SA U-20 set for Samoa showdown
Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:46
South Africa Under-20 coach Eric Sauls has made two changes to his starting XV for what is effectively a quarterfinal against Samoa Under-20s in the International Rugby Board World Junior Championships in Wales on Saturday.
According to an SA Rugby media release, Sauls has brought back hooker Pieter Janse van Vuuren for Henry Bantjes and beefed up the back row with the return of Nick Koster for the dynamic but smaller Johan van Deventer.
"I have picked my team with the opposition in mind," Sauls told sarugby.co.za.
"Samoa are a physical team but I think if we play to our pattern and take them on at the set piece we will get our best rewards.
"It was a tough choice to make as we've got a squad in which any of the 26 can start and would not let the team down."
South Africa go into the match having scored 180 points and 26 tries in their opening wins against Scotland (72-3) and the USA (108-18) but will be out of contention for the world title if they lose to Samoa.
The Pacific Islanders are the only other unbeaten team in Pool B having also disposed of Scotland (29-17) and the USA (20-6).
"They like to run the ball and have some talented players but we have a strong pack and our conditioning has been good," said Sauls. "We're not looking beyond this game though - it's vital we stick to our patterns."
Samoa face a tall order in halting the progress of the Junior Boks who are the leading scorers in the competition and whose pace and fitness has swept aside their opposition to date.
Flyhalf Francois Brummer (40 points) and replacement flyhalf Sias Ebersohn (25) are also first and second on the tournament's leading scorers' chart.
The winners of the match will face the winners of the Pool C match between England and Australia who are both undefeated in Pool C.
South Africa play Samoa at 17.00 local time on Saturday at the Racecourse Ground by which time they will already know their potential semifinal opponents.
Australia take on England at Rodney Parade in Newport at 14.30 local time.
South Africa: 15 Wilton Pietersen, 14 Stephan Dippenaar, 13 Stefan Watermeyer, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Omphile Seabela, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Dewaldt Duvenhage, 8 Gerrit Jan van Velze (captain), 7 Nick Koster, 6 Thiliphaut Marole, 5 Cornell Hess, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Frikkie Kirsten, 2 Pieter Janse van Vuuren, 1 Corne Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Henry Bantjes, 17 Jean Jacques Rosouw, 18 Sabelo Nhlapo, 19 Lusaseni Luvuyiso, 20 Sias Ebersohn, 21 Vainon Willis, 22 Cecil Afrika.
Date: Saturday, June 14
Venue: Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
Kick-off: 17.00 (16.00 GMT)
Referee: James Bolabiu (Fiji)
Touch judges: David Bodilly (Wales), Andrea Pasquin (Italy)
Performance
reviewer: Michel Lamoulie (France)
