Game time key for Junior Boks

Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux has made six changes to his starting team to face Wales at Cardiff Arms Park today as he looks to ensure the players get the necessary game time before the World Rugby Under-20 Championship.

The team features a new centre pairing of Manuel Rass and Lyle Hendricks, while scrumhalf Zak Burger will join forces with Lubabalo Dobela at halfback in the three changes to backline.

The switches in the pack see a new-look front row with prop Nathan McBeth and hooker Schalk Erasmus (above) start alongside Sazi Sandi, who retains his place in the starting XV, and Ben-Jason Dixon joins captain Salmaan Moerat in the second row.

Only one of the changes were injury-enforced, as prop Alulutho Tshakweni took a knock to his knee against Scotland.

The expanded squad, featuring 25 players, includes three players who did not participate in the 41-3 hammering of the Scots, namely Cohen Kiewiet, Jack Hart and David Coetzer.

“The World Rugby U20 Championship is drawing closer, so we have to ensure that everyone is ready, and has sufficient game time under the belt, which is why we decided to make a few rotational switches,” said Roux.

“This will also allow us to further grow and develop the player combinations we have been working on. Our main purpose on this tour is to build toward the international spectacle in the south of France, so everything we do is geared toward that.”

Today’s match kicks off at 3pm, with the Junior Springboks set to meet England in their final tour encounter on Friday in Worcester. – Own Correspondent