The two South African Under-18 teams know which buttons to push as they prepare for the next round of matches in the U18 International Series, which are scheduled to take place in Paarl on Tuesday.
Injuries played havoc in both squads, with SA U18 captain Zachary Porthen one of the casualties. Due to concussion, his participation in the tournament has been cut short, with Nic Snyman of the ‘A’-team moving up in Porthen’s place. Sibabalwe Mahashe (No 8) will take over the captaincy.
JC Mars (fullback) has picked up an ankle injury and will also not play again in Paarl, but he will not be replaced at this stage.
SWD tighthead prop Marco Conradie replaces Snyman in the SA U18 ‘A’ team, who have also lost the services of Ulrich van der Westhuizen (lock) with a knee injury, JT Strydom (fullback) with a calf injury, as well as Emrique Liedeman (scrumhalf) with a knee injury.
They are replaced by Sampie Joubert (WP, lock), Jayden Bantom (Valke, fullback) and Aiden Muller (WP, scrumhalf), who will join Asaad Moos (scrumhalf, WP) in the ‘A’-squad after he replaced Onelisiwe Fani last week already.
Due to the injuries and the selectors’ decision to give all the players game time, both teams show quite a number of changes, many of which are rotational.
The teams for Tuesday are:
SA Under-18 to face France in Paarl:
15 Joel Leotlela (Lions)
14 Alfondso Isaacs (Cheetahs)
13 Litelihle Bester (Sharks)
12 Bruce Sherwood (Western Province)
11 Sha-Jehaan de Jongh (Western Province)
10 Thurlon Williams (Western Province)
9 Steven Nel (Bulls)
8 Sibabalwe Mahashe (captain – Border)
7 Lilitha Matziliza (Bulls)
6 Matthew Fick (Western Province)
5 JF van Heerden (Cheetahs)
4 Jack Waterhouse (Sharks)
3 Reno Hirst (Western Province)
2 Luca Bakkes (Western Province)
1 Ruan Swart (SWD)
Replacements:
16 Ethan Bester (Sharks)
17 Liyema Ntshanga (Sharks)
18 Nic Snyman (Sharks)
19 Thabang Mpafi (Sharks)
20 Lukas Meyer (Cheetahs)
21 Caleb Abrahams (Cheetahs)
22 Stehan Heymans (Bulls)
23 Joshua Boulle (Lions)
24 Thomas Dyer (Sharks)
SA Under-18 ‘A’ to face England in Paarl:
15 Jeneil Losper (Western Province)
14 Gino Cupido (Western Province)
13 Jurenzo Julies (Western Province)
12 Sesethu Mpaka (Border)
11 Jameel de Jongh (Western Province)
10 Bradley Giddy (Cheetahs)
9 Asad Moos (Western Province)
8 Camden Schoeman (captain – SWD)
7 Divan Fuller (Western Province)
6 Max du Pisani (Eastern Province)
5 Keanu Coetzee (Western Province)
4 Sandile Nzuza (Sharks)
3 Bernard Bladergroen (Western Province)
2 Christian Everitt (Sharks)
1 Willem Loubser (Western Province)
Replacements:
16 Juan Smal (Western Province)
17 Liyema Ntshanga (Sharks)
18 Marco Conradie (SWD)
19 Sampie Joubert (Western Province)
20 Danio Botha (Western Province)
21 Zukisane Tom (Sharks)
22 Aiden Muller (Western Province)
23 Liam Koen (Western Province)
24 Antonio Bruiners (Western Province)
25 Jayden Bantom (Valke)
