Baby Boks look for strong finish
South Africa Under-20 coach Dawie Theron has made four changes for the play-off match for fifth place in the IRB Junior World Championships against Fiji in Treviso on Sunday.
Theron maintained the same backline for the Baby Boks' last match against Ireland which they won 57-17.
The four changes are made to the forward pack with an all-new front row selected. Props Juan Schoeman and Jon Roy Jenkinson will partner hooker Bongi Mbonambi up front, while the other change to the starting XV is that of flanker Nizaam Carr who comes into the side in place of Francois Kleinhans who is relegated to the bench.
"Tomorrow's clash is a final opportunity for the guys selected to show what they really are capable of doing," said Theron.
"This team have shown plenty of promise and have played some entertaining rugby during parts of the tournament. We've scored the second most points in the tournament to date, and also the third most tries of all twelve teams after four matches," he added.
Despite this, Theron is aware of the team's shortcomings and realises that they were expected to do better than fifth place at the start of the toutnament.
"Unfortunately the flipside to that is there have been moments where we failed to maintain our composure and patience; and possibly that's why we are playing for fifth tomorrow and not ending off for a higher position.
"In a tournament such as this, the margin for error is small, and I guess we have paid the price for not capitalising on those scoring opportunities in the match against England," he said.
Theron, in his first year in charge of the Baby Boks, added: "However, we have Fiji tomorrow and I am hoping that the players make a strong statement.
"It's the last opportunity this group of players will play together, so they owe it to themselves to end off with at least a convincing win on Sunday."
South Africa U20: 15 Ulrich Beyers, 14 Tshotsho Mbovane, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Wandile Mjekevu, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Pieter Rademan, 8 Arno Botha (captain), 7 Cornell du Preez, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Eben Etzebeth, 4 Jean Cook, 3 Jon Roy Jenkinson, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Nic Schonert, 18 Carl Wegner, 19 Francois Kleinhans, 20 Lohan Jacobs, 21 Paul Jordaan, 22 Courtnall Skosan.
Date: Sunday, June 26
Venue: Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso