Coach Patrick Horgan has been monitoring his injured troops since Wednesday’s bruising semi final against the All Blacks and will be asking for one more heroic performance against last season’s U19 runners up.
Despite going down 31-6 at Rodney Parade, the hosts were combative and competitive and displayed a defensive strength which they will need against the Springboks.
Horgan said, “Obviously it was disappointing to have missed out on a place in the final, but we will certainly be looking to sign off with a victory on Sunday.”
The race for fifth place unfolds at Cardiff Arms Park (Sunday, 3pm) where the highly fancied Australians are aiming to put behind them the disappointment of losing out to England in their final pool game at Newport. France, who lost out to Wales in their deciding pool game provide the opposition.
Argentina and Samoa meet in Newport for 7th place (Sunday, 3pm) whilst it’s an all Celtic affair in the battle for ninth place – Ireland and Scotland come together at Rodney Parade in Newport (Sunday, 1pm) after reaching their play off final via the back door.
Scotland needed extra time to edge out Canada whilst Ireland were overtime winners against the Italians in Cardiff.
Italy and Canada are the sides battling it out for 11th place, in Cardiff (Sunday, 1pm), whilst on Saturday in Wrexham Fiji and Tonga meet in the 13th place play off (5pm) and at the same venue USA and Japan contest 15th place (7pm) with the losers facing possible relegation to next year’s Junior World Trophy.
Finals day tickets are on sale at just £2 for children and £8 for adults. Fans are advised to purchase tickets for the Liberty Stadium finals day well in advance of kick-off. The Liberty Stadium Box Office is open today (Friday) until 6pm, tomorrow (Saturday) 10am – 4pm and from 12 noon on Sunday. Fans can also pre-book by calling 08700 400 004.
