Bosch back to steer juniors

FLYHALF Curwin Bosch will take his place in the Junior Springbok starting lineup against Argentina today after being recalled by coach Chean Roux.

Roux has made minor changes to his side for their final Pool C encounter‚ against Argentina‚ at the World Rugby Under 20 Championships in Tbilisi‚ Georgia.

Bosch‚ who was on the bench on Sunday when the Junior Boks beat hosts Georgia 38-14‚ watched regular fullback Manie Libbok deliver a strong display in far better playing conditions compared to the tournament opener against France last week.

Bosch‚ who has been in sensational form in Super Rugby playing for the Sharks‚ struggled in the windy wet conditions against Les Bleus and needs to be at his best to steer South Africa into the last four.

Libbok returns to fullback in place of Jean-Luc Cilliers‚ where he played against France on match day one‚ which ended in a 23-23 draw.

Up front, locks Ruben van Heerden and Hendre Stassen have been drafted into the starting lineup.

Van Heerden‚ who missed the clash against Georgia after taking a knock against France‚ replaces Reinhard Nothnagel‚ while Stassen takes over from Salmaan Moerat.

Flank Muller Uys‚ who joined the team in Georgia on Sunday as an injury replacement for Nama Xaba‚ will start on the bench in place of Zain Davids‚ who is serving a two-match suspension.

It is a crucial clash because victory will be enough to see the Junior Boks into the last four for a sixth consecutive year, but Los Pumitas are one of their bogey teams.

Last season‚ at the World Championships in Manchester‚ the Junior Boks lost 19-13 to Argentina in pool play, and were later crushed 49-19 by the Pumitas in the bronze medal match.