South Africa U18 coach Lwazi Zangqa has made wholesale changes to his starting XV for Saturday’s match against England U18 at Paarl Gimnasium.
The 3.30pm clash is the main event of the final day of the U18 International Series, following the SA U18 A team’s meeting with France at 11.30am and Ireland’s match against Georgia at 1.30pm.
Only locks Jayden Joubert and AJ Meyer, and No 8 Gert Kemp, have been retained in the pack from the side that beat Ireland 45-5 at Boland Landbou on Tuesday. The new-look front row features Kai Pratt at loosehead prop, Altus Rabe at hooker and JG Badenhorst at tighthead prop, while Chinedu Amadi and Joshua Neill start on the flanks.
In the backline, scrumhalf Morne Noble, flyhalf Liyema Nela, wing Jadrian Afrikaner and inside centre Ethan Adams are promoted from the bench.
“We wanted to ensure each player got the opportunity to taste international rugby and enjoy the occasion,” said Zangqa.
“England will be eager to end the series on a positive note, so we have to be physically up for the battle and focused for the full 70 minutes.
“While defence will be key, we also want to produce a good attacking display for our supporters.”
ALSO: Boks make change to bench
The SA U18 A team, coming off a 57-19 win over Georgia, have also made a few changes for their clash with France.
Jeffrey Singo returns at loosehead prop, Diaan Augustyn starts at lock and Reinhart Viljoen is back at fullback.
Wings Junaide Pasensie and Ncutu Kepe have swapped sides, while Jeandre Uithaler continues at flyhalf and captain.
SA U18 – 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya (Sharks), 14 Junaide Stuart (Bulls), 13 Markus Muller (c, WP), 12 Ethan Adams (Cheetahs), 11 Jadriaan Afrikaner (Sharks), 10 Liyema Nela (Sharks), 9 Morne Noble (WP), 8 Gert Kemp (WP), 7 Joshua Neill (WP), 6 Chinedu Amadi (Lions), 5 AJ Meyer (Cheetahs), 4 Jayden Joubert (WP), 3 JG Badenhorst (Cheetahs), 2 Altus Rabe (WP), 1 Kai Pratt (SWD).
Bench: 16 Keenan Myners (SWD), 17 Jordan Jooste (WP), 18 Matthew van der Merwe (WP), 19 Lwandile Mlaba (Sharks), 20 Wasi Vyambwera (Sharks), 21 Jacobus de Villiers (SWD), 22 Jayden Brits (WP), 23 Ruben Groenewald (Bulls), 24 Christian Vorster (SWD), 25 Lamla Mgedezi (Cheetahs), 26 Thabiso Simelane (Bulls).
SA U18 A – 15 Reinhart Viljoen (SWD), 14 Ncutu Kepe (Border), 13 Erin Nelson (EP), 12 Lizwe Mthethwa (Sharks), 11 Junade Pasensie (Bulls), 10 Jeandre Uithaler (c, Lions), 9 Mickyle Booise (WP), 8 Quintin Potgieter (WP), 7 Liam Lightly (SWD), 6 Briint Davids (WP), 5 Migael Turner (WP), 4 Diaan Augustyn (SWD), 3 Deon Botes (Bulls), 2 Thomas Muller (WP), 1 Jeffrey Singo (Bulls).
Bench: 16 Keenan Myners (SWD), 17 Pieta Cilliers (WP), 18 Bernhard du Toit (WP), 19 Lian Terblanche (Lions), 20 Nhlanhla Ndlovu (Sharks), 21 Zirk Meyer (Bulls), 22 Ethan van Biljon (WP), 23 Nathan Aneke (Sharks), 24 Sbabalwe Magwebu (Border), 25 Jeneall Davids (WP).
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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