Today at 13h00 the final battle for the SARU u/20 Championship will take place between the two unbeaten teams of the competition when DHL Western Province u/20 travel to Johannesburg to face "favourites" Lions u/20.
The finalist played each other in Round 5 in Johannesburg when a second-half comeback by WP saw them almost snatching the win away from the Lions. The men from Johannesburg were leading 17-7 at the break and then scored early in the second half to move 24-7 ahead before the Cape side started their comeback.
Junior Bok flanker Izan Esterhuizen's yellow card complicated matters for the Lions, as replacement hooker Lukhanyo Vokozela and replacement prop Jacques Rossouw scored before wing Rethabile Louw got the bonus point try for the visitors. The conversion was wide, and WP left Johannesburg with their second draw in the competition.
With five wins and one draw in the league phase of the season, the Lions u/20 finished first on the standings with 32 points. Their opponents in the final had four wins and two draws in the league phases to end second with 29 log points.
Both sides had comprehensive wins in the semifinals when the Lions u/20 beat the Cell C Sharks u/20 (59-18) and DHL Western Province u/20 sent the Vodacom Bulls u/20 home after a 42-17 beating.
The DHL Western Province u/20 drew against the Leopards u/20 (14-14) while the Lions u/20 had to work hard in the second half to travel back to Johannesburg with a 34-32 win.
The Lions u/20 kept the changes to their team to the minimum for the SARU u/20 Championship Final tomorrow 13h00 against DHL Western Province u/20 in Johannesburg.
Only one change was made to the starting line-up. Henco van Wyk, who played off the bench in the semi-final will start at the outside centre with Ngia Selengbe moving to the wing to make place for van Wyk.
Lions U20 coaches Wessel Roux and Mziwakhe Nkosi believe their side is extremely upbeat ahead of Saturday’s clash against Western Province U20 at Emirates Airline Park in the SA Rugby U20 Cup final.
Roux and Nkosi are confident that the Lions youngsters have what it takes to go all the way.
"The boys are quite excited for the final. As you can imagine, it’s quite the occasion for them and its due reward for the work they have put in over the season," says Nkosi.
The two teams played to a 24-24 draw when they met in Round 5 of the competition, but Roux believes the approach won't change too much.
"Our approach will not be too different. Obviously, they have grown as a team as well, and there is just a bigger onus on us to execute our plans better this time round after we let them off the hook in the league phase," explains Roux.
A new addition to Saturday's encounter will be the introduction of crowds at the stadium since the announcement by SA Rugby that fully vaccinated fans will be allowed to club and professional matches. Both coaches believe this will be a boost for their young troops as they aim to lift local junior rugby's premier silverware.
"It is going to be somewhat interesting as the players have not played in front of crowds in a while, so hopefully they can give our team that extra push in the game."
Flank Simon Miller comes in for DHL Western Province U20 in the only change. Miller missed the semifinal victory against Vodacom Bulls U20 at Newlands through injury but has recovered to take his place in the starting line-up for the final, which kicks off at 13h00 on Saturday at Emirates Airline Park and will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
With Miller at blindside flank, Jarrod Taylor moves back to No.8 and Armand Maritz shifts to the replacements bench.
DHL Western Province U20 Head Coach Jerome Paarwater said that his team are focused on doing the blue and white hoops proud in the final.
“It has been a great campaign for us and a fitting final between the only two unbeaten teams in the competition.
“We have built up some pleasing momentum lately, but we know that it will all come down to how we perform in the 80 minutes on Saturday.
“The team has trained well and it is great to have some continuity in selection heading into a final, so we will be able to give it our best,” he said.
Lions u/20: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Ngia Selengbe , 13 Johann "Henco" van Wyk, 12 Tyler Bocks (c), 11 Boldwin Hansen, 10 Jurich Claasens, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Izak "Izan" Esterhuizen, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Conor van Buuren, 4 Babalo Makana, 3 Sibusiso Shongwe, 2 Jacque-Lois du Toit, 1 Heiko Pohlmann. Replacements: 16 Allister Williams, 17 Okuhle Siyeni, 18 Jacobus "Kabous" Bezuidenhout, 19 Justin Kalamer, 20 Sisonke Vumazonke, 21 Sihlalo Benge, 22 Setshaba Mokoena, 23 Indiphile Tyeda, 24 Josh Jonas, 25 Joshua van Vreden, 26 Prince Mulea.
DHL WP U20: 15 Jacques Rossouw, 14 Ebenezer Tshimanga, 13 Ethan James, 12 Ruben Labuschagne, 11 Rethabile Louw, 10 Sacha Mngomezulu, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Jarrod Taylor, 7 Simon Miller, 6 Romauld Ntumba, 5 Dylan De Leeuw (captain), 4 Connor Evans, 3 Corne Weilbach, 2 Keagan Blanckenberg, 1 Rhynardt Rijnsburger. Replacements (from): 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Vernon Matongo, 19 Marco van Rhyn, 20 Armand Maritz, 21 Conwill Conradie, 22 Meyr Retief, 23 Duran Koevort, 24 Liam Kloosman, 25 Cade Croy, 26 Christian Lamprecht.
