Biyela to skipper strong Junior Bok team against impressive Scotland in World Championship
Image: SA Junior Rugby X
Openside flank Thando Biyela will lead the Junior Springboks in their third and final Pool A match at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship against Scotland, which kicks off at 3.30pm on Wednesday at the Stadio San Michele in Calvisano.
Even though the SA Under-20 team shows several rotational changes from the team that beat England in their previous group match in Rovigo, the match-23 to face Scotland is a strong combination filled with experience.
Fullback Gilermo Mentoe, right wing Cheswill Jooste, outside centre Gino Cupido, and flyhalf Vusi Moyo are retained from the starting fifteen that defeated England on Friday evening.
Up front, Matt Romao (loose forward), Jaco Grobbelaar (lock), Jean Erasmus and Oliver Read (both props), and Jaundre Schoeman (hooker) all provided impact off the bench against Australia and England, and are now in the starting pack.
According to Kevin Foote, the Junior Springbok coach, they've named a team that will play this important pool game with real purpose and pride against a very good Scotland side. A win will solidify the Junior Boks' top spot in Pool A.
'We are fortunate that the players in our match-23 have experience playing for the Junior Boks against Georgia, in the Under-20 Rugby Championship, and also in our warm-up matches against Kenya,' said Foote.
'It is a tremendous honour for any player to represent the Junior Boks and the starting fifteen for Wednesday have earned that right because everyone has worked extremely hard to be considered.
'Thando has captained us earlier this year, Stephanus Linde played for us against Georgia, while Matt Romao was our Player of the Match against Argentina in the Rugby Championship.
'Jaco Williams, Jaco Grobbelaar, and Oliver Reid have all seen a lot of action in the two previous group matches, while we have more experience playing off the bench in Herman Lubbe, JJ Theron, Batho Hlekani, and Haashim Pead.'
The Junior Bok coach described the team to face Scotland as an experienced selection with exciting combinations.
'We have players with a lot of experience, they know our game very well, and they have a lot of hunger to do well against what will be a highly motivated Scotland,' said Foote.
Foote said they have done their homework on Scotland, know what to expect, and have a healthy respect for the Scottish.
'We have a strong desire to improve, and we are determined to keep building on our game model and to make sure we maintain our synergy and cohesion as a team,' he said.
'Everyone understands the threat that Scotland brings, and we feel they have played some good rugby. They attack well, and their set piece has been solid, so they will pose a big threat for us. We will not underestimate them. We are looking forward to an exciting challenge on Wednesday.'
Junior Boks starting XV: 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Gino Cupido, 12 Dominic Malgas, 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Ceano Everson, 8 Stephanus Linder, 7 Matt Romao, 6 Thando Biyela (captain), 5 Morne Venter, 4 Jaco Grobbelaar, 3 Jean Erasmus, 2 Jaundre Schoeman, 1 Oliver Reid; Replacements: 16 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 17 Phiwayinkosi 'Rambo' Kubheka, 18 Herman Lubbe, 19 JJ Theron, 20 Batho Hlekani, 21 Haashim Pead, 22 Ian van der Merwe, 23 Demitre Erasmus
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
10 hours ago
- The Star
Biyela to skipper strong Junior Bok team against impressive Scotland in World Championship
Openside flank Thando Biyela will lead the Junior Springboks in their third and final Pool A match at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship against Scotland, which kicks off at 3.30pm on Wednesday at the Stadio San Michele in Calvisano. Even though the SA Under-20 team shows several rotational changes from the team that beat England in their previous group match in Rovigo, the match-23 to face Scotland is a strong combination filled with experience. Fullback Gilermo Mentoe, right wing Cheswill Jooste, outside centre Gino Cupido, and flyhalf Vusi Moyo are retained from the starting fifteen that defeated England on Friday evening. Up front, Matt Romao (loose forward), Jaco Grobbelaar (lock), Jean Erasmus and Oliver Read (both props), and Jaundre Schoeman (hooker) all provided impact off the bench against Australia and England, and are now in the starting pack. According to Kevin Foote, the Junior Springbok coach, they've named a team that will play this important pool game with real purpose and pride against a very good Scotland side. A win will solidify the Junior Boks' top spot in Pool A. 'We are fortunate that the players in our match-23 have experience playing for the Junior Boks against Georgia, in the Under-20 Rugby Championship, and also in our warm-up matches against Kenya,' said Foote. 'It is a tremendous honour for any player to represent the Junior Boks and the starting fifteen for Wednesday have earned that right because everyone has worked extremely hard to be considered. 'Thando has captained us earlier this year, Stephanus Linde played for us against Georgia, while Matt Romao was our Player of the Match against Argentina in the Rugby Championship. 'Jaco Williams, Jaco Grobbelaar, and Oliver Reid have all seen a lot of action in the two previous group matches, while we have more experience playing off the bench in Herman Lubbe, JJ Theron, Batho Hlekani, and Haashim Pead.' The Junior Bok coach described the team to face Scotland as an experienced selection with exciting combinations. 'We have players with a lot of experience, they know our game very well, and they have a lot of hunger to do well against what will be a highly motivated Scotland,' said Foote. Foote said they have done their homework on Scotland, know what to expect, and have a healthy respect for the Scottish. 'We have a strong desire to improve, and we are determined to keep building on our game model and to make sure we maintain our synergy and cohesion as a team,' he said. 'Everyone understands the threat that Scotland brings, and we feel they have played some good rugby. They attack well, and their set piece has been solid, so they will pose a big threat for us. We will not underestimate them. We are looking forward to an exciting challenge on Wednesday.'
TimesLIVE
10 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Junior Boks make it three from three against Scotland
The Junior Springboks recorded their third straight bonus-point victory in the pool phase of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship as they beat Scotland by 73-14 on a sunny Wednesday afternoon in Calvisano to seal top spot in their group in Italy. The South Africans also beat Australia (73-17) and England (32-22) to book their spot in the semifinals and on Wednesday they probably did enough to secure the top-seed position for the playoffs, which are scheduled for Monday. Playing with purpose and showcasing their silky skills, the first half belonged to South Africa, who scored at more than a point per minute as they crossed the Scottish try line seven times. Left wing Jaco Williams scored after four minutes when he launched a counterattack from inside his own 22. Six minutes later captain and flanker Thando Biyela was driven over, with centre Dominic Malgas adding the third in the 13th after a sniping break and great run from the back of a great scrum by scrumhalf Ceano Everson. What a start for the Junior Boks 🇿🇦⚡ Jaco Williams does it all himself 👏👏 📺 Stream #WorldRugbyU20s on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 9, 2025 The bonus point try was in the bag in the 16th minute when Williams scored his second try from a line-out move and prop Oliver Reid added his name to the score sheet five minutes later from a maul. Scotland pulled one back through Seb Stephen, but fullback Gilermo Mentoe's try in the 31st, followed by prop Jean Erasmus crashing over four minutes later, pushed the Junior Boks past 40 points in the half. It could have been 50 had Reid not dropped the ball on the try line from a 30m rolling maul on the stroke of halftime. From the restart after the break, Williams came within centimetres of grabbing his hat-trick as he just stepped on the dead-ball line as he dotted down. In the next few minutes, Cheswill Jooste (wing) and Jaco Grobbelaar (lock) were held up over the line as the South Africans kept hammering away as Kevin Foote (head coach) brought on the replacements. Running rugby 🤌🤌 Dominic Malgas finishes a beautiful Junior Boks' team move 👏👏 📺 Stream #WorldRugbyU20s on DStv: — SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 9, 2025 The Junior Boks lost a margin of momentum as Scotland stepped up their game, but the men in green and gold were probably also guilty of becoming a bit too loose as they tried to stretch their lead. They finally scored again on the hour as Everson stepped his way through the Scottish defence, and four minutes later No 8 Stephanus Linde rounded off a brilliant team try that started from a counterattack in the Boks' 22, with the handling simply brilliant. Everson scored his brace in the 71st to push the Junior Boks past 60 points as they grew in confidence, but replacement prop Oliver Finlayson-Russell grabbed a second for the Scots as they refused to give up. However, replacement scrumhalf Haashim Pead scored his fifth try of the competition at the death from a move that started with a scrum in their own half, to push the Junior Boks past 70 for the second time in Italy. Scorers Junior Springboks 73 (45) — Tries: Jaco Williams (2), Thando Biyela, Dominic Malgas, Oliver Reid, Gilermo Mentoe, Jean Erasmus, Ceano Everson (2), Stephanus Linde, Haashim Pead. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (4), Ian van der Merwe (5).
IOL News
11 hours ago
- IOL News
Junior Springboks thrash Scotland in World Rugby U20 Championship to finish group stage with a flurry
Scrumhalf Ceano Everson launches a kick at the back of a Junior Springbok ruck. The nippy halfback and winger Jaco Williams both scored two tries in the runaway victory over Scotland on Wednesday. Image: Sabrina Conforti / World Rugby There is no stopping the Junior Springbok juggernaut in the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy. South Africa romped their way to another rousing victory on Wednesday, defeating Scotland 73-14 to equal the points tally they achieved in dispatching Australia in the opening round of the tournament. The win brought 11 outstanding tries with winger Jaco Williams bagging a brace alongside scrumhalf Ceano Everson. Williams' first five-pointer opened the try-scoring fest of the South African U20s and his second, in the 16th minute, brought the bonus point before the first quarter of the match ended. "An 80-yard scorcher" 🔥 Jaco Williams is a menace with ball in hand 🤯#WorldRugbyU20s — World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 9, 2025 Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Scotland didn't really see any of the possession in the first half and they were trapped in their half by the physicality of the Junior Springbok forwards, while the backs of the unbeaten side ran rampant even from their own half at times. Williams was brilliant and his first try saw some great individual skill, running for 80 metres from his 22 m area to score a solo try. The five-pointers by captain Thando Biyela and prop Oliver Reid came from the forwards, so it was a good all-round game that SA coach Kevin Foote will be happy about. After leading 45-7 at halftime, having scored seven of the 11 tries, the Junior Boks were made to defend by the Scots who came out firing in the second half on defence. They had a player in the sin bin and the South Africans struggled to get past 14 players. Eventually after 20 minutes of play in the second forty, the dam wall broke again. The #JuniorBoks have scored more than a point per minute as they lead Scotland by 45-7 at half-time of their #WorldRugbyU20s pool clash in Calvisano 👏#JourneyToGreatness — SA Junior Rugby (@SAJuniorRugby) July 9, 2025
