SA Schools coaches opt for continuity for U19 Series finale
SA Schools coach Lance Sendin and SA Schools A coach Sean Erasmus opted for continuity in selection for their final Under-19 International Series matches at Paarl Boys’ High on Saturday against England and Wales respectively as they look to finish the tournament on a winning note.
Sendin made only two changes to his team, with Paarl Boys prop Reece Bezuidenhout and HTS Middelburg flanker JC Pretorius earning starts in place of Nathan McBeth and Charl Serdyn respectively.
Erasmus, meanwhile, made an injury-enforced change to the SA Schools A team for their clash against Wales, with winger Ayabonga Oliphant coming in for fullback Abner van Reenen, who is nursing a quadriceps strain.
This resulted in two positional switches to the team, with Austin Davids moving from wing to fullback, and Tadendaishe Mujawo starting on the right wing to make place for Oliphant on the left wing.
Sendin said it was tough to select his team for their closing match against England as all the players in the squad had immense potential.
“It was really difficult to select this squad, but we opted for the player combinations we thought would be the best to execute the game plan we would like to play against England,” said Sendin. “With only two changes, we will have the luxury of continuity in selection, which will be good against the physical and determined English team.
They have suffered defeats in both their matches up to now, so we are expecting them to give their all to finish the tournament on a winning note. But we are equally determined to complete the tournament unbeaten, so it will be a good test for both teams.”
Erasmus, who is also the Paarl Boys’ High 1st XV coach, meanwhile, said the continuity in selection in the SA Schools A team was driven by the desire to reward the players who guided them to a 53-14 victory against England on Tuesday.
“We felt that it was important to reward the players for the good form they showed against England, and hopefully we will be able to build on that this week,” said Erasmus. “Our focus at training has been on getting our game plan to function smoothly and improving our accuracy. Wales are a good side and they very are clinical in their approach, so we will have to be at our best to beat them.”
France and Italy will kick off the day’s action at Paarl Boys’ High on Saturday when they meet at 11h15.
All three matches will be broadcast on channel 198, SuperSport’s pop-up channel.
SA Schools team to face England:
15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Mike Mavovana, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Muller du Plessis, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Richman Gora, 8 Khwezi Mafu, 7 Muller Uys, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Ben-Jason Dixon, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Daniel Jooste, 1 Reece Bezuidenhout. Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Johan Neethling, 19 PJ Steenkamp, 20 Charl Serdyn, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Ruan de Swardt, 23 Wandisile Simelane, 24 Khanya Ncusane, 25 Emilio Adonis, 26 Sihle Njezula.
SA Schools A team to face Wales:
15 Austin Davids, 14 Tadendaishe Mujawo, 13 Janco van Heyningen, 12 Louritz Van der Schyff (captain), 11 Ayabonga Oliphant, 10 Tyrone Green, 9 Zinedine Booysen, 8 Dian Schoonees, 7 Francke Horn, 6 Athi Magwala, 5 JJ van der Mescht, 4 Ryno Pieterse, 3 Keagan Glade, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Cabous Eloff. Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17
Gugu Nelani, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Christopher Havenga, 20 Mark Snyman, 21 Ruan Vermaak, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Lubabalo Dobela, 24 Sicelo Tole, 25 Cameron Hufke, 26 Abner van Reenen.
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
