Junior Springboks Prepare to Face Australia in U20 Rugby Championship
Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote has made several rotational changes to the team’s lineup for their upcoming U20 Rugby Championship match against Australia, scheduled to take place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Sunday, May 3. The second-round encounter is set to kick off at 16:10 and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
The day’s events will begin with a match between New Zealand and Argentina at 14:00. Tickets for the event are still available, starting at just R35. The Junior Springboks are looking to build on their impressive performance in the opening round, and fans can expect an exciting match against a strong Australian team.
Changes to the Team Lineup
The Junior Springboks’ starting pack shows one change from the team that played against Argentina, with Wasi Vyambwera taking over as blindside flanker in place of Thomas Beling. In the backs, Khuthadzo Rasivhaga has been preferred to Lindsey Jansen on the left wing, and Akahluwa Boqwana will start at fullback ahead of Alzeadon Felix.
On the bench, Luan van der Berg will fill the gap left by the injured Kai Pratt, while Gert Kemp will provide loose forward cover in place of Risima Khosa. Jade Muller will serve as the reserve outside back, taking Rasivhaga’s spot among the replacements.
Preparing for the Challenge
According to Foote, the team had a productive week of preparation leading up to the match against Australia. “We had a really good review of our performance against Argentina, and while we are pleased with the result and the way the players performed on defense and attack for long periods of the match, there are obviously aspects of our game that need improvement,” said Foote.
“Our focus is on playing the full 80 minutes and ensuring that we stay on our game model to meet what will be a huge challenge against an Australian side that is well-coached and boasts strong skill sets across the park.”
Playing in Front of Home Fans
Foote expressed the team’s pride and excitement about returning to the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium for their second fixture. Over 10,000 spectators attended the opening round of matches, and the team is looking forward to playing in front of the passionate Eastern Cape rugby fans once again.
“The support we received against Argentina last week was absolutely fantastic, and we are excited to be playing in front of our home fans once again,” Foote said. “Australia showed in their opening match against New Zealand what a massive threat they are, especially with ball in hand and their efficiency at the breakdown. It will make for a very interesting battle on Sunday.”
The Junior Springboks team to face Australia is as follows: 15 Akahluwa Boqwana, 14 Jack Benade, 13 Samuel Badenhorst, 12 Ethan Adams, 11 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Hendré Schoeman, 8 Kebotile Maake, 7 Wasi Vyambwera, 6 Luke Canon, 5 Riley Norton (captain), 4 Heinrich Theron, 3 Danie Kruger, 2 Liam van Wyk, 1 Rambo Kubheka.
The replacements are: 16 Mahle Sithole, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Luan van der Berg, 19 JD Hattingh, 20 Gert Kemp, 21 Jayden Brits, 22 Vusi Moyo, 23 Jade Muller.
