Drastic changes for SA Under-18's ahead of England clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The South African Under-18 team to face England in the International series in Paarl on Saturday underwent wholesale changes including new captain JJ Theron.
Only four of the players who started against France on Tuesday, have been included in the starting team this weekend – wings Scott Nel and Cheswill Jooste, loose forward Batho Hlekani – who moves from No 8 to flank – and lock Jacobus Grobbelaar.
SA coach Katleho Lynch was also forced to call up Kyle Smith, who takes over from the flyhalf duties from his injured SA Scools team-mate Ian van der Merwe. Ranon Fouche (prop), who was injured against France, was not replaced in the squad.
The two players who were part of the SA Under-18 Sevens squad at the Commonwealth Youth Games earlier this month, Gino Cupido (centre) and Marno Stopforth (flank), have both been named in the starting team.
“Our plan from the outset was to give all the players in the squad enough game time as we need to see who can make the step up, hence all the rotational changes to the squad,” said Lynch.
“Many of the players who were on the bench against France and who helped the team lift the intensity in the second half of that game, will now start and it’s a great opportunity for everyone to test themselves for a second time against a quality international side. I have no doubt we will be better on Saturday.”
Lynch is under no illusions about the enormity of the task that awaits his charges at Paarl Boys’ High on Saturday – England beat France by 41-0 last week and on Tuesday, they won 78-15 against the Western Province XV.
“Obviously we have to start much better this time around as we are facing a very well-coached side who play with speed and momentum,” said the coach.
“We have to try and control that and stop their momentum, but we will also be looking for better synergy between our forwards and backs.”
SA Under-18: 15 JC Mars, 14 Scott Nel, 13 Gino Cupido, 12 Janco Purchase, 11 Cheswill Jooste, 10 Kyle Smith, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 JJ Theron (captain), 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Marno Stopforth, 5 Riley Norton, 4 Jacobus Grobbelaar, 3 Jean Erasmus, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Lithemba Mfupi.
Replacements: 16 Imaani Pemba, 17 Phiwayinkosi Kubeka, 18 Simphiwe Ngobese, 19 Ulrich van der Westhuizen, 20 Xola Nyali, 21 Christiaan van der Westhuizen, 22 Dominic Malgas, 23 Jameel de Jongh, 24 Luyanda Kunene, 25 Thando Biyela
Venue: Paarl Boys High Paarl
Kick-off: 15.30
Referee: Giana Viljoen
Assistant Referees: Local
