Two Blitzboks to join SA U20s in Stellenbosch
Zain Davids and Stedman Gans, who missed the Junior Springboks’ first two training camps because of Springbok Sevens commitments, were included in a 35-man squad that will assemble in Stellenbosch on Tuesday for the team’s third training camp, which concludes on Thursday, 18 May.
Four players currently involved in Vodacom Super Rugby, Curwin Bosch (Cell C Sharks), Cobus Wiese (DHL Stormers), Madosh Tambwe (Emirates Lions) and Yaw Penxe (Southern Kings), are set to join the squad on Sunday, 7 May, while Khuta Mchunu and Ernst van Rhyn will fall in with the squad in Stellenbosch as soon as they have sufficiently recovered from their various injuries.
The Junior Springboks will face the Varsity Cup Dream Team on Tuesday 25 April in their fourth warm-up match, while another game against a local outfit is being planned for 9 May.
“This camp will allow us to have a final look at the players with an eye on finalising our touring squad, and it will also serve as the last opportunity to get everything in place for the tournament,” said Roux.
“In line with this we opted to extend the camp for another week after our initial planning was to wrap it up on 12 May.
“We have had very little time to work with some of the Vodacom Super Rugby players, while Zain, Stedman and Curwin Bosch, all three members of the Junior Bok squad last year, have not been with us at all up to now, so we will have an opportunity to see how they adapt to the structures.
“With a handful of players being in-and-out of the first two camps due to Vodacom Super Rugby, Blitzbok and Varsity Cup duty, it is important that we take the necessary time to name the best possible squad to travel to Georgia.”
Roux said other vital elements of the camp would be to ensure that all the required structures are in place and that the team is ready for the international spectacle.
“We did most of the groundwork at the first two camps, which we will build on at this camp,” said Roux.
“There were also a few things that we did not have sufficient time to work on at the last two camps, such as our set pieces, and this camp will afford us the necessary time to do so.
“Although I was pleased with the progress made by the squad since the first camp, we still have a long way to go to reach the standard of play which I would like us to display in Georgia. So we have hard work ahead in the next few weeks.”
The SA U20s will conclude their preparations for the international spectacle at their holding camp in Stellenbosch from 21 to 25 May. They will face France, Georgia and Argentina in the pool stages of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 31 May, 4 June and 8 June respectively.
Junior Springbok squad for Stellenbosch training camp:
| Player | Province | Position |
| Juarno Augustus | DHL Western Province | Loose Forward |
| Kwenzo Blose | Toyota Free State Cheetahs | Prop |
| PJ Botha | Xerox Golden Lions | Hooker |
| David Brits | DHL Western Province | Centre |
| Jean-Luc Cilliers | Xerox Golden Lions | Flyhalf |
| Zain Davids | DHL Western Province | Loose Forward |
| Hacjivah Dayimani | Xerox Golden Lions | Loose Forward |
| Francois de Villiers | Cell C Sharks | Scrumhalf |
| Ruben de Villiers | DHL Western Province | Lock |
| Stedman Gans | Vodacom Blue Bulls | Centre |
| Johan Grobbelaar | Vodacom Blue Bulls | Hooker |
| Wikus Groenewald | DHL Western Province | Prop |
| Benhard Janse van Rensburg | Cell C Sharks | Flyhalf |
| Daniel Jooste | DHL Western Province | Hooker |
| Rewan Kruger | Toyota Free State Cheetahs | Scrumhalf |
| Manie Libbok | Vodacom Blue Bulls | Utility Back |
| Gianni Lombard | Xerox Golden Lions | Fullback |
| Len Massyn | Xerox Golden Lions | Loose Forward |
| Lee-Marvin Mazibuko | DHL Western Province | Prop |
| Salmaan Moerat | DHL Western Province | Lock |
| Reinhard Nothnagel | Xerox Golden Lions | Lock |
| Embrose Papier | Vodacom Blue Bulls | Scrumhalf |
| Manuel Rass | Xerox Golden Lions | Centre |
| Carlű Sadie | DHL Western Province | Prop |
| Wandisile Simelane | Xerox Golden Lions | Centre/Wing |
| Cornel Smit | DHL Western Province | Centre |
| Hendre Stassen | Vodacom Blue Bulls | Lock/Loose Forward |
| Gerhard Steenekamp | Vodacom Blue Bulls | Prop |
| Muller Uys | DHL Western Province | Flanker |
| Wayne van der Bank | Xerox Golden Lions | Centre |
| Ruben van Heerden | Vodacom Blue Bulls | Lock |
| Boan Venter | Toyota Free State Cheetahs | Prop |
| Damian Willemse | DHL Western Province | Flyhalf |
| Jondre Williams | DHL Western Province | Scrumhalf |
| Nama Xaba | DHL Western Province | Flanker |
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
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