Liebenberg to lead Junior Boks
Hanro Liebenberg will lead the South African Under-20 team on their tour of Argentina next month.
The Bulls No.8, Liebenberg, will captain the Junior Boks when they face Los Pumitas in a two-match series in Rosario.
The Junior Springboks fly out to Argentina on May 8 and return 10 days later.
They will play against their Argentine counterparts, on May 12 and 16 May.
A total of 17 forwards and 11 backs were selected for the trip.
The short tour forms an important part of the Junior Springboks' preparations for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in June in Italy.
According to Dawie Theron, the Junior Springbok coach, the tour against the Los Pumitas will give his squad important playing time against strong opposition.
"We only have three matches left before we play in the Under-20 Championship in Italy," Theron said.
"Two are against Argentina U20 and the remaining outing will be against the WP Rugby Institute in Stellenbosch.
"So this tour is vital for our preparations," Theron emphasised.
He added that Argentina are very tough to play against, especially on their home ground.
"We can brace ourselves for two tough, physical clashes," the coach said, adding: "The boys did well to come out on top of a very good Varsity Cup Dream Team last week and now we will have another two matches to try our combinations and give much needed game time to our players."
Sharks flyhalf Innocent Radebe, who had a very solid match last week in Stellenbosch for the Varsity Cup Dream Team against the Junior Boks, was ruled out of the tour because of an ankle injury he sustained while on Cup duty this past weekend.
Junior Springbok squad:
Forwards: Hyron Andrews (Sharks), Dan du Preez (Sharks), Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks), Thomas du Toit (Sharks), Joseph Dwebe (Free State Cheetahs), Njabulo Gumede (Blue Bulls), Jason Jenkins (Blue Bulls), Ruan Kramer (Free State Cheetahs), Hanro Liebenberg (Bulls, captain), Mzamo Majola (Sharks), Retshegofaditswe Nche (Free State Cheetahs), Abongile Nonkontwana (Blue Bulls), Rudolph Snyman (Blue Bulls), Jan van der Merwe (Blue Bulls), Frans van Wyk (Western Province), Cyril-John Velleman (EP Kings), Jacques Vermeulen (Western Province).
Backs: Daniel du Plessis (Western Province), Warrick Gelant (Blue Bulls), Grant Hermanus (Western Province), John Jackson (Blue Bulls), Malcolm Jaer (EP Kings), Marco Janse van Vuuren (Golden Lions), Khanyo Ngcukana (Western Province), Ernst Stapelberg (Western Province), Brandon Thomson (Western Province), Ivan van Zyl (Blue Bulls), Leolin Zas (Western Province).
Junior Springboks team for two test tour to Argentina named. http://t.co/ssHFGODoRr @absa @flysaa @ASICS_ZA pic.twitter.com/SE6NRh0LwJ
— Junior Springboks (@JuniorBoks) April 29, 2015
