Centres Ethan Adams and Markus Muller will start for the Junior Springboks in the first of two meetings against Georgia in Tbilisi on Sunday.
The team will be captained by Riley Norton, who lifted the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy last year. He will partner Heinrich Theron in the second row, packing down behind a powerful front row consisting of Rambo Kubheka, Liam van Wyk and Danie Kruger.
The loose trio consist of flankers Kebotile Maake and Luke Canon, with Reuben Kruger at No 8.
In the backline, scrumhalf Hendre Schoeman and flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed form the halfback pairing.
Adams and Muller will operate in the midfield, while Jordan Steenkamp and Lindsey Jansen are on the wings and Zekhethelo Siyaya at fullback.
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The rest of the touring squad are on the bench as the coaching staff will look to give the full group playing time. The replacements include versatile back Luan Giliomee, who recently made his Springbok Sevens debut.
Experienced Junior Boks front-rowers Oliver Reid and Siphosethu Mnebelele – both members of last year’s successful side in Italy – were not considered for this match as a precaution due some minor niggles.
“There is a fantastic energy in the camp,” said coach Kevin Foote. “The boys have settled into the local environment quickly, and the weather has been surprisingly pleasant for training.
“We had a productive high-intensity hit-out against the Lelo Saracens earlier this week, which was the ideal occasion for us to help fine-tune our structures and connections before Sunday.”
Sunday’s match kicks off at 5pm (SA time).
JUNIOR SPRINGBOKS – 15 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 14 Lindsey Jansen, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Ethan Adams, 11 Jordan Steenkamp, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Hendre Schoeman, 8 Reuben Kruger, 7 Luke Canon, 6 Kebotile Maake, 5 Riley Norton (c), 4 Heinrich Theron, 3 Danie Kruger, 2 Liam van Wyk, 1 Rambo Kubheka.
Bench: 16 Kai Pratt, 17 Mahle Sithole, 18 Sibabalwe Booi, 19 James Schnetler, 20 JD Hattingh, 21 Risima Khosa, 22 Mumbere Vyambwera, 23 Gert Kemp, 24 Matthew Fink, 25 Luan Giliomee, 26 Dylan Miller, 27 Christian Vorster, 28 Samuel Badenhorst, 29 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga.
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
The post Adams, Muller in Junior Boks midfield appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Centres Ethan Adams and Markus Muller will start for the Junior Springboks in the first of two meetings against Georgia in Tbilisi on Sunday.
The post Adams, Muller in Junior Boks midfield appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
