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Junior Boks making headway

The Junior Bok boss was particularly satisfied with their improvement in terms of their game plan and mental tenacity as they get into gear for the world event in Manchester, England, from June 7 to June 25.

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The training squad faced the Western Province Academy on Tuesday in their second contact session since assembling in camp in Stellenbosch earlier this month, and Theron was pleased with the performance at the end of the hit-out.

The SA U20 training squad produced a solid display in which they scored 14 tries and denied the Western Province Academy from scoring one in the contact session, which was made up of four 20-minute chukkas.

“The two contact sessions have provided a good measure of the strides we have made since the training camp started, and it is particularly pleasing that we have not conceded a try yet,” said Theron.

“So I believe we are on the right track on defence. 

"Our attack and set pieces are also improving steadily, which is encouraging.

“But it is still early days and there is a lot of work to be done before we depart for the World Championship."

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The Junior Boks have one more contact session against the Western Ptovince Rugby Institute, followed by three warm-up matches.

"It is important that we continue to make a steady improvement in these matches to reach the level at which we need to be to compete against the best teams in the world,” Th0eron explained. 

The Junior Springboks, who secured the bronze medal at the 2015 World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy, will kick off the 2016 international spectacle against Japan on Tuesday, June 7 at the Academy Stadium, before taking on Argentina on June 11 at the AJ Bell Stadium, and France on June 15 back at the Academy Stadium in the pool stages.

The semifinals of the World Championship will be contested on Monday, June 20, while the last round of matches, which includes with the much-anticipated final, will be played on Saturday, June 25.

 

Theron will name his 28-man squad for the World Rugby Championship on Tuesday, May 10, with the official capping ceremony set to be hosted in Cape Town on Wednesday, June 1.

 

The team will face the Lions U19 and U21 teams in Johannesburg on May 13 in their first warm-up match, which will be followed by clashes against Maties in Stellenbosch on May 17 and the SWD Eagles in Oudtshoorn on May 21, with the team set to depart for the international showpiece on June 2.

 

With the second contact session completed, the players have been given a few days off to rest, and will re-assemble in Stellenbosch on Monday.

 

Junior Springboks pool fixtures, World Rugby U20 Championship (SA Time):

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Tuesday, June 7: 16.15 – South Africa vs Japan (Academy Stadium)

Saturday, June 11: 19.00 – South Africa vs Argentina (AJ Bell Stadium)

Wednesday, June 15: 20.45 – South Africa vs France (Academy Stadium)

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