Junior Boks rotate again for clash against Georgia
Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote‘s rotational policy continued when he named a reshuffled match-day squad for South Africa‘s final Under-20 International Series match against Georgia in Stellenbosch on Saturday, with regular captain Riley Norton back in the starting team.
The match takes place at Paul Roos Gimnasium‘s Markötter Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 14:30. Chile and Fiji face off from 16:30. Both matches will be broadcast live on YouTube.
Norton is back in the team after missing the opening match against Chile due to his involvement at the Springbok alignment camp. He resumes the captaincy in one of several changes to the side that secured an emphatic 82-25 victory over Fiji on Tuesday.
Vusi Moyo will start his third consecutive game at flyhalf. He was prolific in the opening two rounds, slotting 22 conversions and marshalling his backline impressively. Luan Giliomee starts at fullback again after scoring a hat-trick of tries against Fiji.
Operating in the midfield next to Moyo will be Yaqeen Ahmed and Samuel Badenhorst, both of whom excelled in the Junior Boks’ successful 2026 Rugby Championship campaign in Gqeberha a few weeks ago.
The loose trio features Quintin Potgieter and Luke Cannon in the starting line-up again. Potgieter shifts to No 8, while Cannon moves to the side of the scrum.
Oliver Reid, previously used off the bench, gets the nod as one of the two starting props in a reshuffled front row.
Several players who had starting roles in the first two matches, including JD Hattingh (lock), Gert Kemp (loose forward), Jayden Brits (scrumhalf), Pieter van der Merwe (centre) and Alzeadon Felix (fullback), are set to make an impact from the bench against the Georgians.
Apart from rotation, the Junior Boks have been forced into several changes due to injury concerns. Jordan Jooste (prop), Jaythen Orange (lock), Christian Vorster (centre), and Jade Muller (wing) all picked up knocks against Fiji and were not considered for selection.
They join an injury list that includes Esethu Mnebelele (hooker), Kai Pratt (prop), Wasi Vyambwera, Vuyo Gwiji, Risima Khosa (all loose forwards), Ethan Adams and Markus Muller (both centres), Cheswill Jooste (wing), and Zekhethelo Siyaya (fullback), all of whom are currently undergoing rehabilitation.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s clash, Foote expressed confidence in his squad’s depth and anticipated a physical contest.
“Niggles are part of the game, and we are fortunate to have built strong squad depth through our planning since coming together as a group,” said Foote.
“Although several players are unavailable due to injuries and ongoing rehabilitation, we are confident that we’ve selected a quality squad for a strong challenge from a very physical Georgian outfit.”
South Africa and Georgia have developed a healthy rugby relationship in recent years. The Georgians have been regular participants in the U18 International Series, while the Junior Boks toured the European country earlier this year for a two-match series.
While the SA u20s remain unbeaten against their European counterparts, Georgia has proved to be consistently competitive, and Foote expects another intense battle up front.
The Junior Bok coach said his charges need to further improve despite their convincing victories over Chile and Fiji.
“We want to keep reducing errors and lapses in concentration,” he said.
“We will continue to work hard on our fundamentals, the core of our DNA; understanding and implementation of our game model; and building cohesion as we build towards the Junior World Championship.
“Our rotational selection policy sees most players who played in the U20 Rugby Championship now return for Saturday’s match. The injuries to Markus, Ethan and Christian mean we have a new midfield combination of Yaqeen and Samuel, both of whom performed very well for us in the recent Rugby Championship.
“This match against a competitive Georgian side gives us another valuable opportunity to play in front of our home supporters, continue to build squad depth and gain important international experience.”
Junior Springbok team to face Georgia in Stellenbosch
15 Luan Giliomee
14 Jack Benade
13 Samuel Badenhorst
12 Yaqeen Ahmed
11 Khuthadzo Rashivaga
10 Vusi Moyo
9 Hendre Schoeman
8 Quintin Potgieter
7 Luke Cannon
6 Kebotile Maake
5 Riley Norton (captain)
4 Heinrich Theron
3 Danie Kruger
2 Liam van Wyk
1 Oliver Reid
Replacements
16 Mahle Sithole
17 Rambo Kubheka
18 Luan van der Berg
19 JD Hattingh
20 Gert Kemp
21 Jayden Brits
22 Pieter van der Merwe
23 Alzeadon Felix
The following players are not available because of injury or rehabilitation: Esethu Mnebelele (hooker), Jordan Jooste and Kai Pratt (props), Jaythen Orange (lock), Wasi Vyambwera, Risima Khosa, and Vuyo Gwiji (loose forwards), Ethan Adams, Markus Muller, and Christian Vorster (centres), Jade Muller and Cheswill Jooste (wings), Zekhethelo Siyaya (fullback).
