Coaches shake up line-ups as Junior Springboks face Australia U20s

IOL News

05-05-2025

The Junior Springboks matchday 23 that will face Australia in Gqeberha on Tuesday. Photo: SA Junior Rugby on X
Image: Photo: SA Junior Rugby on X
The Junior Springboks and Australia Under-20 team will be hardly recognisable from the sides that opened their Rugby Championship Under-20 campaign at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha, with both coaches ringing the changes for Tuesday's match.
Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote has made several rotational changes to his starting line-up and included four players who played for the SA U20 side last year.
The SA U20s managed to beat Argentina 36-25 in the opening round on Thursday, having trailed at half-time. Australia forced a late draw against New Zealand, scoring the equallising try after the hooter had sounded
Foote has handed starts to JC Mars, Wandile Mlaba, Batho Hlekani and Herman Lubbe, all of whom played for the Junior Boks last year. Scrumhalf Hashim Pead, the scorer of two tries against Los Pumitas, is rested.
The SA U20 coach said it is important to keep their momentum going, manage the load of the players while also building squad depth by giving the players exposure to international rugby.
'We play three internationals against quality teams in just 11 days, and with the short turnaround time between matches, we must be smart with our player load management," Foote said.
'We have good squad depth and it's important for the players to get a taste of international rugby, while we also want to build on our performance against Argentina, knowing that Australia will pose a huge challenge for us.'
Australia U20s coach Chris Whitaker made eight changes to the starting side that drew with New Zealand U20s as both injury cover and to add more bulk, opting for a new-look backline.
"There are a couple of forced changes but we've also picked a bit of size up front, two second rowers on the bench," he told Rugby.com.au.
"We've picked a five-eighth (flyhalf) with a big kicking game. There's some tactical changes, but it's also about giving some guys some opportunities.
"The Boks, they're a big pack, very physical. We need to take our opportunities, be really solid around the contact area, be really accurate, and take our opportunities when they come."
In the Junior Bok front-row, Simphiwe Ngobese and Lubbe will pack down as props on either side of hooker Juandre Schoeman. Riley Norton is retained at lock and will captain the team again, partnering Morne Venter.
The loose forward combination sees Xola Nyali coming onto the side of the scrum at flanker. He teams up with Hlekani, who made a strong impact off the bench in the second half against the Pumitas, while Mlaba is retained at No 8, to complete the loose trio.
Among the backs there is a new halfback pairing consisting of scrumhalf Ceano Everson and flyhalf Vusi Moyo, while the midfield comprises of Dominic Malgas and Scott Nel. Cheswill Jooste will start again at right wing, and he will be joined in the back three by Siya Ndlozi (left wing) and Mars (fullback).
Gino Cupido scored the final try for the Junior Springboks against Argentina.
Image: World Rugby