Baby Boks name strong team for Poms
17 Jun 2011
Dawie Theron has made five changes to his team for their final group match against England in Pandova on Saturday.
After both teams achieved bonus-point victories over Scotland and Ireland over the last fortnight, this clash will be the Group C decider.
The Baby Boks have fielded two different-looking teams for their encounters, and Theron has now selected his strongest match 22 for the England fixture.
Lions fullback Jaco Taute starts after coming into the squad as a late replacement for the injured Craig Barry. Scrumhalf Pieter Rademan is rotated with Lohan Jacobs.
Amongst the forwards, Siya Kolisi is promoted ahead of Cornell du Preez while hooker Bongi Mbonambi and loosehead prop Juan Schoeman return to the front row.
The Baby Boks have faced England in all three U20 tournaments, losing twice in the semi-finals before beating them last year in the 3rd/4th place play-off.
Baby Boks - 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Bradley Moolman, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Wandile Mjekevu, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Pieter Rademan, 8 Arno Botha (c), 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Eben Etzebeth, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 John Roy Jenkinson, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Juan Schoeman.
Reserves: Michael van Vuuren, Nick Schonert, Jean Cook, Cornell du Preez, Lohan Jacobs, John Welthagen, Paul Jordaan.
31 Comments
17 Jun 2011, 11:11 am
Would’ve preferred Paul Jordaan over Moolman… But lets do this Baby Boks!
17 Jun 2011, 11:43 am
Can’t wait to see that loosie-combo. Siya Kolisi, aside from being a standout performer for two years in this side, was great at 7 against Scotland, Carr sublime at 6 vs Ireland.
17 Jun 2011, 11:48 am
@Gambit25(Gambit25)-1: Agree !@gecko(gecko)-2: Both flankers have some great talent. I haven’t seen the England pack but they are usually quite big. The young Boks have the forwards to match a big pack. I’m glad about Taute’s inclusion.
17 Jun 2011, 12:20 pm
There’s some serious talent in that back three – speed, agility and an eagerness to attack. Would have loved to see Tshotsho Mbovane out there as well. How old is that Sbu Sithole kid who scored that wonderful solo try for the Blitzbokke? Come on Baby Boks!
17 Jun 2011, 12:25 pm
The loose trio combo is amazing. Carr, Kholisi and Botha. i don’t see any trio stronger than these guys in the tournament. Carr’s ball handling and work rate. kholisi’s crush ball and Botha’s pace and power. I am scared for the opposition. Beyers to the bench is great news and the in form Taute is a blessing. Taute will be a bok some day, no doubt. he is elusive and defo a replacement for JDV in the future or Fourie. Then Venter and Goosen are a class act. I just wish mbovane was selected, coz defensively and with ball in hand Tshotsho is impressive. Skosan is dodgey in defence, where Mbovane can step out of a box.
17 Jun 2011, 12:28 pm
Etzebeth must be a Bok with his agression and ball skills. He is great and the most impressive lock I have seen so far. Only a NewZealander rivals him, some maori chap I saw.
17 Jun 2011, 12:29 pm
@Melchizedek(Melchizedek)-4: Sithole turned 21 on the 14th of June. So not playing this year, well don’t think he is. He did play last year in the Junior Championship.
He is a Shark. So hoping the Sharks bring him in for next years S15. Great player.
17 Jun 2011, 12:30 pm
@Gambit25(Gambit25)-1: i could’nt agree more. Jordaan is more elusive but they do speak highly of Moolman. lets hope he can produce his big game when it matters. He is another Blue Bull i understand, like Venter.
17 Jun 2011, 12:31 pm
@Tbozknows(Tbozknows)-6: Agree with you Tobz. Etzebeth has been outstanding for the Baby Boks this year.
Jeez, think he is from WP so will play for Stormers no doubt. But from what I have seen he will be a Bok very soon after this wc.
Pity Jordaan never got another chance to start.
17 Jun 2011, 12:32 pm
@Puma(Puma)-7: Puma long time..
Sithole is amazing, like in last years tournament he was all over the English with 2 trys in the 3rd place playoff and try saving tackles. I like the look of Sithole and I think Tshotsho is going in the same direction. Skosan I would bench for Tshotsho.
17 Jun 2011, 12:32 pm
@Puma(Puma)-9: meant – Tboz.
17 Jun 2011, 12:34 pm
Have you seen that try from Jordaan in the SA HP match against England? Now the pass is forward to Small- Smith but he finishes well. He also looked impressive in teh Sevens. As did Tshotsho.
17 Jun 2011, 12:36 pm
@Puma(Puma)-11: The Jordaan try is on You tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSFk-VxQ-nA
17 Jun 2011, 12:39 pm
@Tbozknows(Tbozknows)-10: How you keeping mate? Hope well.
I was really hoping Sithole would make it for the Sharks this year. Think he will play CC first. Really would like to see him and Jordaan for S15 next year.
Pity Jordaan never got another chance to start. Think he is way better than Moolman.
Which franchise does Tshotsho play for? Still catching up with the Baby Boks which Franchise they play for.
17 Jun 2011, 12:41 pm
@Tbozknows(Tbozknows)-12: Yes I saw that try on youtube here. Was a great try by Jordaan.
17 Jun 2011, 12:43 pm
Cheers Tboz,
Good to catch up again. Out of here now.
Catch up tomorrow or later.
17 Jun 2011, 12:46 pm
@Puma(Puma)-14: listen to this Puma, Tshotsho, Goosen and Jordaan ave just metriculated. These boys were all craven week earlier this year. Now Tsotsho is has an interesting story as he is from a khaya school in the eastern cape, then Paul Roos snapped him up and gave him a scholarship. I am not sure what franchise he plays for but i think WP are all over him given that he has played province and country at schoolboy.
What i like about Tshotsho is that he is still hard as well as fast and fancy with his feet. We don’t want another Nokwe or Russell devastating in attack but rubbish in defence.
17 Jun 2011, 12:46 pm
Cheers Puma!!
17 Jun 2011, 12:56 pm
@Melchizedek(Melchizedek)-4: he turned 21 on tuesday
17 Jun 2011, 13:07 pm
@Tbozknows(Tbozknows)-17: tshotsho is from Khayelitsha, which is a township on the outskirts of Cape Town.
17 Jun 2011, 13:09 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-20: My bad, I was told he was from the eastern cape. My bad, anyway the kid is talented.. very good..
17 Jun 2011, 13:11 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-20: what do you think Tshotsho, Trans??
17 Jun 2011, 13:20 pm
Some real stars of the future in this team. I look forward to the likes of Carr. and Kolise and etsebeth in the currie cup. Wouldn’t bet against them getting some game time!
17 Jun 2011, 13:24 pm
@Tbozknows(Tbozknows)-22: i haven’t seen much of him tbh, he seems eager, quick with the ability to step off both feet…just concerned with his handling and general skills set.
17 Jun 2011, 14:18 pm
Kolisi is the Juan Smith version of this u20 team-hardegat/Mr Consistency
Carr-has the whole package & more
Arno Botha-powerhouse athlete
Etzebeth-BIG ATHLETIC fella
Mbovane-has feet unlike any we have seen in SA in a while if ever
Imagine if JP du Plessis was at 13-who took up a Rugby League contract in 09(where is he now??bad move youngster-was on book of rubble force last I saw…too keen to move to Oz)
Lookin fwd to game vs England
17 Jun 2011, 14:22 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-24: I saw Tshotsho duringthe Sevens in Wellington I think, and he was devastating. the Fijians could not handle him. yep, the Sevens kings could not handle Tshotsho.
His handling is not that bad but he was playing with that Full back Beyers who is kak in my opinion. beyers threw two bad passes to Tshotsho. We never saw him after that. Taute will show is class and experience against England. Taute has some toe and runs good lines.
17 Jun 2011, 14:24 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-25: That JP Duplessis seems to have gone off the raidar. He is in Oz and we heard talk about playing for Rebels but i have not seen him play a S15 match. he should come back home.
17 Jun 2011, 14:51 pm
Tboz
Oh my bad its Rebels not Force.ya bt where is he?JP du Plessis had so much promise,saw him play for Paarl Gym & WP/SA schools-has a ridiculous sidestep..pity,he left and all bemoaned his move.heard from his Dad in papers sayin how great move to Oz would be etc…its 18 months on and nothing.Apparently he wasn’t to accomplished in league thus went back to union via Rebels…but haven’t seen him in any games neither.Well now SA has the likes of Moolman,Jordaan,Wall-Smith stepping up and Sadie & Taute(who is also an outstanding 13) excelling.
Just saying…
17 Jun 2011, 14:55 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-25:
u21 Black team (based on selection for SA u20 and SA schools), where will they be in three years time?
15 Sampie Mastriet (Bulls)
14 Sbusiso Sithole (Sharks)
13 Tshotsho Mbovane (WP)
12 Andile Jho (Bulls)
11 Wandile Mjekevu (Lions)
10 Elton Jantjies (Lions)
09 Branco Du Preez (Bulls, eve though he plays centre, having seen him in sevens, scrumhalf is his best bet if he wants to make it as a pro)
8 Siya Kolisi (WP)
7 Lubabalo Mthembu (Sharks)
6 Nizaam Carr (WP)
5 Mlungisi Bali (Bulls)
4 Kene Okafor (Sharks)
3 Njabulo Mkhize (KZN)
2 Monde Hadebe (Sharks)
1 Zolani Faku (Border)
17 Jun 2011, 15:02 pm
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-28: small-smith, jordaan, lindeque, andile jho… watch this space
17 Jun 2011, 15:23 pm
@mxhosa(mxhosa)-29: As much as i am for seeing my brothers get ahead, we need to be realistic. The abantumnyama you just mentioned are all good players but in some instances there are two or 3 top white players that copuld replace them. This is speaking honestly. As a result, I think some players may have peaked in terms of where their careers could go. branco Du Preez should be a Sevens Specialist and remainon the Sevens circuit. he is too small. Sithole I think will go all the way, as will janjties as we have seen and also Kolisi, Carr, Okafor and Mbovane.. i think some have hit brick walls.
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