Junior Springboks unchanged for World Rugby U20 Championship final

Junior Springboks head coach Kevin Foote has named an unchanged matchday squad for the World Rugby U20 Championship final against New Zealand on Saturday in Rovigo.

Following an unbeaten campaign, where South Africa have amassed 226 points across four matches on their way to the final, Foote has seen no need to upset a winning formula.

South Africa will be gunning for their first title since 2012 in what is their first final since 2014.

In their way stand the six-time champions who have also enjoyed an unbeaten campaign, conceding the fewest points so far.

Fixture

World Rugby U20 Championship

New Zealand U20

15 - 23

Full-time

South Africa U20

All Stats and Data

“This has been our settled combination for most of the year, and the team play with great synergy,” said Foote, who admitted it was yet again difficult to leave players out of the match-day squad.

“Given how well everyone has played, it was such a difficult task to leave anyone out. We are grateful for the absolute selflessness of the players not selected for Saturday’s final, and for how hard they are training to ensure the team is well prepared for New Zealand.

“We decided to pick six forwards on the bench yet again, as they made a difference in the semi-final against Argentina, and we also learned some valuable lessons when we faced New Zealand in the U20 Rugby Championship in South Africa a few months ago.”

Junior Springboks XV
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 (captain)
3 Herman Lubbe
2 Siphosethu Mnebelele
1 Simphiwe Ngobese

Replacements
16 Jaundré Schoeman
17 Oliver Reid
18 Jean Erasmus
19 Jaco Grobbelaar
20 Matt Romao
21 Stephanus Linde
22 Ceano Everson
23 Dominic Malgas