Baby Boks must just take it one minute at a time

SOLID DEFENCE, a solid set-piece and sustained pressure. Those accepts are key to overcoming England in the semi-final of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship today (7pm kickoff, SS1), according to Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux.

The Junior Boks will head into the semifinal clash after suffering a 46-29 defeat to hosts France in their third and final pool match, while the English secured bonuspoint victories in all three of their groupstage games.

And now Roux just wants his team to take it “one minute at a time” and apply pressure for 80 minutes – something they haven’t been able to get right until now.

“The important thing is not to get ahead of ourselves, but rather to approach it one minute at a time,” said Roux.

“Our defence has to be solid and so do our set pieces, and we need to keep the pressure on for the full 80 minutes. If we can do that, we should be there at the end.”

Roux also said that he’s expecting a massive onslaught from England, who finished the pool stages as the top team, and said: “England are a very physical and wellcoached side. Their set pieces are very good and they have two brilliant wingers, so we need to counter that.”

The Junior Bok coach has made six changes to the team that faced France.

Flyhalf David Coetzer, flank Phendulani Buthelezi, hooker Tiaan van der Merwe and prop Alulutho Tshakweni will get their first tournament starts.

Van der Merwe and Tshakweni will also start in a new-look front row with tighthead prop Sazi Sandi.

The other change is at inside centre where Rikus Pretorius returns after recovering from an ankle injury, and he will partner up with Manuel Rass in midfield.

Tournament debutants prop Leon Lyons and scrumhalf Jack Hart will provide cover on the bench.