U20 New Zealand and the Junior Springboks named their teams for Round 1 of the U20 Rugby Championship which kicks off on Thursday 2 May on Queensland's Sunshine Coast in Australia at 09:00 (SA Time).
Zachary Porthen (prop) will lead the Junior Springboks against New Zealand on Thursday. The former SA Schools captain is one of five players in the South African match-day squad who featured in last year’s World Rugby U20 Championship in Cape Town, where the Junior Boks finished third.
The other returning SA U20s from last year who will start against New Zealand are Asad Moos (scrumhalf), Jurenzo Julius (centre) and Litelihle Bester (wing). JF van Heerden (lock) was named among the replacements and is set to make an impact off the bench.
Porthen will anchor the front row alongside Ruan Swart (prop) and Juan Smal (hooker), while Thomas Dyer and Adam de Waal are the starting locks. The loose trio consists of flankers Sibabalwe Mahashe and Bathobele Hlekani, with Tiaan Jacobs at No 8.
In the backline, Moos got the nod a starting scrumhalf where he will partner flyhalf Tylor Sefoor. Bruce Sherwood and Julius will patrol the midfield, Bester and Joel Leotlela are the speedsters on the wing, and Michail Damon completes the backline at fullback.
Junior Bok coach Bafana Nhleko said his group had a good week training week in the build-up to the historic Sanzaar tournament.
“The medical and strength and conditioning staff did a sterling job to ensure our group settled in as quickly as possible after our long-haul flight from South Africa, and our preparations went well this week,” said Nhleko. “The players are now eager to put in a good effort on the field against a top-quality opponent.”
The rivalry and tradition between South Africa and New Zealand also mean a lot of pride are at stake in this opening-round encounter, but Nhleko also said his players have to be aware of the Kiwi threats all over the field.
“We all know about the tremendous rivalry, and the all-round threat of New Zealand is a well-known fact,” said Nhleko.
“Especially the physical battle will be huge between two teams that pride themselves on physicality. The main message has been to focus on ourselves and to drive our behaviours.
“So, as much as there is a lot at stake in this match and we are chasing a good performance, as a group, we are also eager to continue to learn and use this tournament as a great opportunity to further develop as a team.”
Jono Gibbes, the former All Black, has returned to New Zealand to coach the side that has struggled in recent years to make an impact at the annual World Rugby Under-20 championship.
The game would be a typical New Zealand-South Africa contest. New Zealand would be looking for at least parity up front.
"We have to make sure we win that forward battle. That set piece stuff is going to be the rock for us."
Gibbes said that as a new side, they were aware that things would not be perfect from the start and that combinations might not gel, but he was looking for how the players reacted when something didn't go right.
"We have to stay tight and solve a problem together. That is going to be the key for me."
Gibbes was pleased with how quickly the group has learned since coming together. They faced a concentration of long meetings to discuss a lot of information, but he had connected and stayed focused.
"We threw a lot at them, but they've responded positively so that bodes well the deeper we get into this campaign."
There was a good mix of past and younger players having their first experience at the Under-20s international level.
Having the Rugby Championship sides put their Under-20s teams into a tournament before their world championship was a boost. It also allowed them to get as much as possible out of their three games to prepare for their world tournament.
"That's the responsibility of this team because some of those other teams never got this opportunity."
Captain Vernon Bason said he was grateful for the opportunity to play for and lead the Under-20s. Tongan-born, he came to New Zealand when he was three, living in Palmerston North first but then moving with his parents to a lifestyle block near Wanganui.
He came through the Manawatu rugby system while attending Feilding High School, following in the footsteps of the Whitelock family and Aaron Smith.
Knowing those players had reached the All Blacks was a reminder of the possibilities that could happen for anyone if they worked hard. He said the teachers said Sam Whitelock, the All Blacks' most capped player, had worked hard, which was reflected in his career longevity.
Bason said Smith, the most capped All Blacks halfback, often popped into the school while he was there and was always keen to help, which he would remember later in his career.
He has been part of the Hurricanes system, mainly during pre-season, and has enjoyed working alongside players like Asafo Aumua and Brad Shields.
Playing South Africa first in the tournament would be a good test, given the rivalry between the two nations at whatever level they play.
"It will be defined by who's ready to bring the physical battle. We know it's a game they'll turn up for and likewise for us. It's a game we'll turn up for."
They were aware of the size of the South African players as all the teams share the same accommodation. But it was a case of still getting to know each other while battling on the field.
The involvement of the Rugby Championship nations in such a tournament was a good initiative because the players who were in the tournament last year could see the benefit the players from the Six Nations had from their warm-up tournament.
Gibbes said the Northern Hemisphere sides play differently, and what they do without the ball is also different. South Africa's defence is different from that in New Zealand, so the players would be exposed to a new system.
"This tournament helps us to analyse, evolve and adjust and get prepared for Cape Town. These games are massive and they're an important part of the development of these young guys."
Teams:
Junior Springboks: 15 Michail Damon, 14 Joel Leotlela, 13 Jurenzo Julius (vc), 12 Bruce Sherwood, 11 Litelihle Bester, 10 Tylor Sefoor, 9 Asad Moos, 8 Tiaan Jacobs, 7 Bathobele Hlekani, 6 Sibabalwe Mahashe, 5 Adam de Waal, 4 Thomas Dyer, 3 Zachary Porthen (c), 2 Juan Smal, 1 Ruan Swart. Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Mbasa Maqubela, 18 Reno Hirst, 19 JF van Heerden (vc), 20 Thabang Mphafi, 21 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22 Thurlon Williams, 23 Joshua Boulle.
U20 New Zealand: 15 Isaac Hutchinson, 14 Frank Vaenuku, 13 Aki Tuivailala, 12 Xavi Taele (vc), 11 Stanley Solomon, 10 Cooper Grant, 9 Ben O’Donovan, 8 Malachi Wrampling, 7 Johnny Lee, 6 Andrew Smith, 5 Liam Jack, 4 Tom Allen, 3 Joshua Smith, 2 Vernon Bason (c), 1 Will Martin. Replacements: 16 A-One Lolofie, 17 Senio Sanele, 18 Kurene Luamanuvae, 19 Cam Christie, 20 Mosese Bason, 21 Dylan Pledger, 22 Rico Simpson, 23 Josh Whaanga.