Under-20 Championship, Round Two - Teams and Predictions

PREVIEW: The Junior Springboks made minimal changes for their Round Two Under-20 Championship encounter against the defending champions, England.

There is just one change from the side that defeated Australia last Sunday in Italy, with Gino Cupido replacing Demitre Erasmus, who is suffering from illness, at centre.

SA U20 head coach Kevin Foote has also made two tactical tweaks on the bench, with scrumhalf Ceano Everson and utility back Dominic Malgas amongst the replacements, in place of Erich Visser and Ian van der Merwe.

The rest of the players who gave such a commanding performance in Calvisano are retained for what promises to be another classic battle between the U20 teams of South Africa and England, who won the tournament last year after beating France in the Final in Cape Town.

With lock Riley Norton again leading the side, Foote said there is a lot of excitement building for Friday’s important clash.

“There is a huge amount of excitement around Friday and the magnitude of this match,” said Foote.

“We know how important this is, playing against the defending champions. It’s an honour to be involved in such a game and a real challenge for us this week. We can’t wait for it.

“With Demitre suffering from a bit of heat stroke, we brought in Gino at outside centre, while Ceano and Dominic cover scrumhalf, centre and flyhalf on the bench.

“Demitre, Erich and Ian all played well against Australia, but we are going with a combination that we feel is well suited for us against England.”

In the aftermath of the Junior Boks’ resounding win over the young Wallabies, the South Africans emphasised the need to keep their feet firmly on the ground, especially with a huge challenge such as England looming next.

“We are very proud of the guys in terms of how focused and humble they’re staying after the victory over Australia, and just how hungry they are for the next challenge against England,” said Foote.

Foote highlighted the importance of having consistency in selection following his rotation of the team during the U20 Rugby Championship and lauded his side’s attacking game.

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“It’s awesome [to have consistency in selection]. It’s not just that, we’re a disciplined team as well.

“When we don’t have to make forced changes, it’s quite helpful, and the synergy in the team was apparent.

“The attack went well. Vusi [Moyo] and Hash [Haashim Pead] did a great job with the backs.

“Those combinations trained together for quite some time, and you can see that it’s good for the team.”

Foote added that the conditions have been challenging, but his side came prepared into the tournament, knowing what to expect in Italy.

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“We’ve had good planning [around the conditions].

“We knew what we were coming to, so before we left South Africa, we did some preparation with the guys in some hot training sessions as well.

“We know hydration is the main thing for us, and making sure we stay on top of that.

“The main thing for us is education, and the players are taking great responsibility around that.”

“Once we get into the game day, it’s important that we make sure we are sharp.

“From a training perspective, building into that, the guys are very mature and confident and know what our game looks like.

“Once we feel that we’ve got clarity, we move very quickly in training sessions, so the time on feet isn’t always what it was.

“We know when game time comes that the guys are mentally tough to go through that heat.”

All the Round One teams and predictions follow below…

Friday, July 4

England v South Africa

(Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo – Kick-off 18.00; 17.00 BST; 16.00 GMT)

Prediction:

@rugby365com: South Africa by 12 points

Teams

England: 15 Josh Bellamy, 14 Ben Redshaw, 13 Nick Lilley, 12 Nic Allison, 11 Jack Bracken, 10 Ben Coen, 9 Jonny Weimann, 8 Kane James, 7 Samuel Williams, 6 Connor Treacy, 5 Tom Burrow, 4 Olamide Sodeke, 3 Vilikesa Sela, 2 Kepu Tuipulotu, 1 Ralph McEachran
Replacements: 16 Alfie Longstaff, 17 Oli Scola, 18 Tye Raymont, 19 Junior Kpoku, 20 Aiden Ainsworth-Cave, 21 Archie McParland, 22 Campbell Ridl, 23 Noah Caluori.

South Africa: 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Gino Cupido, 12 Albie Bester, 11 Siyabonga Ndlozi, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Bathobele Hlekani, 6 Xola Nyali, 5 JJ Theron, 4 Riley Norton (captain), 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Simphiwe Ngobese
Replacements: 16 Jaundre Schoeman, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Jaco Grobbelaar, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Dominic Malgas, 23 Jaco Williams

Referee: Tomas Bertazza (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Marcus Playle (New Zealand), Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)

France v Wales

(Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo – Kick-off: 15.30; 14.30 BST, 13.30 GMT)

Prediction:

@rugby365com: France by 10 points

Teams

France: 15 Jon Echegaray, 14 Xan Mousques, 13 Robin Taccola, 12 Simeli Daunivucu, 11 Tom Leveque, 10 Diego Jurd, 9 Baptiste Tilloles, 8 Elyjah Ibsaiene, 7 Noa Traversier, 6 Antoine Deliance, 5 Corentin Mezou, 4 Bartholome Sanson, 3 Mohamed Megherbi, 2 Lyam Akrab, 1 Samuel Jean-Christophe.
Replacements: 16 Gabin Garault, 17 Edouard Jabea Njocke, 18 Lenny Alifanety, 19 Remy Lanen, 20 Bobby Bissu, 21 Simon Daroque, 22 Luka Keletaona, 23 Kalvin Gourgues.

Wales: 15 Jack Woods, 14 Elijah Evans, 13 Osian Roberts, 12 Steffan Emanuel, 11 Tom Bowen, 10 Harri Wilde, 9 Sion Davies, 8 Evan Minto, 7 Harry Beddall (captain), 6 Deian Gwynne, 5 Dan Gemine, 4 Kenzie Jenkins, 3 Sam Scott, 2 Harry Thomas, 1 Ioan Emanuel.
Replacements: 16 Saul Hurley, 17 Louie Trevett, 18 Owain James, 19 Tom Cottle, 20 Caio James, 21 Ellis Lewis, 22 Harri Ford, 23 Osian Darwin-Lewis.

Referee: Morgan White (Hong Kong China)
Assistant referees: Marcus Playle (New Zealand), Luca Bisetto (Italy)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

Australia v Scotland

(Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana – Kick-off: 15.30; 23.30 AEST; 14.30 BST; 13.30 GMT)

Prediction:

@rugby365com: Australia by five points

Teams

Australia: 15 Sid Harvey, 14 Cooper Watters, 13 Liam Grover, 12 Malakye Enasio, 11 Nicholas Conway, 10 Joe Dillon, 9 James Martens, 8 Beau Morrison, 7 Tom Robinson, 6 Eli Langi, 5 Eamon Doyle (captain), 4 Joe Mangelsdorf, 3 Edwin Langi, 2 Lipina Ata, 1 Nathaniel Tiitii.
Replacements: 16 Will Guilfoyle, 17 Finn Baxter, 18 Trevor King, 19 Ollie Aylmer, 20 Toby Brial, 21 Hwi Sharples, 22 Joey Fowler, 23 Xavier Rubens.

Scotland: 15 Jed Findlay, 14 Cameron van Wyk, 13 Johnny Ventisei, 12 Kerr Yule, 11 Fergus Watson, 10 Matthew Urwin, 9 Hector Patterson, 8 Reuben Logan, 7 Freddy Douglas, 6 Ollie Duncan, 5 Dan Halkon, 4 Dylan Cockburn, 3 Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 2 Joe Roberts, 1 Oliver McKenna
Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Ben White, 18 Jamie Stewart, 19 Charlie Moss, 20 Mark Fyffe, 21 Noah Cowan, 22 Isaac Coates, 23 Jack Hocking

Referee: Lex Weiner (United States)
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (South Africa), Franco Rosella (Italy)
TMO: Dan Jones (England)

New Zealand v Georgia

(Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana – Kick-off: 18.00; 04.00 NZST, Saturday, July 5; 20.00 GET; 16.00 GMT)

Prediction:

@rugby365com: New Zealand by 25 points

Teams:

New Zealand: 15 Stanley Solomon, 14 Maloni Kunawave, 13 James Cameron, 12 Tayne Harvey, 11 Harlyn Saunoa, 10 Rico Simpson, 9 Dylan Pledger (captain), 8 Micah Fale, 7 Caleb Woodley, 6 Oli Mathis, 5 Aisake Vakasiuola, 4 Xavier Treacy, 3 Robson Faleafā, 2 Eli Oudenryn, 1 Sika Pole.
Replacements: 16 Manumaua Letiu, 17 Israel Time, 18 Dane Johnston, 19 Finn McLeod, 20 Mosese Bason, 21 Ollie Burra, 22 Will Cole, 23 Jack Wiseman.

Georgia: 15 Luka Takaishvili, 14 Luka Keshelava, 13 Sandro Meskhidze, 12 Nugzari Kevkhishvili, 11 Saba Sharvashidze, 10 Gigi Sirbiladze, 9 Giorgi Spanderashvili, 8 Mikheili Shioshvili, 7 Andro Dvali, 6 Nika Abesadze, 5 Gagui Margvelashvili, 4 Temur Tsulukidze, 3 Mate Gurtskaia, 2 Shota Kheladze, 1 Bachuki Baratashvili.
Replacements: 16 Mikheil Khakhubia, 17 Archil Nozadze18 Giorgi Dzagania, 19 Davit Baramia, 20 Giorgi Ardzenadze, 21 Temuri Dzodzuashvili, 22 Giorgi Jashi, 23.
Sandro Sesiashvili

Referee: Filippo Russo (Italy)
Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (South Africa), Jeremy Rozier (France)
TMO: Dan Jones (England)

Argentina v Spain

(Stadio Mario Battaglini, Rovigo – kick-off: 20.30 local and Spain time; 15.30 ART; 18.30 GMT)

Prediction:

@rugby365com: Argentina by 18 points

Teams:

Argentina: 15 Pascal Senillosa, 14 Timoteo Silva, 13 Pedro Coll, 12 Felipe Ledesma, 11 Aquiles Vieyra, 10 Rafael Benedit, 9 Felix Corletto, 8 Agustín Garcia campos Fiszman, 7 Santiago Neyra, 6 Tomas Dande, 5 Alvaro Garcia Iandolino, 4 Tomas Duclos, 3 Tomas Rapetti, 2 Tadeo Ledesma Arocena, 1 Juan Rodriguez.
Replacements: 16 Jerónimo Otano17 Diego Correa, 18 Gael Galvan, 19 Valentino Freiria, 20 Pampa Storey, 21 Fabricio Griffo Zaradnik, 22 Ramon Fernandez Miranda, 23 Bautista Lescano.

Spain: 15 Beltran Ortega, 14 Pelayo Serrano, 13 Oriol Marsinyac, 12 Hugo Pichardie, 11 Jorge Garreta, 10 Lucien Richardis, 9 Nicolas Infer, 8 Marcos Lopez, 7 Unax Salvador, 6 Gael Almorin, 5 Liam Mcnamee, 4 Victor Ofojetu, 3 Hugo Gonzalez, 2 Pau Massoni, 1 Alberto Gomez
Replacements: 16 Marcos Perez, 17 Joan Barcenilla D’Onghia, 18 Guido Reyes Rendon, 19 Guardin Gonzalez, 20 Manex Pujana , 21 Nicolas Gali, 22 Gonzalo Otamendi, 23 Telmo Fisher

Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Katsuki Furuse (Japan), Riccardo Bonato (Italy)
TMO: Graham Cooper (Australia)

Ireland v Italy

(Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, Viadana – Kick-off: 20.30; 19.30 IST; 18.30 GMT)

Prediction:

@rugby365com: Ireland by seven points

Teams:

Ireland: 15 Charlie Molony, 14 Paidi Farrell, 13 Ciarán Mangan, 12 Eoghan Smyth, 11 Derry Moloney, 10 Tom Wood, 8 Luke Murphy, 7 Éanna McCarthy (captain), 6 Michael Foy, 5 Billy Corrigan, 4 Mahon Ronan, 3 Alex Mullan, 2 Henry Walker, 1 Alex Usanov
Replacements: 16 Mikey Yarr, 17 Billy Bohan, 18 Tom McAllister, 19 Conor Kennelly, 20 Bobby Power, 21 Clark Logan, 22 Sam Wisniewski, 23 Daniel Green.

Italy: 15 Edoardo Todaro, 14 Alessandro Drago, 13 Federico Zanandrea, 12 Riccardo Casarin, 11 Jules Ducros, 10 Roberto Fasti, 9 Niccolo Beni, 8 Nelson Casartelli, 7 Carlo Antonio Bianchi, 6 Giacomo Milano, 5 Piero Gritti, 4 Mattia Midena, 3 Nicola Bolognini, 2 Nicolo Michele Corvasce, 1 Sergio Pelliccioli
Replacements: 16 Alessio Caiolo-Serra, 17 Sascha Mistrulli, 18 Luca Trevisan, 19 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, 20 Antony Italo Miranda, 21 Matteo Bellotto, 22 Riccardo Ioannucci, 23 Gianmarco Pietramala.

Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Assistant referees: Jeremy Rozier (France), Alberto Favaro (Italy)
TMO: Dan Jones (England)