Cape’s Baby Boks ready for action

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HES GOT GAME: Kobus van Wyk is hoping to play.

Xolani Koyana

HE IS only 20 – but he has already faced down South Africa’s arch rivals, the tough Kiwis, in the scrum in Super Rugby. Now Steven Kitshoff is ready to take them on in the final of the IRB Junior (Under-20) World Championship.

The Baby Boks will be doing battle with the physical New Zealand in the final at the Newlands Rugby Stadium tomorrow.

Kitshoff who made his Super Rugby debut for the Stormers against the Chiefs last year said he was aware that the Kiwis would be physical. “I have played a few games against the New Zealand guys in Super Rugby. I’m not scared. They can bring it on,” he said.

The former Paul Roos Gymnasium pupil, who plays loosehead prop, was confident of the chances of winning the tournament with a “good combination of kicking and running game”.

The Baby Boks made it to the final after mauling Argentina 35-3 at Newlands on Sunday. Paarl Gymnasium’s Handrè Pollard, has produced sterling performances for the Baby Boks, kicking more conversions (12) than any player in the tournament. ”It would be great to win (the tournament) on our home soil. It’s in our hands. The fans have shown their support. We just have to go out there, make them proud and win this thing,” the 18-year-old flyhalf said.

HES KICKIN IT: Handr� Pollard has a deadly boot.

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Pollard, who is in matric, said he had fallen behind on his school work and there won’t be relaxing time after the tournament. “I have already missed the exams. It’s going to be all guns blazing when we get back into class.”

Centre Kobus van Wyk, 20, who is studying towards a B.com management degree at the University of Stellenbosch, hopes to get a run in the final after being sidelined because of an injury. ”I’m hoping I will get a go in the final. I’m very excited because it’s going to be a sick (good) game.”

Langa’s Tshotsho Mbovane, 19, also a former Paul Roos Gymnasium pupil, is looking forward to international glory after narrowly missing out on a title with the SA Sevens team. “It would really be great to win this thing. There are a lot of young guys who also wish to be here and we want to win it for them,” the centre said.

xolani.koyana@inl.co.za