The Junior Springboks have largely stuck with the team that beat Australia and England for Monday’s World Rugby U20 Championship semi-final against Argentina in Viadana.
While a much-changed South African side crushed Scotland 73-14 in Calvisano on Wednesday to book a place in the last four, coach Kevin Foote will field his best possible XV in the knockouts.
Demitre Erasmus is back at outside centre after missing the England clash due to illness and coming off the bench against Scotland, while Jaco Williams is retained at left wing for his second consecutive start since replacing Siya Ndlozi, who returned home with a hamstring injury sustained against England.
The Junior Boks pack remains the same as that which faced Australia and England. However, Foote has opted for six forwards and two backs on the bench for the semi-final in a bid to use their explosive forwards and attack the Los Pumitas pack, with No 8 Stephanus Linde the extra forward.
“The Argentineans are very confrontational and physical, and they play with lots of passion,” Foote explained. “We know we are in for a fight which is why we went for six forwards on the bench, because we have so much respect for them.”
The unbeaten Junior Boks go into the match as favourites, having defeated Argentina 36-25 in the Sanzaar U20 Rugby Championship in May.
JUNIOR SPRINGBOKS – 15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 Albie Bester, 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Bathobele Hlekani, 6 Xola Nyali, 5 JJ Theron, 4 Riley Norton (c), 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Simphiwe Ngobese.
Bench: 16 Jaundré Schoeman, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Jaco Grobbelaar, 20 Matt Romao, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Dominic Malgas, 23 Stephanus Linde.
Photo: World Rugby
