The South African u/18 "A" side will face France u/18 in Paarl on Friday at 13h30 in the first match of the 2022 u/18 International Series.
The hosts will face a French u/18 team that forms part of a well-organised and structured development program that showed during the u/18 SixNations as well as the u/20 Summer Series that it is extremely successful.
However, that said the hosts will be on average a year older and play a more physical type of rugby that should secure an "easy" match.
Camden Schoeman will captain SA Under-18 "A" sides in the u/18 International Series against France in Paarl on Friday at 13h30.
The two South African u/18 squads gathered in Stellenbosch on Sunday to start their preparations for the series, which includes three rounds of matches – all of them at Paarl Gimnasium – and for the coach Cobus van Dyk today's matche will provide a great foundation from which they can build for the rest of the series.
The second round will be on Tuesday 23 August and the action will conclude on Saturday 27 August, with the Junior Springbok coaching team of Bafana Nhleko and Chean Roux supporting the two teams.
Van Dyk said: “We are blessed with some wonderful talent at U18 level and the excitement under the players, to now playing with guys who they often face as opponents for their schools and provinces, is palpable.
“None of these guys has represented their country at the international level, after the planned tour to Georgia last year was cancelled, but the players realise the enormous responsibility that comes with it and will give everything they have for the jersey in the coming weeks.”
Cédric Laborde, head coach of the France u/20 only included two players, on the bench, that were part of the squad that remained unbeaten during the 2022 Six Nations tournament.
Laborde said that the majority of the squad is still u/17 with only three players that are part of the touring group, aged 18.
Laborde said "This first tour for the u/17 aims to give the first experience to our young players, then to accompany them in their development throughout their u/18 year until the Six Nations festival in 2023.
SA Under-18 ‘A’: 15. Jeneil Losper, 14. Gino Cupido, 13. Antonio Bruiners, 12. Philip-Albert van Niekerk, 11. Jameel de Jongh, 10. Liam Koen, 9. Emrique Liedeman, 8. Camden Schoeman (c), 7. Divan Fuller, 6. Zukisane Tom, 5. Keanu Coetzee, 4. Danio Botha, 3. Nic Snyman, 2. Juan Smal, 1. Liyema Ntshanga. Replacements: 16. Christian Everitt, 17. Willem Loubser, 18. Bernard Bladergroen, 19. Sandile Nzuza, 20. Max du Pisani, 21. Asad Moos, 22. Sesethu Mpaka, 23. Bradley Giddy.
France u/18: 15. M. Ibo, 14. J. Wasserman, 13. M. Belaubre, 12. G. Robbe, 11. J. Echegaray, 10. Y. Brillant, 9. T. Motassi Dibong, 8. R. Loop, 7. B. Britz (c), 6. S. Tolofua, 5. R. Darquier, 4. C. Mezou, 3. O. Sorhaindo, 2. B. Narmand, 1. S. Mistrulli. Replacements: 16. L. Varenne, 17. E. Fernandes, 18. T. Duchene, 19. L. Brun Bourdi, 20. G. Malaterre, 21. R. Valentin, 22. O. Cowie, 23. X. Mousques, 24. K. Gourgues, 25. T. Rouvelet, 26. Y. Lodjro.
