Goosen, Kitshoff, Du Toit nucleus of powerful SA Under-20 JWC squad

Apr 25 • BabyBoks U20, General News, International, Junior Rugby, National, World Rugby Junior Championship • 3027 Views • Comments Off on Goosen, Kitshoff, Du Toit nucleus of powerful SA Under-20 JWC squad

Johan Goosen lining up a penalty kick against the MTN Lions. Photo by Denese Lups /Rugby15

Vodacom Blue Bulls flank Wian Liebenberg will lead a powerful SA Under-20 team at the IRB Junior World Championship 2012 in Cape Town, the South African Rugby Union announced on Tuesday.

SARU named the 28-man squad during a midday media conference held at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport.

Vodacom Cheetahs flyhalf Johan Goosen, DHL Stormers prop Steven Kitshoff, MTN Lions lock Paul Willemse, Pieter-Steph du Toit (lock) and Paul Jordaan (centre, both The Sharks) are the five squad members who have all played in the demanding 2012 Vodacom Super Rugby competition.

The trio of Jordaan, William Small-Smith (centre) and Tshotsho Mbovane (wing) also boast international experience, having represented the Springbok Sevens in the HSBC Sevens World Series.

Several squad members also played Varsity Cup and Vodacom Cup rugby, while Marvin Orie led the Tuks Under-20 team to success in the Varsity Cup Young Guns competition.

Flyhalf Tony Jantjies is the younger brother of Elton, the Springbok pivot. Last week the younger Jantjies helped the SA U20 training squad to 2-0 series win over Argentina.

Dawie Theron, the SA U20 coach, said he was pleased with the squad and confident that the group of promising players will be able to stand up to the challenge of their formidable opponents.

“This is the best available group of players and I am delighted with the composition of the group. We are mindful of the fact that we did not perform to our potential last year, so that, and the fact that we are playing at home will obviously add to the pressure. The JWC is the pinnacle of a young player’s career and they will be determined to give it their best effort in front of our home fans,” added Theron.

The squad assembles on 24 May in Cape Town for a holding camp.

The SA U20 JWC group fixtures are as follow:

Mon 4 June        SA vs. Ireland (Danie Craven Stadium, 19h00)

Friday 8 June      SA vs. Italy (UWC Stadium, 19h00)

Tue 12 June        SA vs. England (Danie Craven Stadium, 19h00)

The full South Africa Under-20 squad for the Junior World Championship:

Surname Name Position Provincial Union
Leyds Dillyn  Fullback Western Province
Schmidt Marais  Fullback Golden Lions
Ismaiel Travis  Wing Blue Bulls
Jordaan Paul  Wing Kwazulu-Natal
Mbovane Tshotsho  Wing Western Province
Hammond Dean Wing Western Province
Howard Pat Centre Western Province
Serfontein Jan  Centre Blue Bulls
Small-Smith William Centre Blue Bulls
Goosen Johan Flyhalf Free State
Jantjies Tony  Flyhalf Blue Bulls
Griesel Abrie  Scrumhalf Blue Bulls
Luiters Kevin  Scrumhalf Free State
Adendorff Shaun  Flank Blue Bulls
Booysen Fabian  Flank Golden Lions
Majola Khaya  Flank KwaZulu-Natal
Liebenberg (captain) Wian  Flank Blue Bulls
Steyn Braam  Flank KwaZulu-Natal
Du Toit Pieter-Steph  Lock KwaZulu-Natal
Orie Marvin  Lock Blue Bulls
Botha Ruan  Lock Golden Lions
Willemse Paul  Lock Golden Lions
Dell Allan  Prop KwaZulu-Natal
Kebble Oliver  Prop Western Province
Kitshoff Steven  Prop Western Province
Van Dyk Nicolaas  Prop KwaZulu-Natal
Pretorius Mark  Hooker Golden Lions
Thomas Jason  Hooker Blue Bulls

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