Junior Boks set for Georgia u20 clash in Tbilisi
 With one productive opposed training session already under their belts, the Junior Springboks are set to switch to game mode. They face their Georgia u20 counterparts in Tbilisi on Sunday afternoon, at 16:00.
With one productive opposed training session already under their belts, the Junior Springboks are set to switch to game mode. They face their Georgia u20 counterparts in Tbilisi on Sunday afternoon, at 16:00.
The teams have agreed to allow rolling substitutions for their first meeting, which means the entire 30-man squad could get onto the field.
Junior Springbok head coach Kevin Foote has named Thando Biyela (No 8), a former SA u18 representative, to lead the team on Sunday.
Foote said the Junior Boks will be eager to gauge their progress and skills against a Georgian side known for its physicality. Cold weather conditions are expected and that, too, could be a challenge for the tourists, who experienced freezing temperatures when they kicked off their tour on Wednesday afternoon with a live training session against the Lelo Saracens rugby club.
“We are looking forward to the challenge and to implement our game plan against a very physical opponent,” Foote said in a press statement.
“Our set piece, physicality, and kicking game are, of course, key elements of the South African way and DNA, so it would be nice to see how the boys adapt to the cold weather and implement the game plan.
“The cold conditions are quite an adjustment, but the group has taken it in their stride. We understand the prediction for Sunday could be as low as minus-six degrees, which would pose an interesting challenge considering we came from warm summer conditions in Stellenbosch.
“We cannot control the weather, but [we can determine our] our actions and attitude, and I think we are all doing a good job around that. Therefore, it will be important for us to be smart against the opposition, as they are accustomed to the local conditions.”
Foote said it is not just on the field of play that the tour offers value. He said he views the group’s off-field relationships as being just as important: “It’s not only about connecting on the field, which is very important, and we are constantly working on that.
“However, we are putting a lot of effort into getting to know each other off the field of play, stressing the importance of what the SA Rugby badge means for all of us and the people back home.
“We had a couple of team-building exercises, which are designed to strengthen togetherness, and it’s something we are constantly working on. It is great seeing the guys coming together as a group and experiencing the different environment and culture.”
The final match of the tour is scheduled for 15:00 on Friday, 28 February.
Junior Springbok team to face Georgia
 
 15 Gilermo Mentoe
 14 Cheswill Jooste
 13 Dominic Malgas
 12 Pieter van der Merwe
 11 Chijindu Okonta
 10 Matthew Coetzee
 9 Zeke January
 8 Thando Biyela (captain)
 7 Yabo Ndzamela
 6 Divan Fuller
 5 Morne Venter
 4 Henrich Theron
 3 Tebogo Nkosi
 2 HB Odendaal
 1 Oliver Reid
Replacements
16 Sipo Mnebelele
 17 Simphiwe Ngobese
 18 Jean Erasmus
 19 Riley Norton
 20 Stephanus Linde
 21 Batho Hlekani
 22 Ceano Everson
 23 JT Kapank
 24 Ranon Fouche
 25 Juandré Schoeman
 26 Kuhle Mthimkhulu
 27 Xola Nyali
 28 Haashim Pead
 29 Scott Nel
 30 Siya Ndlozi
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