SA Schools named to play France
The national selectors have named the SA Schools team for the Under-18 International Series opening match on Friday 11 August against France at Hoërskool Hugenote in Wellington.
Prop Pierre Schoeman, in his second year as an SA Schools player, will captain the team.
Schoeman's prop partner is Dayan van der Westhuizen, who was at school at Hugenote before the arrival of a contract moved him to Hoërskool Centurion. The hooker between them, Malcolm Marx , used to be a flank. Behind them are two tall locks – JD Schickerling and Gideon Koegelenberg who is at Hugenote and was teammate of Van der Westhuizen before the prop migrated.
Identical twins Jean-Luc du Preez (flank) and Daniël du Preez (usually a lock) are the sons former Springbok scrumhalf Robert du Preez.
Flank Thabo Mabuza was in the 2011 SA Schools side.
Handré Pollard was the flyhalf in the SA Under-20 team when they won the Junior World Championship.
A strong cold front could well have an unpleasant effect on the match with rain and strong winds.
The South African Schools team: 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Sandile Kubeka, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Handré Pollard (vice-captain), 9 Justin Phillips, 8 Jano Venter, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Thabo Mabuza, 5 John-Dave Schickerling, 4 Gideon Koegelenberg, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Pierre Schoeman (captain).
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Abongile Nonkontwana, 20 Daniël du Preez, 21 Akhona Sihunu, 22 Ryno Eksteen, 23 Warrick Gelant.
Date: Friday, 10 August (2012)
Kick-off: 17.00
(At 15.00 England Under-18 play Wales Under-18)
Venue: Hoërskool Hugenote
Expected weather conditions: A strong cold front starts to take effect. Friday is partially cloudy with a 10% chance of rain in the late afternoon with a high of 17°C, dropping to 8°C.
Referee: Jaco Kotze (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Daniel Fortuin (South Africa), Roslyn Fortuin (South Africa)
