The Junior Springboks will be hoping to build on their opening U20 Rugby Championship victory over Argentina when they face the Junior Wallabies in Gqeberha on Sunday. Kevin Foote’s SA Under-20 side possessed far too much firepower for Los Pumitas in their opening 48-21 victory at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Monday, but a noticeable lack of concentration allowed the Argentinian juniors to score three late tries.
Junior Wallabies Pose a Threat
A similar drop-off in performance could prove damaging against a Junior Wallabies side that were unfortunate to lose 34-29 in their opener against the Junior All Blacks after dominating large passages of the match, despite going down to 13 men in the second half. Foote is under no illusions about the threat posed by the Australia U20s, as evidenced by a number of rotational changes to the matchday 23 for Sunday’s encounter.
According to the World Rugby website, the Junior Boks’ starting pack shows only one change from the side that impressed against Argentina in the opening round, with Wasi Vyambwera coming in at blindside flanker in place of Thomas Beling. Among the backs, Khuthadzo Rasivhaga is preferred to Lindsey Jansen on the left wing, while Akahluwa Boqwana gets the nod at fullback ahead of Alzeadon Felix.
Key Players to Watch
Powerhouse centre Ethan Adams could again prove to be the attacking spark for the Junior Boks, having gained 128 metres and beaten six defenders in scoring two tries. The elusive Jack Benade also tore Los Pumitas’ defence apart on his way to a devastating hat-trick. The Junior Wallabies have a number of dangerous runners of their own, including the electrifying Riley Whitfield, and their high-tempo game promises to test South Africa’s defensive organisation.
Here are some key facts about the upcoming match:
- The Junior Springboks won their opening match against Argentina 48-21.
- The Junior Wallabies lost their opening match against the Junior All Blacks 34-29.
- The match will take place at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Sunday.
- The kick-off time is 4.10pm.
The second-round clash promises to be a humdinger, with the Junior Wallabies seeking to bounce back from their opening defeat. The Junior Springboks will need to be at the top of their game to overcome the wounded Wallabies.
