With one productive opposed training session already under their belts, the Junior Springboks are now ready to switch to game mode when they face their Georgian Under-20 counterparts in Tbilisi on Sunday afternoon (16:00 SA time).
The teams have agreed to allow rolling substitutions for the first meeting, meaning all 30 squad members will get to taste some action. Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote has named Thando Biyela (No 8), a former SA U18 representative, to lead the team on Sunday.
Foote said the Junior Boks will be eager to gauge their progress and skills against a Georgian side who are known for their physicality, while the expected cold conditions will also challenge the visitors, who experienced freezing temperatures when they kicked off their tour on Wednesday afternoon with a live training session against the Lelo Saracens rugby club.
“We are looking forward to challenge and to implement our game plan against a very physical opponent,” said Foote.
“Our set piece, physicality and kicking game is of course key elements of the South African way and DNA, so it would be nice to see how the boys adopt to the cold weather and implement the game plan.”
“The cold conditions are quite an adjustment, but the group have taken it in their stride. We understand the prediction for Sunday can be as low as minus six degrees, which will pose an interesting challenge considering we came from warm summer conditions in Stellenbosch.
“We cannot control the weather, but (we can determine our) our own action and attitude, and I think we are all doing a good job around that. Therefore, it will be important for us to be smart against the opposition, as they are accustomed to the local conditions.”
Foote views the group’s off-field relationships just as important: “It’s not only about connecting on the field, which is obviously very important, and we are constantly working on that.
“However, we are putting a lot of effort into getting to know each other off the field of play, stressing the importance of what the SA Rugby badge means for all of us and the people back home.
“We had a couple of team-building exercises which are designed to strengthen togetherness, and it’s something we are constantly working on. It is great seeing the guys coming together as a group and experience the different environment and culture.”
The final match of the tour is scheduled for 15h00 on Friday, 28 February.
Junior Springbok team to face Georgia:
15 Gilermo Mentoe
14 Cheswill Jooste
13 Dominic Malgas
12 Pieter van der Merwe
11 Chijindu Okonta
10 Matthew Coetzee
9 Zeke January
8 Thando Biyela (captain)
7 Yabo Ndzamela
6 Divan Fuller
5 Morne Venter
4 Heinrich Theron
3 Tebogo Nkosi
2 HB Odendaal
1 Oliver Reid
Replacements:
16 Sipo Mnebelele
17 Simphiwe Ngobese
18 Jean Erasmus
19 Riley Norton
20 Stephanus Linde
21 Batho Hlekani
22 Ceano Everson
23 JT Kapank
24 Ranon Fouche
25 Juandré Schoeman
26 Kuhle Mthimkhulu
27 Xola Nyali
28 Haashim Pead
29 Scott Nel
30 Siya Ndlozi
