Same again for Junior Boks
Dawie Theron, the South Africa Under-20 coach, has kept his starting line-up unchanged for the Junior World Championship game against England on Sunday.
There is however one change on the bench, with lock Jannes Kirsten replacing Kwagga Smit.
South Africa’s runway 97-0 victory over the United States on Wednesday has placed them top of Pool A with five points. The three pool winners and the best placed pools runner-up will advance through to the semifinals.
Theron, who led the Junior Springboks to their first JWC title in 2012, explained that the coaching staff resisted the temptation to change the starting XV because they wanted to maintain the continuity.
According to Theron England is a strong, physical side and his team will have to front up for the full 80 minutes.
“Their core skills are very good and we will play against a very well-prepared team. They have good structures in place, many of the players came through the Premiership academies and they play on a regular basis together as a team,” said Theron.
The Junior Springboks coach added the approach of his team will be to build on their momentum from the first game. “We will have to be disciplined and play with the same energy as the team showed against the United States.”
SA U20: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Luther Obi, 13 Justin Geduld, 12 Handré Pollard, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Ruan Steenkamp (captain), 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Roelof Smit, 5 Dennis Visser, 4 Irné Herbst, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Andrew Beerwinkel.
Replacements: 16 Michael Willemse, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Jannes Kirsten, 19 Aidon Davis, 20 Hanco Venter, 21 Dries Swanepoel, 22 Jesse Kriel, 23 Marné Coetzee.
Date: Sunday, June 9
Venue: Stade Henri Desgrange, La Roche-sur-Yon
Kick-off: 16.45 (14.45 GMT)
Referee: TBC
England U20: 15 Anthony Watson, 14 Ben Howard, 13 Harry Sloan, 12 Sam Hill, 11 Jack Nowell
10 Henry Slade, 9 Alex Day, 8 Jack Clifford (captain), 7 Matt Hankin, 6 Ross Moriarty, 5 Dominic Barrow, 4 Elliott Stooke, 3 Scott Wilson, 2 Luke Cowan Dickie, 1 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi.
Replacements: 16 Scott Spurling, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Tom Smallbone, 19 Tom Price, 20 Joel Conlon, 21 Callum Braley, 22 Ollie Devoto, 23 Henry Purdy.
Wales U20: 15 Jordan Williams, 14 Aaron Warren, 13 Steffan Hughes, 12 Thomas Pascoe, 11 Ashley Evans, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Rhodri Williams, 8 Nicky Smith, 7 Elliot Dee, 6 Nicky Thomas, 5 Jack Jones, 4 Rhodri Hughes, 3 Ellis Jenkins (captain), 2 Daniel Thomas, 1 Sion Bennett.
Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Dan Suter, 19 Carwyn Jones, 20 James Benjamin, 21 Joshua Davies, 22 Owen Jenkins, 23 Jack Dixon.
