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Baby Boks to make international comeback in 4-team U20s series
Fans may be eagerly awaiting the return of the Springboks to the rugby field, but it looks like the Junior Springboks are set to beat them to the punch.
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The ‘Baby Boks’ will play for the first time since 2019 when they line up against Argentina, Georgia and Uruguay in a four-round U20 International Series at the Markötter Stadium in Stellenbosch in June.
The inclusion of Georgia in the tournament will mark a memorable occasion for the union as their junior and senior sides will be in the country, with the Springboks meeting Georgia in back-to-back Tests on the first two weekends of July.
The Junior Boks will begin their campaign against Uruguay on Friday, 18 June, and will line up against Argentina on Wednesday, 23 June, and Georgia on Monday, 28 June.
The other fixtures in the first three rounds of play will see Georgia being pitted against Argentina, Uruguay taking on Georgia, and Argentina battling it out with Uruguay respectively.
The teams will receive four log points for a win, two points for a draw, and a bonus point for scoring four tries or more or suffering a defeat by seven less points or less.
The series will culminate in a thrilling closing round with the top two ranked teams and bottom two sides respectively meeting on Saturday, 3 July.
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Junior Springbok coach Bafana Nhleko will select his squad from the group of players who have been putting in the hard yards on the training field at the SA Rugby Academy since early April.
Georgia and Argentina are familiar foes of the Junior Springboks, with the sides having met in the 2019 and 2017 World Rugby U20 Championships in recent years, while Georgia also toured South Africa in 2018 for two warm-up games against the Junior Springboks.
Uruguay, meanwhile, will make their inaugural trip to South Africa to face the Junior Springboks.
“It has been a tough and challenging time for the players with junior competitions worldwide being cancelled due to the COVID 19 pandemic, so we share in their excitement to have this fantastic opportunity to showcase their skills against quality international teams,” said SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux. “I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to World Rugby for making this series possible, as international competition at this level is invaluable in terms of player development.”
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World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “With rugby tournaments affected by the ongoing pandemic all around the world, the organisation of the Under 20 International Series in South Africa provides a welcomed boost to junior teams involved and we look forward to having them back in action in June.
“The U20 pathway has proven very successful in raising competitiveness and standards worldwide and we are confident it will continue to deliver the future stars of our game.”
Nhleko was equally thrilled to see the Junior Springboks return to action in what will mark his first stint in the head coach role and said: “It’s great news that we are able to get international fixtures in such trying times and we are thankful to all who have made it possible.
“I’m happy for the boys that they have this opportunity and it is great reward for their hard work. They know how lucky they are to receive this chance because last year a very talented group of players missed out on U20 international rugby.”
Nhleko added: “The U20 programme is an important step in the player pathway systems across the world. We have a responsibility to develop the players for the future, and the players and coaches understand the expectation to perform.
“Argentina and Georgia have proven to be tough opposition in the last few years, and we expect the same test from a set piece, physicality and skills perspective. The little we have seen of Uruguay is their quick play and breakdown contest.
“We are looking forward to the privilege of being back on the field.”
U20 International Series fixtures:
Friday, 18 June
13h00 – Georgia vs Argentina
15h00 – Junior Springboks vs Uruguay
Wednesday, 23 June
13h00 – Uruguay vs Georgia
15h00 – Junior Springboks vs Argentina
Monday, 28 June
13h00 – Junior Springboks vs Georgia
15h00 – Uruguay vs Argentina
Saturday, 3 July
11h00 – Team 3 vs Team 4
13h00 – Team 1 vs Team 2
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
5 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
5 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
18 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
18 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to comments