Coach Kevin Foote entrusts the majority of the Junior Springbok stars who kicked off the 2025 U20 Rugby Championship in style for Sunday’s clash against title-holders New Zealand.
Scrumhalf Haashim Pead, who scored a brace of tries to help the Junior Boks beat Argentina in their opener in Gqeberha last week, is one of several players restored to the starting XV.
Foote has included five members from the team that lost to Australia on Tuesday, as the hosts look to finish the tournament on a high at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
In the pack, loosehead prop Simphiwe Ngobese, skipper Riley Norton and No 8 Wandile Mlaba while flyhalf Vusi Moyo and winger Cheswill Jooste are the only backs starting again.
Norton, Mlaba and Jooste will start their third successive games in the competition.
“Obviously, we were bitterly disappointed with not winning the Australian game, but there were some great learnings for us in preparation for the World Championship,” said Foote.
“I thought that our set piece took a big step forward, and we controlled a lot of the game for a period, but there are aspects for us to work on, in particular our breakdown. We got turned over too often while some of the kicking patterns were out of character, which we look to fix and get some clarity around that.”
FOOTE: Junior Boks ready for ‘tails-up’ New Zealand
Regarding team selection for the New Zealand match, Foote added: “We’re bringing some players back from the first game while retaining some guys who played in the second game. That will bring some freshness to the match 23, and there is real excitement in the squad.
“We believe we have a good and confident team, and all the players have put in a massive effort during the last two and a half weeks.”
South Africa and New Zealand have a rich rivalry full of tradition, and the age-group teams played to a thrilling 13-13 draw in the inaugural Rugby Championship Down Under last year.
“Playing against New Zealand is one of the biggest honours in rugby and playing in the green and gold jersey against them is always very special, and something we don’t take for granted,” Foote added.
Sunday’s fixture between the South Africans and Kiwis is the last of the 2025 edition, and will be preceded by the meeting of Argentina and Australia at the same venue.
JUNIOR SPRINGBOKS – 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 Albie Bester, 11 Gino Cupido, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Matt Romao, 6 Thando Biyela, 5 JJ Theron, 4 Riley Norton (c), 3 Jean Erasmus, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Simphiwe Ngobese.
Bench: 16 Juandre Schoeman, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Herman Lubbe, 19 Morne Venter, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Kyle Smith, 23 JC Mars.
Photo: Richard Huggard/Gallo Images
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