Baby Boks head for Argentina
More than a dozen players who competed in pre-season Super Rugby and Vodacom Cup matches, as well as in the Varsity Cup were selected in the South Africa Under-20 squad that will travel to Argentina.
The 30-man squad faces two matches against the Argentina Under-20 as well as against an Argentina XV as part of its preparations for the IRB Junior World Championship which takes place in Italy in June.
The national selectors have also rewarded UCT flank Nizaam Carr, lock Eben Etzebeth and scrumhalf Ricky Schroeder, as well as Pukke No.8 Cornell du Preez and flyhalf John Welthagen following their consistent performances during the first couple of rounds in the 2011 Varsity Cup.
Players that were not considered due to their involvement with Super Rugby and Springbok Sevens commitments are props Frans Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff, hooker Bonga Ntubeni, flank Siya Kolisi (all Stormers), fullback Jaco Taute (Lions) and Springbok Sevens utility back Paul Jordaan.
Blue Bulls centre Francois Venter and Mjekevu represented the Baby Boks at the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship and have also been included in the squad.
“Our scheduled pool opponents at the Junior World Championships – England, Scotland and Ireland – are competing in the Six Nations U20 Championship and will be well prepared,” said SA Under-20 coach Dawie Theron.
“We want to ensure that the core of our players have experience in competing against international opposition. This tour will be a fantastic opportunity for the players to experience the standard of playing international opposition in different conditions to those they are used to.
“It’ll also be an opportunity to test certain playing combinations. This will be a great chance to see how our guys front up to the challenge that will be posed by the Argentineans.”
The squad includes five players who were not part of the first camp of the year, because of other playing commitments or have impressed in pre-season matches.
“This squad comprises of individuals who are currently competing in the Varsity Cup, as well players who competed in Vodacom Cup warm up friendlies for their provinces,” said Theron.
“We also have quite a number of players who were part of their union’s Super Rugby preparations that will now be joining the squad.”
The SA Under-20 squad: Ulrich Beyers, Riaan Britz, Wandile Mjekevu, Emil Schwarz, Courtnall Skosan, Sizo Maseko, Francois Venter, Bradley Moolman, Micheal van der Spuy, Johan Goosen, John Welthagen, Tony Jantjies, Ricky Schroeder, Kevin Luiters, Nizaam Carr, Marcel Coetzee, Francois Kleinhans, Cornell du Preez, Arno Botha, Jean Cook, Eben Etzebeth, Carl Wegner, Jose Julies, Wilhelm van der Sluys, Bongi Mbonambi, Micheal van Vuuren, Juan Schoeman, Jon Roy Jenkins, Nicholas Schonnet, Stephan Kotze.
Tour fixtures:
Wednesday, March 16: v Argentina XV
Saturday, March 19: v Argentina U20s (first international)
Thursday, March 24: v Argentina U20s (second international)
