Junior Springboks confirm squad

No less than sixteen players who formed part of last year’s South Africa U19 squad, have made their way into the U20 team. Gerrit-Jan van Velze will captain the team to Wales. The South African selectors have included three players who have played for the Springbok Sevens already as well as two youngsters with Vodacom Super 14 experience.

Juan de Jongh, Robert Ebersohn and Wilton Pietersen, were all capped for the Springbok Sevens team earlier this year. Centre Stephan Dippenaar and scrumhalf Francois Hougaard (both Vodacom Bulls), are the duo who already boast with Super Rugby experience. Free State fullback Pietersen is the current Coca-Cola Craven Week Player of the Year while Golden Lions flanker Johan van Deventer, the 2007 Sasol South Africa U19 Player of the Year, was also named amongst the forwards.

South Africa U20 will contest Pool B based in Wrexham with Samoa U20, Scotland U20 and the USA U20. Eric Sauls, the South Africa U20 coach, said his team was looking forward to the challenge in Wales.

“South Africa has a proud tradition at junior international level with many current Springboks having made their name first at this level,” said Sauls. “Our squad includes the core of the South Africa U19 team of last year that performed so admirably before losing to New Zealand U19 in the Cup Final.

“I would like to believe that we have a fair amount of continuity and experience in the squad and this will hopefully contribute to our performances. We had two training camps and also played against our French counterparts on four occasions this year, so our preparations have been extremely good. The team is looking forward to the tournament and eager to do well.”