The Junior Springboks will have six forwards on the bench for the World Rugby U20 Championship final against New Zealand in Rovigo.
Coach Kevin Foote has named an unchanged match 23 following their semi-final victory against Argentina.
Lock Riley Norton leads a familiar-looking side that featured in most of the pool matches, as well as Monday’s semi-final.
“We decided to pick six forwards on the bench yet again, as they made a difference in the semi-final against Argentina, and we also learned some valuable lessons when we faced New Zealand in the U20 Rugby Championship in South Africa a few months ago,” said Foote, referring to the Junior Boks’ 48-45 defeat in Port Elizabeth.
Saturday marks the Junior Boks’ first appearance in the final since 2014 and it is a repeat of the 2012 final in which South Africa beat New Zealand at Newlands.
The Junior Boks have been in rampant form throughout the Championship in Italy, posting comprehensive wins over Australia, defending champions England and Scotland in the pool stage, followed by victory over Argentina in the semi-finals.
The Junior Boks were firing on all cylinders against Argentina
#WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/gSygrXox1S
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 15, 2025
South Africa’s dynamic pack of forwards has laid an excellent platform for their electric backline to score some eye-catching tries.
Scrumhalf Haashim Pead has scored six tries in four games – the most by any player in the tournament – while also providing numerous assists for teammates, while flyhalf Vusi Moyo has racked up 50 points across his four appearances, placing him at the top of the overall point-scoring chart.
MORE: Junior Boks amped for ‘ultimate test’
New Zealand, like South Africa, are unbeaten in the tournament, having topped Pool B before dispatching a dangerous French side in the semi-finals.
Saturday’s final kicks off at 8.30pm.
JUNIOR SPRINGBOKS – 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 Albie Bester, 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Bathobele Hlekani, 6 Xola Nyali, 5 JJ Theron, 4 Riley Norton (c), 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Simphiwe Ngobese.
Bench: 16 Jaundre Schoeman, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Jaco Grobbelaar, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Stephanus Linde, 22 Ceano Everson, 23 Dominic Malgas.
Photo: Timothy Rogers/Getty Images
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