SA Schools get ready for Series

A change in the venue for the opening match will see the SA Schools team face Wales at the Markötter fields at Paul Roos Gymnasium in Stellenbosch, which will be followed by clashes against France at Paarl Gymnasium on Tuesday, August 15 and England at City Park in Cape Town on Saturday, August 19. 

The team, which will again be guided by head coach Lance Sendin, features two players who were members of the SA Schools team that registered a whitewash in the Series last season, centre Rikus Pretorius and wing Muller du Plessis. 

Scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba, flanks Dylan Richardson and Mark Snyman, lock Juan van der Mescht and prop Keagan Glade all represented the SA Schools A team in 2016.   

The players will begin their preparations with medicals and a light training session, followed by a team meeting, while they will begin working on their structures on Monday.  

"We have four days to prepare the team for our opening game against Wales, so the quality of what we do in the next few days is going to very important.

"It is also vital that we create a positive team culture and get the players to gel as a unit as quickly as possible. For most of the players, this Series will mark the first time they represent their country, so this is a massive occasion for the players and the management team, and we are excited about the challenge. 

"That said, we are expecting a tough test both mentally and physically in every match, so we need to prepare the players as well as possible, but simultaneously ensure that they enjoy the experience in the next two weeks," Sendin said. 

U-19 International Series fixtures:

Friday, August 11 – Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch 

14.15: France v England

16.00: SA Schools v Wales

Tuesday, August 15 – Paarl Gymnasium

14.15: – England v Wales

16.00: – SA Schools v France

Saturday, August 19 – City Park, Cape Town

12.15: France v Wales

14.00: SA Schools v England