Junior Boks team news

2019-06-12

Sangweni starts against Baby Blacks

 Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux made three changes to his starting team to face New Zealand in their World Rugby U20 Championship Pool C decider in Rosario on Wednesday, with Sibusiso Sangweni (flank), Elrigh Louw (lock), and Thaakir Abrahams (wing) earning their first starts.

Sangweni, from the Golden Lions joins Dylan Richardson and captain Phepsi Buthelezi in a new-look loose forward combination. He replaces Celimpilo Gumede for the vital clash at the Racecourse Stadium.

He joins his provincial team-mate Asenathi Ntlabakanye in the Starting XV with both Dameon Venter and Keagan Glade amongst the reserves.

The winning team will gain automatic entry into the semi-finals as the Pool C leaders, while the losing team will have to rely on log points and possibly points’ difference to snap up the last semi-final spot.

The SA U20s are currently the top team in Pool C with a narrow one-point points’ difference over New Zealand after both sides won their opening two matches with bonus points.

“We had a look at the opposition, and made a few changes,” Roux said of his team selection. “It is important to give a few players a rest, but also to keep the players on form in the team, so that we have consistency.”

Junior Springbok team to face New Zealand:

15 – Vaughen Isaacs (Vodacom Blue Bulls)

14 – Angelo Davids (SA Rugby contracted)

13 – Marnus Potgieter (Vodacom Blue Bulls)

12 – Rikus Pretorius (vice-captain – DHL Western Province)

11 – Thaakir Abrahams (Cell C Sharks)

10 – James Mollentze (Toyota Free State)

9 – Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks)

8 – Phendulani Buthelezi © (Cell C Sharks)

7 – Sibusiso Sangweni (Xerox Golden Lions)

6 – Dylan Richardson (Cell C Sharks)

5 – Elrigh Louw (Toyota Free State)

4 – JJ van der Mescht (Cell C Sharks)

3 – Asenathi Ntlabakanye (Xerox Golden Lions)

2 – Fezokuhle Mbatha (Cell C Sharks)

1 – Dian Bleuler (DHL Western Province)

Replacements:

16 – Dameon Venter (Xerox Golden Lions)

17 – Kudzwai Dube (Vodacom Blue Bulls)

18 – Keagan Glade (Xerox Golden Lions)

19 – Thabiso Mdletshe (Cell C Sharks)

20 – Jaco Labuschagne (Vodacom Blue Bulls)

21 – Celimpilo Gumede (Cell C Sharks)

22 – Zwelendaba Mnombo (DHL Western Province)

23 – Sanele Nohamba (Cell C Sharks)

24 – Janko Swanepoel (Vodacom Blue Bulls)

25 – Emile van Heerden (Cell C Sharks)

26 – Caleb Dingaan (Cell C Sharks)

27 – David Coetzer (DHL Western Province)

28 – David Kriel (DHL Western Province

Annemie Bester