The Vodacom Blue Bulls u/20s will host the Lions u/20s on Friday at Loftus Versveld desperately looking for four log points to "secure" their place in the SA Rugby u/20 Cup competition scheduled for 06 April 2023.
The visitors are still unbeaten after five matches on 17 log points while the Vodacom Blue Bulls u/20s have 10 log points after four matches.
Both teams are expected to win their remaining matches with relative ease. Should the Lions u/20s win they will secure their place in the final, however, the Vodacom Bulls must beat their visitors and earn four more log points than the Lions u/20s.
Vodacom Blue Bulls u/20 head coach Wessel du Plessis made two changes to his starting line-up. At the back, Liam Koen replaces the injured Compion Von Ludwig at flyhalf while Hanno Theunissen will make his debut for the 2023 Vodacom Blue Bulls u/21 at lock.
No changes were made to the Lions u/20s.
Teams:
Lions u/20: 15. Janeil Losper, 14. Asemahle Nongogo, 13. Kelly Mpeku, 12. Bronson Mills, 11. Keagan Smith, 10. Sam Francis, 9. Layton Horn, 8. Thabang Mphafi, 7. Christopher Sjoblom, 6. Sibabalwe Mahashe, 5. Daniel Botha, 4. Tiaan Wessels, 3. RF Schoeman, 2. Marno Grobbelaar, 1. S J Kotze (c). Replacements: 16. Riaan Swart, 17. Stian de Bruyn, 18. Liam Whitehead, 19. Luan Taylor, 20. Willen de Waal, 21. Aiden Muller, 22. Thurlon Williams, 23. Shah-Jehaan De Jongh.
Vodacom Blue Bulls u/20: 15. Regan Izaks, 14. Alfondso Isaacs, 13. Katlego Letebele, 12. PA Van Niekerk, 11. Munashe Dukuswa, 10. Liam Koen, 9. Neil Le Roux, 8. Corne Beets, 7. Ghudian van Reenen, 6. Neels Volschenk (c), 5. Nel Van Heerden, 4. Hanno Theunissen, 3. Mawande Mdanda, 2. Juanre Else, 1. Corne Lavagna. Replacements: 16. Juanre Breitenbach, 17. Mbasa Maqubela, 18. Johan Louw, 19. Lukas Meyer, 20. Abulele Ndabambi, 21. Caleb Abrahams, 22. Jaden Bantom, 23. Gert Steyn.