The South Africa A team to face Zimbabwe at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday features both Springboks and Junior Boks.
The Bok contingent includes props Boan Venter and Neethling Fouché, lock Vincent Tshituka, No 8 Phepsi Buthelezi and centre Lukhanyo Am.
Exciting youngsters Luan Giliomee, Jaco Williams and Zekhethelo Siyaya form a potent back three, while Markus Muller will partner Am in the midfield.
The team will be steered by SA U20 flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed and Lions scrumhalf Haashim Pead.
Up front, props Fouché and Venter will pack down on either side of SA U20 hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele, while the second row will feature the Stormers’ Ruben van Heerden alongside Tshituka .
The back row features Buthelezi at No 8 and Batho Hlekani and Emmanuel Tshituka on the side of the scrum.
The bench features more emerging stars in hooker Liam van Wyk, props Oliver Reid and Hanro Jacobs, alongside the more experienced Adré Smith and Siba Mahashe among the forwards.
The three backline replacements are scrumhalves Nico Steyn (Lions) and Imad Khan (Stormers), as well as Sharks centre Jurenzo Julius.
Players who feature for SA A in this match will be tied to South Africa, having made an appearance for the country’s designated second team.
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“I’m looking forward to seeing what this group of players can do against a determined Zimbabwe outfit, who have qualified for the 2027 World Cup, and will undoubtedly use this opportunity to test themselves against us as they prepare for the international spectacle,” said coach Mzwandile Stick.
“The young players and uncapped guys have really slotted in well in the last week, and one can sense the excitement among them to take the field.
“This match will provide fantastic senior international exposure for them, and for Zimbabwe as well, and I believe they have the goods to play an exciting brand of rugby, which will be great for the coaches to assess our depth as we not only build for this season, but with an eye on the World Cup next year as well.”
Of Zimbabwe, Stick said: “They have a settled team, and they have good coaches, so they will throw everything at us, and we need to be ready for that. The keys for us this weekend will be to stick to our structures and for the individuals to use the talent that earned them selection for this group, so we are looking forward to seeing what they deliver on the field.”
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SOUTH AFRICA A – 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Jaco Williams, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Lukhanyo Am, 11 Zekhethelo Siyaya, 10 Yaqeen Ahmed, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Bathobele Hlekani, 6 Emmanuel Tshituka, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Vincent Tshituka (c), 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Boan Venter.
Bench: 16 Liam van Wyk, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Adré Smith, 20 Siba Mahashe, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Jurenzo Julius.
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Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
The post Junior Boks spearhead SA A attack appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The South Africa A team to face Zimbabwe at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday features both Springboks and Junior Boks.
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