Free State lock joins SA U20 squad in Italy
Toyota Free State Cheetahs lock Carl Wegner will on Tuesday join up with the SA U20s in Treviso, Italy, where they are currently competing in the IRB Junior World Championship.
Wegner was called up to replace the 19-year-old MTN Golden Lions lock Ruan Venter, who sustained an acute right knee injury during the Baby Boks’ 26-20 defeat against England in their third Pool C clash played in Padova on Saturday.
The South African Rugby Union also confirmed that DHL Western Province loose forward Siyamthanda Kolisi will return to South Africa with Venter on Thursday after he was called up by the DHL Stormers for Vodacom Super Rugby duty. Kolisi will not be replaced in the squad.
“Ruan’s injury has ruled him out for our last two IRB Junior World Championship matches, and with Siya being called up for Vodacom Super Rugby duty, it made rugby sense to call up Carl Wegner who has been one of the standby players for this tournament,” said SA Under-20 coach Dawie Theron.
“These movements have naturally had an effect on the selection of the team to play Ireland, but I am confident the players will want to rectify the wrongs of the England match tomorrow when we face Ireland.”
Theron made nine changes to his team that will face Ireland from the side that suffered the 26-20 defeat against England. Vodacom Blue Bulls fullback Ulrich Beyers returns to the starting 15 while the MTN Lions’ Jaco Taute shifts to outside centre and will partner Francois Venter as the team’s midfield combination.
Springbok Sevens winger Tshotsho Mbovane makes his second start of the tournament as does the talented 18-year-old flyhalf Johan Goosen who earns his fourth SA U20 cap on Wednesday. Jean Cook comes into the starting lineup in place of the injured Ruan Venter, while captain Arno Botha teams up with Cornell du Preez and Francois Kleinhans as the loose-trio unit for the Baby Boks.
There is also a new front row selected for the Ireland clash with hooker Michael van Vuuren joining props Stephan Kotze and Nic Schonert up front.
South Africa U20 – Ulrich Beyers, Tshotsho Mbovane, Jaco Taute, Francois Venter, Wandile Mjekevu, Johan Goosen, Pieter Rademan, Arno Botha (captain), Cornell du Preez, Francois Kleinhans, Eben Etzebeth, Jean Cook, Nic Schonert, Michael van Vuuren, Stephan Kotze.
Reserves: Bongi Mbonambi, John Roy Jenkinson, Carl Wegner, Nizaam Carr, Lohan Jacobs, John Welthagen, Paul Jordaan.
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