Prop Zachary Porthen returns to lead a re-jigged Junior Springboks lineup against Argentina for their final U20 Rugby Championship clash Down Under on Sunday.
Porthen missed the defeat by hosts Australia on Tuesday because of a hand injury, but is back in the starting XV in a team showing several changes for the second-last fixture of the inaugural competition at the Sunshine Coast Stadium in Queensland.
Only four players will run out in the same positions they played against the Aussies – lock JF van Heerden, who captained in Porthen’s absence, No 8 Tiaan Jacobs, left winger Litelihle Bester and outside centre Jurenzo Julius.
Another three players will again start, but in different positions – utility forward Bathobele Hlekani , as well as backs Josh Boulle and Phillip Albert van Niekerk.
There is a new-look front row of props Ruan Swart and Porthen and hooker Juan Smal. Van Heerden links up with Thomas Dyer in the second row, while Hlanki, Sibabalwe Mahashe and Jacobs form the loose trio.
In the backline, Bruce Sherwood moves from his regular midfield position to fullback, Joel Leotlela comes in for Boulle at right wing, with Boulle shifting to 12. Van Niekerk moves to flyhalf and the No 9 jersey is handed to Ezekiel Ngobeni. Asad Moos drops to the bench.
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Junior Bok head coach Bafana Nhleko said the team wants to show an improvement in their performance and play to their potential, which was not the case in their draw with New Zealand and defeat to Australia.
“We all realise the quality of play in the two previous two matches were not up to our standards and it’s the small margins that keep hurting us,” he explained.
“Growth is about applying the learnings and I hope we can showcase the ability we have within the group.”
“Up to now we’ve not been able to string together significant passages of play to get rewards, thus releasing pressure for the opposition and we have not managed the game well, when we have taken the lead in both games,” Nhleko added
“Despite those shortcomings we still managed to keep ourselves in contention right until the end of both games, which proves our fighting spirit and parts of our ability.
“We have worked hard to rectify those areas and have prepared well, now the players must go out and show what they can do. Argentina demonstrated their ability against Australia especially at set piece and they, just like us, would want to bounce back from their disappointment against New Zealand, so we must show the right attitude to meet that challenge.”
Junior Springboks – 15 Bruce Sherwood, 14 Joel Leotlela, 13 Jurenzo Julius, 12 Joshua Boulle, 11 Litelihle Bester, 10 Philip-Albert van Niekerk, 9 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 8 Tiaan Jacobs, 7 Bathobele Hlekani, 6 Sibabalwe Mahashe, 5 JF van Heerden, 4 Thomas Dyer, 3 Zachary Porthen (c), 2 Juan Smal, 1 Ruan Swart.
Subs: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Liyema Ntshanga, 18 Casper Badenhorst, 19 Thabang Mphafi, 20 Divan Fuller, 21 Asad Moos, 22 Thurlon Williams, 23 JC Mars.
Photo: @SAJuniorRugby/Twitter
The post Porthen back to lead revamped Junior Boks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
