CAPE TOWN – Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux says he wants his team to play a high-tempo game in their second warm-up against Georgia in Stellenbosch on Friday (4pm kickoff).
The Junior Boks beat the Georgians 55-14 in their first friendly at the Märkotter Fields at Paul Roos Gymnasium last week.
The warm-up matches form part of the team's preparations for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship that kicks off in France on May 30.
Roux's charges will play three more internationals against Scotland in Edinburgh on May 4, Wales in Cardiff on May 8, and England in London on May 11 before the competition starts in the south of France.
Roux has made several changes to his match-day squad for the encounter at the Danie Craven Stadium, and Junior Springbok prop Sazi Sandi will lead the new-look team.
Sandi is one of five players who retained their spots in the run-on side, and he takes over the captaincy from Salmaan Moerat, who trained with the Stormers this week.
The other four players are No 8 Muller Uys, winger Sihle Njezula, lock Ruan Nortje and Gianni Lombard,who moves from fullback to flyhalf.
“This is our second game, so we would like to give everyone a fair chance to play a full game, so that they have the best chance to secure a place in the final squad,” said Roux.
Despite their runaway victory last week, Roux isn't expecting an easy run today.
“We are expecting a similar challenge against Georgia to last week. They are a very good scrummaging team and they like to use their forwards to gain ascendancy, and we are ready for that,” said Roux.
“With regards to our game, we would like to play at a high tempo, but improve on our handling as the handling errors crept in during the latter stages of the game last week.”
“Defensively there were one or two slip-ups last week, while we were also under pressure in the scrums at times, and hopefully we can rectify that in the second Test.”
Junior Springbok Team
15 Muller du Plessis, 14 David Kriel, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Lyle Hendricks, 11 Sihle Njezula, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Jack Hart, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Ryno Pieterse, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Ben-Jason Dixon, 4 Ruan Nortje, 3 Sazi Sandi (captain), 2 PJ Botha, 1 Tiaan van der Merwe.
Bench:16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 PJ Steenkamp, 20 Phendulani Buthelezi, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Rikus Pretorius, 23 Wandisile Simelane.