aswegen, Justin van Staden.
Issued by SARU Communications / Appeared on www.schoolofrugby.co.za
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