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Hermanus to start for SA U20s

PUBLISHED: June 6, 2015


Junior Springboks coach Dawie Theron has made eight changes to his match-23 for Saturday’s Pool B match at the World Under-20 Championship against Samoa in Parma, Italy, with DHL WP’s Grant Hermanus starting on the wing.

Four of these players will make a first start for the team, although only right wing Hermanus will make a run-on debut in the tournament.

Fellow Province young guns, Jacques Vermeulen (flank) and EW Viljoen (utility back), have been named on the bench in what will be their first appearances in Italy, joining Mzamo Majola (prop) and Hyron Andrews (lock) on the wood.

As part of his player management process at the World Rugby Under-20s, Theron has also made three changes to his pack of forwards.

Hooker Joseph Dweba, Jason Jenkins (lock) and Dan du Preez (No.6 flank) will start on Saturday in Parma after all three saw action from the bench against Italy. It means the Du Preez twins, Dan and Jean-Luc, will play together in the starting team for the first time in Italy.

Theron commented on his team changes: “The changes are all part of our process to manage the players effectively during the tournament. There is a short turnaround time between matches and we must make use of our full squad.”

He says his team have prepared well for Samoa: “We expect Samoa to be very physical against us. They were competitive and very physical against Australia and we can expect the same on Saturday.

They are also prepared to run the ball from anywhere so we will have to be on our guard with our defence.”

* Kick-off is at 18h30 and the match will be shown live on SuperSport and also on World Rugby’s live internet streaming.

The Junior Springboks team to face Samoa Saturday in Parma is as follows:

15. Warrick Gelant
14. Grant Hermanus
13. JT Jackson
12. Daniel du Plessis
11. Leolin Zas
10. Brandon Thomson
9. Ivan van Zyl
8. Hanro Liebenberg (captain)
7. Jean-Luc du Preez
6. Dan du Preez
5. RG Snyman
4. Jason Jenkins
3. Thomas du Toit
2. Joseph Dweba
1. Ox Nche

Replacements:
16. Jan van der Merwe
17. Mzamo Majola
18. Frans van Wyk
19. Hyron Andrews
20. Jacques Vermeulen
21. Marco Jansen van Vuren
22. Tinus de Beer
23. EW Viljoen