Junior Springboks “BabyBoks” named for JWC opener
Junior Springboks named for JWC opener
The South Africa Under-20 team to face the United States in their first match of the IRB Junior World Championship 2013 has been named.
Vodacom Blue Bulls forward Ruan Steenkamp will captain the side from the back of the scrum in the number eight jersey.
Handré Pollard, who starred for the Junior Boks in their 2012 JWC success, was selected at inside centre, the positioned he has played for much of the season for the Vodacom Blue Bulls and UP-Tuks. Pollard is the only survivor of the Class of 2012.
The rest of the team has a rather familiar look because of the number of training and tour matches the players have played together this year in preparation for the JWC.
The backline includes a trio of Springbok Sevens players, namely Cheslin Kolbe (fullback), Justin Geduld (outside centre) and Seabelo Senatla (left wing).
Junior Springbok coach, Dawie Theron, said his troops are raring to go.
“The players are eager to get going and to get the first match under the belt. Our preparations have gone very well and there is a nice vibe in the squad. The players have all worked extremely hard to be here and our preparations have also been good.
“This is an extremely tough competition and you will have to be on your best in every match. Tomorrow it will be the first outing for both teams and I know the USA will be very determined are raring to go against us,” said Theron.
The match will be televised live on SuperSport 1.
The SA Under-20 team to face the United States at 20:45 at La Roche-sur-Yon:
15. Cheslin Kolbe (DHL Western Province)
14. Luther Obi (Leopards)
13. Justin Geduld (SARU contracted)
12. Handré Pollard (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
11. Seabelo Senatla (SARU contracted)
10. Robert du Preez (The Sharks)
9. Stefan Ungerer (The Sharks)
8. Ruan Steenkamp (Vodacom Blue Bulls, captain)
7. Jacques du Plessis (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
6. Roelof Smit (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
5. Dennis Visser (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
4. Irné Herbst (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
3. Luan de Bruin (Toyota Free State Cheetahs)
2. Jacques du Toit (Toyota Free State Cheetahs)
1. Andrew Beerwinkel (Vodacom Blue Bulls
Reserves:
16. Michael Willemse (DHL Western Province)
17. Sti Sithole (DHL Western Province)
18. Aidon Davis (EP Kings)
19. Kwagga Smith (MTN Golden Lions)
20. Hanco Venter (The Sharks)
21. Dries Swanepoel (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
22. Jesse Kriel (Vodacom Bulls)
23. Marné Coetzee (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
Fast facts:
South Africa
Seeding for JWC 2013: 1
Best finish: Champions (2012)
Worst finish: Fifth (2011)
JWC match record: Played 25 / Won 19 / Lost 6
JWC points/tries scored: 1,048 / 141
JWC graduates: 7
Most capped JWC graduate: Francois Hougaard (27 Tests)
Did you know…? South Africa are the only team to score more than 100 points in a JWC match. In fact they’ve done it twice, against USA (108-18) in 2008 and Fiji (104-17) in 2011.
Coach: Dawie Theron
Captain: Ruan Steenkamp
USA
Seeding for JWC 2013: 12 (IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy 2012 winners)
Best finish: 16th (2008) – relegated to JWRT
JWC match record: Played 5 / Won 0 / Lost 5
JWC points / tries scored: 68 / 7
JWC graduates: 4
Most capped JWC graduate: Shawn Pittman (24 Tests)
Did you know…? USA won a thrilling final – 37-33 against Japan – in which the lead changed hands seven times to secure their return to the Junior World Championship stage in 2013.
Coach: Jason Kelly
Captain: TBC
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