Baby Boks begin JWC build-up
18 Jan 2013
Three players from the 2012 Junior World Championship-winning SA U20 team will start against the University of the Western Cape in Stellenbosch.
They are centre Jan Serfontein, flyhalf and vice-captain Handré Pollard, and lock and captain Marvin Orie.
Friday’s encounter, which kicks off at 4pm at the Paul Roos Gymnasium sports fields, is the first of three training matches lined-up over the coming week for the SA U20 hopefuls. The players have been in camp since last Sunday and will end their training camp with a final match against UCT next Saturday. In between they will also be in action against Maties in Stellenbosch on Wednesday.
According to coach Dawie Theron, the three-match training exercise is something they have planned with the 2013 Junior World Championship schedule firmly in mind.
‘During the tournament the turn-around times are tight as well and in France we will have three days to prepare before playing our next match so we wanted to simulate that,’ explained Theron. ‘The heat wave here in the Western Cape is actually a good thing for us because I believe it will also be quite hot in France during June.’
Regarding team selection, Theron said that everyone in the 34-man training group will get a chance to play.
‘We will lose five, six of our guys after our second match as they are needed elsewhere, but that is not a problem as it creates the opportunity for everyone to play and after the UCT match all would have had a chance.’
Theron added that players outside the current squad can still make it to France.
‘We will be looking at the performances of players during the Vodacom Cup and Varsity Cup competitions and if someone performs impressively, then he will come into consideration. Raymond Rhule, for instance, forced his way into last year’s squad at a very late stage.’
Baby Boks – 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Luther Obi, 13 Justin Gedult, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Hanco Venter, 8 Ruan Steenkamp, 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Albertus Smit, 5 Marvin Orie (c), 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1. Sti Sithole
Subs: All remaining squad players to be used as replacements
20 Comments
18 Jan 2013, 07:55 am
Baby Dragons looking to impress. Will be interesting to see whether PDV makes UWC as competitive as he did Tygerberg RFC.
18 Jan 2013, 08:06 am
Theron doing a very commendable job with the youngsters.
Will be nice if they can successfully defend the title this year.
18 Jan 2013, 08:36 am
We’d like the boys cup back.
18 Jan 2013, 08:38 am
@NZINCHINA-3:Trade you for the grown-ups Word Cup.
18 Jan 2013, 08:39 am
@NZINCHINA-3:
Come try and get it.
@Taahirah-4:
He he
Good one
18 Jan 2013, 08:48 am
@Taahirah-4:
Thanks but no thanks.
@nortierd-5:
Challenge accepted
18 Jan 2013, 08:50 am
This pack is tiny compared to last year… same deal with the back three… 7′s style Orks…
18 Jan 2013, 08:52 am
@bryce_in_oz-7:
If that is the case they’ll probably struggle then as they won’t beat NZ in the skills department.
18 Jan 2013, 08:53 am
@Taahirah-1:
Indeed, Peter should make a difference, it will be interesting to see how he does in an environment where there will be less pressure and where he can probably do it his own way with less interference from captains, senior players and politicians.
Will also be interesting to see how successful Chris Rossouw (Slapchips-lite) is as as new Matie coach stepping into the big shoes of the very successful Chean Roux.
18 Jan 2013, 09:06 am
@bryce_in_oz-7:
I expect Tim Swiel to start as fullback. He is also not the biggest player but has very good pace and an exceptional swerve and could create havoc when running from the back .
18 Jan 2013, 09:10 am
@Robzim-10:
Yep I’ve seen his youtube ‘highlights’… he’s the same size as the Ork Kolbe who played a game or two for the 7′s Orks…
@Robzim-10:
Three power locks last year, 3 power props, power lock at 7, physical loosies (other than the no 8) and all of them fairly athletic… add two barraging centres and that was the difference…
18 Jan 2013, 09:30 am
@NZINCHINA-3:
China….winning that cup should be a priority for the Nzrfu…the best players available in that age group must be made available….oh and we need some monstas in the forwards.
18 Jan 2013, 09:45 am
@Te Rangatira-12:
Fighting talk from the Keewees.
That’s what I like to hear.
18 Jan 2013, 11:01 am
@NZINCHINA, where exactly in China are you my China?
18 Jan 2013, 11:06 am
@Te Rangatira-12: You can always fix the jnr WC if you want to win it.
18 Jan 2013, 12:38 pm
14 Gansu, NW China
18 Jan 2013, 12:40 pm
@15…I don’t even know how many times Nz has won the thing..probably a lot…therefore .I’d say pretty good chance at winning it again…don’t you think
18 Jan 2013, 12:42 pm
12 Te Rangi its very important just don’t tell the Saffas that.
18 Jan 2013, 12:56 pm
@China…hehe….it’s quite funny how ambivalent I was to that trophy…now that Nz doesn’t hold it…would like it back.
18 Jan 2013, 13:07 pm
@Te Rangatira-19:
Always the way, we’d won it four on the trot so sharing it around for ONE season was the right thing to do.
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