Riley Norton will lead an exciting Junior Springbok squad for the third edition of SANZAAR’s Under-20 Rugby Championship, which starts on 27 April in Gqeberha.
Junior Bok head coach Kevin Foote included four members of the SA U20 squad that won the Junior World Championship in Italy last year, as well as several of the most promising young local rugby talent.
Apart from Norton, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Oliver Reid and Vusi Moyo were members of the successful Junior Bok side of last year. They are joined in the squad by Markus Muller, Ethan Adams (both centres), Gert Kemp (No 8) and Kai Pratt (prop), all of whom played for the SA U18 side last year.
The Junior Bok squad was picked from the SA U20 training group who were preparing for the forthcoming SANZAAR event in Stellenbosch for the past two weeks.
Cheswill Jooste (wing) and Zekhethelo Siyaya (fullback) were placed on standby pending their duties in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, along with Jade Muller and Akahluwa Boqwana.
Meanwhile, former Wynberg Boys’ High School lock Jaythen Orange and FNB UCT midfielder Olunje Mehlomakulu were late additions to the squad in place of the injured AJ Meyer and Christian Vorster.
Injury also ruled out regular Junior Bok training squad member Luan Giliomee, after the Blitzbok utility player sustained a niggle which prevented him from attending the latest training camp.
Commenting on the final selection, Foote said it was no easy task to reduce the training squad from 43 players to 31 for the tournament.
“We asked a lot of the group over the past two weeks, because we wanted to step up the intensity and increase their fitness, and they responded splendidly,” said Foote.
“We know from experience that the southern hemisphere teams play a high tempo game, and we are looking forward to playing an exciting brand of rugby with lots of ball in play.
“We tailored our camp programme around those focus-areas, so that we can prepare our players accordingly for what they will encounter in the Rugby Championship. We also continued to work hard on our cohesion and our game model, and the coaching staff are very pleased with the effort of all the young men.
“Unfortunately, we can only take a squad of 31, and so we feel for those players who missed out on final selection. We will fine-tune our final preparations in Gqeberha before our opening match on 27 April against Argentina.”
With the Junior World Championship in mind, in June and July in Georgia, the Junior Bok coach said the door was not closed on those players who missed out on selection, or any other player who did not attend the current training camp. He also thanked the provincial unions and franchises for preparing the players for the training camp.
Junior Springbok squad for the U20 Rugby Championship:
Props: Oliver Reid (DHL Stormers), Rambo Kubheka (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Jordan Jooste (DHL Stormers), Danie Kruger (DHL Stormers), Kai Pratt (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Hookers: Siphosethu Mnebelele (Vodacom Bulls), Liam van Wyk (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Locks: Heinrich Theron (Vodacom Bulls), Riley Norton (captain, DHL Stormers), JD Hattingh (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Jaythen Orange (Fidelity Securedrive Lions).
Loose forwards: Kebotile Maake (Vodacom Bulls), Risima Khosa (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Luke Canon (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Thomas Beling (Vodacom Bulls), Wasi Vyambwera (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Gert Kemp (DHL Stormers).
Scrumhalves: Hendré Schoeman (Vodacom Bulls), Jayden Brits (DHL Stormers).
Flyhalves: Yaqeen Ahmed (DHL Stormers), Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks).
Centres: Ethan Adams (Fidelity Securedrive Lions), Samuel Badenhorst (DHL Stormers), Markus Muller (DHL Stormers), Olunje Mehlomakulu (DHL Stormers).
Outside backs: Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Lindsey Jansen (Vodacom Bulls), Jack Benade (DHL Stormers), Jade Muller (Toyota Cheetahs)*, Akahluwa Boqwana (Vodacom Bulls)*, Alzeadon Felix (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Cheswill Jooste (Vodacom Bulls)*, Zekhethelo Siyaya (Hollywoodbets Sharks)*.
Note: Players marked with an asterisk are on standby. The squad will be finalised on completion of the weekend’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship fixtures and depending on medical reports.
Pitfall
Sport Trivia: Who was the first SA cricketer to take a hat trick in Test cricket? Answer: Geoff Griffin in the second test match against England at Lords in June 1960 — he dismissed Mike Smith, caught by the wicket-keeper, then bowled Peter Walker and Freddy Trueman. England went on to win the game by an innings and 73 runs. He never played another test match after that, due to his continually being called no-ball for alleged throwing.