SA U20 squad to play WP
The entire group of 29 trialists will have another opportunity to further stake their claim for SA Under-20 colours on Thursday when the Baby Boks take on Western Province at their High Performance Centre in Bellville at 16.00.
Coach Dawie Theron on Wednesday named his starting 15 for this training match and insisted that the remainder of his trials squad will be given game time during this fixture after he named a 14-man bench. The national selectors on Monday reduced the initial trials squad from 40 to 30 on Monday. Jose Julies (lock) was not considered for selection because of injury.
Former Blue Bulls Under-19 captain Arno Botha, who missed Saturday’s SA Under-20 trials, will start in the No.7 jersey. He joins Western Province's Nizaam Carr and the Sharks No.8 Marcell Coetzee as the loose forward combination. Eben Etzebeth (Western Province) and Carl Wegner (Free State) join forces at lock.
Theron opted for the Western Province halfback duo of Ricky Schroeder (scrumhalf) and Sam Lane (flyhalf). Lane was not in the original squad chosen. Theron also selected the Sharks duo of Emile Schwarz and Mandla Dube who will wear the No.11 and No.14 jerseys respectively. The Leopards’ Kobus Lourens and former SA Schools star Piet Lindeque will form the centre combination while Riaan Britzwhose two brothers have been big names in South African rugby, will start at fullback.
Theron said: “we'll be utilizing our complete squad that has trained with us in Cape Town for our clash against Western Province.
“I believe this has been a successful two weeks in terms of us getting to understand the strengths and certainly some of the areas where work is needed with the World Champs in mind. Our player depth will be crucial in terms of understand what we are planning to work with going forward.
“So this will be the final game our trialists will have to play as a unit before they join their provincial sides during the Vodacom Cup and their tertiary institutions in the Varsity Cup. Our intentions as coaches will be to monitor as much from these competitions as possible, but for now it’s a great opportunity for the guys to make a mark against a side like Western Province.”
SA Under-20 squad: 15 Riaan Britz (Free State), Emile Schwarz (Sharks), 13 Piet Lindeque (Sharks), 12 Kobus Lourens (Leopards), 11 Mandla Dube (Sharks), 10 Sam Lane (Western Province), 9 Ricky Schroeder (Western Province), 8 Marcell Coetzee (Sharks), 7 Arno Botha (Blue Bulls), 6 Nizaam Carr (Western Province), 5 Eben Etzebeth (Western Province), 4 Carl Wegner (Free State), 3 Jon Roy Jenkins (Leopards), 2 Bongi Mbonambi (Blue Bulls), 1 Stephan Kotze (Free State).
Replacements: Baksteen van Heerden (Free State), Jean Schoeman (Blue Bulls), Nick Schonnet (Sharks), Ruan Venter (Lions), Brendon Groenewald (Free State), Jean Cook (Free State), Ernie Strydom (Leopards), Lohan Jacobs (Blue Bulls), Tony Jantjies (Blue Bulls), Sizo Maseko (Western Province), Clarence Khumalo (Western Province), Heimar Williams (Sharks), Ulrich Beyers (Blue Bulls), Kevin Luiters (Free State).