Varsity Cup trio in SA U20 mix
Three Varsity Cup players have been named in a strong SA Under-20 squad that will take part in the IRB Junior World Championships in Argentina in June.
Flanker Sam Mabombo (pictured) – who formed part of the successful Maties squad that recently completed a hat-trick of Varsity Cup titles – heads up this list; with Shimlas star Marcel van der Merwe (prop) and UJ utility back Jaco Taute completing the trio.
Aside from the three Varsity Cup players in the SA U20 mix; there are also SA Sevens players (Sampie Mastriet and Branco du Preez) in the squad, as well as two players with Super 14 experience, Patrick Lambie (Sharks) and Wandile Mjekevu (Lions).
Mjekevu is a law student at the University of Johannesburg, but did not play Varsity Cup rugby due to his Super 14 commitments.
The SA squad will be captained by Blue Bulls loose forward CJ Stander who was part of the Baby Boks’ 2009 World Championship campaign in Japan. (The South Africans finished third after defeating Australia 32-5 in the third place play-off match.)
“We don’t want to go to the World Championships and settle for third place again, we want to improve our position as a leading force on the junior international stage,” said SA Under-20 coach Eric Sauls.
“I believe the national selectors have struck a fine balance in their selections; we have players who competed in the Super 14, others who have played in the IRB Sevens World Series and we also have a number of our youngsters who have experienced game time in the Vodacom Cup.
“The players know what is expected of them as a South African national rugby team and they will hopefully represent their country with pride.”
The SA Under-20 squad will assemble for a pre-World Championship training camp next month, before departing to Argentina on Sunday, May 30.
The SA Under-20 squad: Brummer Badenhorst, Mlungisi Bali, Sebastian de Chaves, Ruan Dreyer, Christiaan du Randt, Francois du Toit, Branco du Preez, Monde Hadebe, Adri Jacobs, Elton Jantjies, Patrick Lambie, Sampie Mastriet, Peet Marais, Sam Mabombo, Frederick Muller, Wandile Mjekevu, Lubabalo Mthembu, Kenechukwu Okafor, Nico Scheepers, Louis Schreuder, CJ Stander (captain), Sibusiso Sithole, Jaco Taute, Marcel van der Merwe, Hendrik van der Walt, Francois Venter.
Management team: Eric Sauls (head coach), Pine Pienaar (assistant coach), Nico Serfontein (assistant coach), Willem Oliphant (team manager), Tim Dlulane (logistics manager), Elliot Mntunwekhaya Fana (technical assistant), Dr Arthur Williams (team doctor), Wayne Hector (pysiotherapist), Graham Bentz (conditioning coach), Yusuf Jackson (media manager).
SA Under-20 IRB Junior World Championship fixtures:
Saturday, June 5: SA v Tonga (Parana)
Wednesday, June 9: SA v Scotland (Santa Fe)
Sunday, June 13: SA v Australia (Santa Fe)
