SA U20 name strongest available team for Pumitas opener
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Johan Goosen of South Africa runs with the ball during the IRB Junior World Championship match between Ireland and South Africa at the Stadio Communale di Monigo on June 14, 2011 in Treviso, Italy. Photo by David Rogers
South Africa Under-20 coach, Dawie Theron, has named his strongest available team for the first of three matches against Argentina on Saturday at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sports (Markotter) field. The team will be captained by Vodacom Blue Bulls and Tuks flanker Wiaan Liebenberg and include Tony Jantjies in the no 10 jersey, the younger brother of Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies.
The young South Africans are currently together for a two-week training camp, which include two internationals against the Argentinian Pumitas plus a midweek clash comprising mostly of Under-19 players. The training camp is in preparation for the IRB Junior World Championship 2012 to be held in South Africa from 4 to 22 June in Cape Town.
The remaining matches against Argentina are scheduled for next Tuesday and the following Saturday. The Pumitas will name their team on Friday. Kick-off time on Saturday is 13h45.
Theron, in his second season in charge of the SA U20’s, said he was looking forward to a good start.
“We are looking forward to gain some momentum because the Junior World Championship is not too far off. The players are getting along nicely and we are building on our approach and systems which we put in place since the first training group got together in December,” said Theron.
The coach added he was looking forward to see players in action who were not previously involved in the training group. “Several players such as Dean Hammond (left wing), Dillyn Leyds (fullback) and Braam Steyn (flyhalf) are new additions to the squad and we now have the ideal opportunity to test them against quality international opposition. Then there are also players such as Ruan Venter (lock) who have recovered from injury and in need of some game time.
“Tshotsho Mbovane (wing) has meanwhile recovered from knee injury and while he is currently training with us, he is not yet fully fit and was therefore not considered for selection.
“This is an extremely important training camp for us,” explains Theron further. “We selected a number of Under-19 players with the specific view to expose them to our team culture so that they can familiarise themselves with our structures. Argentina is a good team and will test us in every department.”
In the curtain-raiser home team, Paul Roos Gymnasium, will tackle traditional Western Cape rivals Boland Landbou in a mouth-watering schools encounter.
The SA U20 team to play against Argentina on Saturday is:
15. Marius Schmidt, 14. JJ de Klerk, 13. Patrick Howard, 12. Jan Serfontein, 11. Dean Hammond, 10. Tony Jantjies, 9. Kevin Luiters, 8. Fabian Booysen, 7. Wiaan Liebenberg (captain), 6. Khaya Majola, 5. Pieter Steph du Toit, 4. Ruan Venter, 3. Nicolas van Dyk, 2. Mark Pretorius, 1. Allan Dell
Replacements:
16. Marzuq Maarman, 17. Franco Marais, 18. Henkus van Dyk, 19. Ettiene Oosthuisen, 20. Braam Steyn, 21. Abrie Griesel, 22. Kobus van Wyk, 23. Dillyn Leyds
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