Junior Boks coach Kevin Foote has made sweeping changes to his side for their U20 International Series opener against Chile in Cape Town on Thursday.
The match at Rondebosch Boys’ High kicks off at 3pm and will be preceded by the clash between Fiji and Georgia at 1pm.
Only eight members of the match 23 that drew with New Zealand in the closing encounter of the U20 Rugby Championship in Gqeberha, have been retained for the clash against Chile.
They are former SA Schools A captain and flanker Risima Khosa, who will lead the side on Thursday, prop Luan van der Berg, hooker Mahle Sithole, lock JD Hattingh, scrumhalf Jayden Brits, flyhalf Vusi Moyo, wing Jade Muller and fullback Akhahluwa Boqwana.
ALSO: Returning stars boost Junior Boks
“We are giving players who were not heavily involved in the Rugby Championship an opportunity to play and gain experience of international rugby,” Foote explained.
“They worked hard during training over the past week and now have a great opportunity to showcase their skills while representing our country.
“This series also presents another opportunity for us to continue our growth as a team and to build cohesion as we progress with our preparations for next month’s Junior World Championship in Georgia. We expect Chile to be a gritty and motivated opponent.”
JUNIOR SPRINGBOKS – 15 Alzeadon Felix, 14 Jade Muller, 13 Olunje Mehlomakulu, 12 Pieter van der Merwe, 11 Lindsey Jansen, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Jayden Brits, 8 Vuyo Gwiji, 7 Gert Kemp, 6 Risima Khosa (c), 5 JD Hattingh, 4 Jaythen Orange, 3 Luan van der Berg, 2 Mahle Sithole, 1 Jordan Jooste.
Bench: 16 Altus Rabe, 17 Kai Pratt, 18 Bongani Dlamini, 19 Thomas Beling, 20 Quintin Potgieter, 21 Jandrian Goosen, 22 Junaide Stuart, 23 Akhahluwa Boqwana.
SA Rugby U20 International Series fixtures
Thursday, 21 May (Rondebosch Boys’ High)
1pm: Georgia vs Fiji
3pm: South Africa vs Chile
Tuesday, 26 May (Wynberg Boys’ High)
1pm: Chile vs Georgia
3pm: South Africa vs Fiji
Saturday, 30 May (Paul Roos Gymnasium)
2:30pm: South Africa vs Georgia
4:30pm: Fiji vs Chile
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
