Roux names new-look team for Griquas clash

Apr 4 • General News • 2987 Views • Comments Off on Roux names new-look team for Griquas clash

(No Ratings Yet)

Chean Roux has named a new-look team for the Junior Springboks’ second warm-up match, against the Tafel Lager Griquas in Kimberley on Wednesday, as he looks to give all the players in the squad a chance to prove their worth.

The match-23, which features several players who were either on the bench against the Down Touch Griffons or did not play at all, also includes four FNB Varsity Cup presented by Steinhoff International players, who joined the squad on Tuesday morning. They are Manie Libbok, Wikus Groenewald, Len Massyn and Reinhard Nothnagel.

Only five players in the run-on team started in the clash against the Down Touch Griffons, namely lock Salmaan Moerat, flyhalf Benhard Janse van Rensburg, winger Mfundo Ndhlovu, flanker Nama Xaba, and Hendre Stassen, who moves from flanker to lock. Hooker Johan Grobbelaar will captain the team.

“The purpose of these warm-up matches is to allow the players a fair opportunity to show us what they have to offer and for us to try out player combinations, so this team was always going to look different to the Griffons side,” explained Roux.

“Most of the players starting this week were either on the bench or were not selected for the first game, and some of the players have joined us from the Varsity Cup, and we are excited to see what they have to offer.

“This match and Saturday’s clash against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs are the only matches we have left to see what the players can do before we finalise our squad of 28 for the World Rugby U20 Championship, so the players know that they have to make the most of this opportunity.”

Roux is expecting a challenging test against the Tafel Lager Griquas, and he reiterated that the implementation of the structures would be the main focus in the match.

“Our goals for this match are the same as that against the Griffons, to test certain structures that we have worked on at training in a game situation,” said Roux.

“We intentionally chose matches against tough opposition in the lead-up to the tournament to test the players and our structures in a challenging environment, so that we are prepared both mentally and physically for the World Championship.”

The match between the Junior Springboks and Tafel Lager Griquas will kick off at 18h00 at Tafel Lager Park. The SA U20s’ final warm-up is against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs at Shimla Park on Saturday at 15h00.

The Junior Springboks will face France, Georgia and Argentina in the pool stages of the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 31 May, 4 June and 8 June respectively.

Junior Springbok team to face Tafel Lager Griquas:

No	Player	Province
15	Jean-Luc Cilliers	Xerox Golden Lions
14	Manie Libbok	Vodacom Blue Bulls
13	Wandisile Simelane	Xerox Golden Lions
12	David Brits	DHL Western Province
11	Mfundo Ndhlovu	Cell C Sharks
10	Benhard Janse van Rensburg	Cell C Sharks
9	Jondre Williams	DHL Western Province
8	Juarno Augustus	DHL Western Province
7	Muller Uys	DHL Western Province
6	Nama Xaba	DHL Western Province
5	Hendre Stassen	Vodacom Blue Bulls
4	Salmaan Moerat	DHL Western Province
3	Carlű Sadie	DHL Western Province
2	Johan Grobbelaar (captain)	Vodacom Blue Bulls
1	Gerhard Steenekamp	Vodacom Blue Bulls
Replacements
16	Wikus Groenewald	DHL Western Province
17	Lee-Marvin Mazibuko	DHL Western Province
18	Marnus van der Merwe	Toyota Free State Cheetahs
19	Reinhard Nothnagel	Xerox Golden Lions
20	Len Massyn	Xerox Golden Lions
21	Embrose Papier	Vodacom Blue Bulls
22	Damian Willemse	DHL Western Province
23	Wayne van der Bank	Xerox Golden Lions