Junior Boks without key player for World Championship Final
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote has revealed his matchday squad for Saturday’s Junior World Championship Final against France Under-20 in Tbilisi.
Foote has made three changes to the side that defeated England in the semifinal.
It will also mark the first time South Africa and France have met in the final of the global U20 tournament.
The Junior Boks produced a commanding second-half display to overcome England and secure a second consecutive appearance in the Final, while France edged New Zealand in a tense semifinal courtesy of a late breakaway try.
Foote has made just two adjustments to his forward pack, both in the loose trio. Wasi Vyambwera starts at No.8, with Gert Kemp moving to the bench where he is expected to provide impact later in the contest. Risima Khosa will start at flanker.
The experienced front-row combination of Oliver Reid, SA U20 captain Siphosethu Mnebelele and Danie Kruger once again anchors the scrum, while Heinrich Theron and JD Hattingh continue their successful partnership in the second row. In the loose trio, Luke Cannon joins Khosa and Vyambwera, providing a balanced combination of physicality, work rate and attacking threat.
There is only one enforced change in the backline, with Alzeadon Felix coming in at fullback for Luan Giliomee, who received a red card for taking out a player in the air in the semifinal.
He later won his appeal, and the red card has been rescinded following a referral by the Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) for a full disciplinary hearing on Thursday.
*Also read: Junior Bok star learns fate following red card in JWC semifinal
The settled halfback combination of Hendre Schoeman and Yaqeen Ahmed will start, next to the midfield pairing of Ethan Adams and Markus Muller, while Khuthadzo Rashivago and Cheswill Jooste provide pace and finishing ability on the wings.
Samuel Badenhorst will join Kemp amongst the replacements as part of the Junior Boks’ bench, which features six forwards and two backs.
The Junior Boks, champions in 2025 after defeating New Zealand in last year’s Final, will be aiming to become the first South African side to win back-to-back world titles.
Junior Springboks: 15 Alzeadon Felix, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Ethan Adams, 11 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Hendré Schoeman, 8 Wasi Vyambwera, 7 Luke Cannon, 6 Risima Khosa, 5 JD Hattingh, 4 Heinrich Theron, 3 Danie Kruger, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele (captain), 1 Oliver Reid.
Replacements: 16 Liam van Wyk, 17 Rambo Kubheka, 18 Luan van der Berg, 19 Jaythen Orange, 20 Thomas Beling, 21 Gert Kemp, 22 Jayden Brits, 23 Samuel Badenhorst.
Date: Saturday, July 18
Venue: Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi
Kick-off: 18.30 (16.30 GMT)
Referee: Reuben Keane (Australia)
Assistant referees: George Selwood (England), Gonzalo de Achaval (Argentina)
TMO: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)
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