Fresh legs for Junior Boks

 

Coach Dawie Theron made four changes up front and one change in the backline. 

 

Mzamo Majola gets a start in place of Retshegofaditswe Nche, hooker Jan van der Merwe will pull on the No.2 jersey while Joseph Dweba moves to the bench, Jacques Vermeulen comes in at No.6 for Rikus Bothma and flank Dan du Preez swaps places with his twin brother Jean-Luc.

 

In the backline, Eastern Province King Malcolm Jaer takes over the right wing duties from Khanyo Ngcukana. 

 

No.8 Hanro Liebenberg will captain the South Africans in their fifth and last tournament outing before the squad return to South Africa on Monday.

 

Liebenberg, who has led his team in exemplary manner during the tournament, said the team is motivated and looking forward to play against France. 

 

"There is no hiding from the fact that the result against England was a huge disappoint. However, we will take that as a motivation to finish the tournament hopefully on a positive note with a win in our last match," said Liebenberg.

 

"Overall we had a good time together as a squad. We grew as a close knit unit during our extensive training camp in Stellenbosch, the Argentina tour and the past three weeks here at the tournament in Italy. 

 

"We have one match left to do our country proud and we are highly motivated to play France on Saturday," explained Liebenberg.

 

South Africa: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Malcolm Jaer, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Daniel du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Brandon Thomson, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Hanro Liebenberg (captain), 7 Dan du Preez, 6 Jacques Vermeulen, 5 Rudolph Snyman, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Jan van der Merwe, 1 Mzamo Majola.

Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Retshegofaditswe Nche, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19. Abongile Nonkontwana, 20 Jean-Luc du Preez, 21 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Grant Hermanus.

 

Date: Saturday, June 20

Venue: Stadio Giovanni Zini, Cremona

Kick-off: 28.30 (16.30 GMT)