Baby Boks to unleash Damian

Junior Springbok flyhalf Damian Willemse will make his first appearance of the season for the national Under-20 team when Chean Roux’s charges meet Georgia in their opening match of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Perpignan, France today.

Willemse, one of seven players in the match-day squad who participated in the tournament in Georgia last year, will partner with Zak Burger at halfback after coming off a solid Super Rugby campaign for the Stormers.

Lock and captain Salmaan Moerat, centre Wandisile Simelane, No 8 Muller Uys, fullback Gianni Lombard, hooker Daniel Jooste and replacement scrumhalf Rewan Kruger are the other players in Roux’s match-23 who featured in Tbilisi.

“We were fortunate to be able to select a settled squad, which will be handy against a physical and passionate outfit,” said Roux.

“All the players are fit and eager to play, and we selected a team we thought would be best suited to the game against Georgia.”

Looking ahead at the clash against Georgia, Roux said he is expecting a physical onslaught: “Georgia play with their hearts on their sleeves and they will take to the field with everything they have. They are a forward-driven team, with a good scrum and lineout maul, so they will probably try to lay the foundation there. But that said, our plans for the game are mapped out and hopefully we can counter that.”

Kick-off: 6.30pm.