BabyBoks to play Oz

He replaces Vodacom Blue Bulls centre JT Jackson, who played in the previous Championship outings against Italy and Samoa. Jackson drops out of the match-23.

Viljoen, who will anchor the midfield with provincial partner Daniel du Plessis, is one of two backline changes to the team that faced Samoa.

His WP team-mate Khanyo Ngcukana, who played against Italy in the opening match, reclaims his place in the starting-15 in place of Grant Hermanus on the right wing.

WP flank Jacques Vermeulen, who started four matches for the Junior Boks in New Zealand last year and who came off the bench last Saturday, will start in the No 6 jersey. He switches places with Dan du Preez, who has been named among the replacements.

The South Africans will round off their preparations on Tuesday evening for this important fixture.

Dawie Theron, the Junior Springbok coach, said his team is well-prepared for the game.

“We have picked a very competitive side to face the quality Australian outfit. They showed with their two wins against Samoa and Italy that they are a huge threat, especially with the ball in hand, so we will have to work hard to counter their strong points,” said Theron.

The big South Africa Under-20 pack have been in impressive form at the tournament so far and Theron expects another good display from his forward unit.

“Our forwards are showing good form and the key for us will be to keep our momentum, reduce the number of errors and to create more opportunities for our backs,” said Theron.

South Africa and Australia are only separated by points’ difference at the top of the Pool B standings, and the winner will qualify automatically for the semifinals on 15 June. The pool winners and the best-placed second team across the three respective groups will qualify for the semifinals.

The match starts at 20h30 and will be televised live on SuperSport.

The Junior Springbok team to face Australia Under-20 in Calvisano is:

15. Warrick Gelant (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
14. Khanyo Ngcukana (DHL Western Province)
13. EW Viljoen (DHL Western Province)
12. Daniel du Plessis (DHL Western Province)
11. Leolin Zas (DHL Western Province)
10. Brendon Thomson (DHL Western Province)
9. Ivan van Zyl (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
8. Hanro Liebenberg (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
7. Jean-Luc du Plessis (Cell C Sharks)
6. Jacques Vermeulen (DHL Western Province)
5. RG Snyman (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
4. Jason Jenkins (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
3. Thomas du Toit (Cell C Sharks)
2. Joseph Dweba (Toyota Free State Cheetahs)
1. Ox Nche (Toyota Free State Cheetahs)

 
Replacements:

 16. Jan van der Merwe (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
17. Mzamo Majola (Cell C Sharks)
18. Frans van Wyk (DHL Western Province)
19. Hyron Andrews (Cell C Sharks)
20. Dan du Preez (Cell C Sharks)
21. Marco Jansen van Vuren (Xerox Golden Lions)
22. Tinus de Beer (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
23. Grant Hermanus (DHL Western Province)

 ...Baby Boks kick Aussie butt ...facing now in the semis a Junior England squad that lost to France...could be looking at a SA vs NZ final all going to plan...

Option 2967

Outright Winner

The South Africans, who led 20-3 at halftime, finished first overall on the combined points table and will play fourth-placed England on Monday 15 June in the semi-finals. New Zealand will play France in the other semi-final.

South Africa started the match in dominant fashion when they overpowered Australia in two early scrums. After having worked their way towards the Aussie tryline, flanker Jacques Vermeulen broke through untouched to give his team a 7-0 minute lead in the third minute.

Australia got their first points on the board through an Andrew Deegan penalty after Leolin Zas was penalised for an illegal tackle (7-3).

Flyhalf Brandon Thomson hit the mark in the 12th minute with a penalty after the Aussies were caught on the wrong side of a ruck (10-3) as South Africa piled on the pressure and their accurate kicking game gaining good ground deep into Australian territory.

In the 18th minute prop Ox Nche was on hand to take a final pass and dive over for the second try of the evening. Thomson kicked the two points on offer from an acute angle to stretch the SA lead to 17-3.

The two teams enjoyed the water break at the 20 minute mark with South Africa well in control. With just four minutes left on the clock Thomson kicked his second penalty of the evening to put South Africa 20-3 ahead.

After the restart, right wing Khanyo Ngcukana ran in to score from 30m meters out after prop Nche had executed a brilliant hit on Deegan. Thomson converted and SA was now 27-3 in the lead after 49 minutes.

With Cameron Orr (prop) yellow carded for a repeated offense in the scrum, Thomson scored South Africa’s bonus point try after 61 minutes to take the score to 34-3.

Jason Jenkins, the No 4 lock, showed a mean burst of speed to outflank the cover defence and slide over in the left hand corner and score try number five (39-3). Australia hit back with their first try through inside centre Duncan Paia’uau to cut the deficit to 39-8.

A cancelled Leolin Zas try, adjudged from a forward pass did not dampen the attacking effort and Zas was rewarded minutes when he score under the posts (46-8).

The Aussie captain, Andrew Kellaway (left wing) scored out wide after Dan du Preez was yellow-carded for illegal play, leaving SA with only 13 players until the end of the match.

Point scorers:

Junior Springboks: Tries: Jacques Vermeulen, Ox Nche, Khanyo Ngcukana, Brandon Tomson, Jason Jenkins, Leolin Zas; Conversions: Thomson (4), Tinus de Beer; Penalty: Thomson (2).
Australia Under-20: Try: Duncan Paia’uau, Andrew Kellaway; Penalty: Andrew Deegan

..NZ also looking pretty good there bro and growing in confidence...changing 12 players from the team that beat Argentina to beat Ireland shows great depth...

...encouraging signs from the likes of Junior Player of the Year candidates winger Tevita Li , Akira Iaone, and Otere Black -  all having big games...bring on France..