The return of Zain Davids marked one of four personnel changes to Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux’s team for the World Rugby U20 Championship bronze playoff against France at the M. Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi on Sunday.
Davids will start in the loose trio with Junior Bok captain Ernst van Rhyn and No 8 Juarno Augustus after serving his suspension, while Manie Libbok moves from fullback to flyhalf in place of Curwin Bosch, who is nursing an ankle injury. Jeanluc Cilliers, meanwhile, will start at fullback.
The other changes were in the midfield where Stedman Gans will partner up with Damian Willemse in place of Wandisile Simelane, who has been named on the bench, and in the front row, where prop Gerhard Steenekamp comes in for Kwenzo Blose.
On the replacements bench, prop Wikus Groenewald has recovered from the flu and replaces Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, while centre David Brits will fill the void left by Gans’ call-up to the starting XV.
“We chatted to our medical team and had a good look at the state the players are in from a workload perspective, so we brought in some fresh legs,” said Roux.
“But that said, these are the best combinations for this match – a massive game for us. You are only as good as your last game and we would like to go out on a high. The players have worked very hard to get to where they are, and mentally I think they are in a good place and ready for the match.
“It is going to be interesting to see what they are going to come up with, but if all goes according to plan, it will be a great day for us.”
Roux is expecting a physical onslaught from France, who drew 23-23 against the Junior Boks in the opening match of their campaign, and who finished as the runners-up in the U20 Six Nations competition earlier this season, and said the first quarter would be vital.
“I think they are going to try to slow the game down and they will want to come hard at us in the scrums and lineouts,” said Roux.
“Knowing the French, the first 20 minutes are going to be crucial as that is where the foundation will be laid. So we have to come out guns blazing and apply pressure on them as quickly as possible.”
The match will kick-off at 13h30 (SA time) on Sunday, and will be broadcast live on SuperSport 1 (Channel 201). The final between New Zealand and England will follow at 16h00 SA time.
The Junior Springboks will depart Georgia on Monday and will arrive in SA on Tuesday.
Junior Springboks team to face France in the World Rugby U20 Championship bronze playoff:
15 – Jeanluc Cilliers (Xerox Golden Lions)
14 – Yaw Penxe (EP Kings)
13 – Stedman Gans (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
12 – Damian Willemse (DHL Western Province)
11 – Gianni Lombard (Xerox Golden Lions)
10 – Manie Libbok (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
9 – Embrose Papier (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
8 – Juarno Augustus (DHL Western Province)
7 – Ernst van Rhyn (captain – DHL Western Province)
6 – Zain Davids (DHL Western Province)
5 – Ruben van Heerden (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
4 – Salmaan Moerat (DHL Western Province)
3 – Carlű Sadie (DHL Western Province)
2 – Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
1 – Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
Replacements:
16 – Kwenzo Blose (Toyota Free State)
17 – Daniel Jooste (DHL Western Province)
18 – Wikus Groenewald (DHL Western Province)
19 – Reinhard Nothnagel (Xerox Golden Lions)
20 – Muller Uys (DHL Western Province)
21 – Francois de Villiers (Cell C Sharks)
22 – David Brits (DHL Western Province)
23 – Wandisile Simelane (Xerox Golden Lions)