PROP SANDI WILL LEAD NEW-LOOK JUNIOR BOKS AGAINST GEORGIA
LEADER: Sazi Sandi of South Africa Under-20 has been tasked with taking up the reins as captain for the team’s second warm-up match against Georgia today as they prepare for the World Rugby Under-20 Championships. JUNIOR Springbok prop Sazi Sandi will lead a new-look Junior Springbok squad, featuring Blitzbok Muller du Plessis, in their second warm-up match against Georgia at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch today.
SA Under-20 coach Chean Roux made several changes to his matchday squad in line with his objective to give as many players as possible a chance to show if they have what it takes to secure a place in his 28man World Rugby Under-20 Championship squad.
Sandi, who takes over the captaincy from Salmaan Moerat who trained with the DHL Stormers this week, is one of five players who retained their places in the starting line-up.
The other players are No 8 Muller Uys, winger Sihle Njezula, lock Ruan Nortjé and Gianni Lombard, who moves from fullback to flyhalf.
The match-day squad includes 16 players who have progressed through the SA Schools structures, which includes fullback Du Plessis who made his Springbok Sevens debut earlier this season.
“This is our second game, so we would like to give everyone a fair chance to play a full game so that they have the best chance to secure a place in the final squad,” said Roux.
Roux added that he is expecting Georgia to pose a strong challenge, despite going down 55-14 in their first outing at Paul Roos Gymnasium last week.
“We are expecting a similar challenge against Georgia to last week. They are a very good scrummaging team and they like to use their forwards to gain ascendancy, and we are ready for that,” said Roux.
“With regards to our game, we would like to play at a high tempo, but improve on our handling as the handling errors crept in during the latter stages of the game last week.
“Defensively there were one or two slip-ups last week, while we were also under pressure in the scrums at times, and hopefully we can rectify that in the second Test.”
The match will kick off at 4pm and entrance is R10. The SA Rugby Academy will take on the Western Province Rugby Academy in the curtain-raiser at 1.30pm. ANA
Muller du Plessis, David Kriel, Manuel Rass, Lyle Hendricks, Sihle Njezula, Gianni Lombard, Jack Hart, Muller Uys, Ryno Pieterse, JC Pretorius, Ben-Jason Dixon, Ruan Nortjé, Sazi Sandi (captain), PJ Botha, Tiaan van der Merwe.
Schalk Erasmus, Alulutho Tshakweni, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, PJ Steenkamp, Phendulani Buthelezi,
Zak Burger, Rikus Pretorius, Wandisile Simelane.