Coach Dawie Theron made eleven changes to the SA Under-20 team to play Italy at the UWC Stadium in their second match of the IRB Junior World Championship 2012 on Friday 8 June 2012.
Only Jan Serfontein (centre), Paul Willemse (lock), Steven Kitshoff (prop) and captain and flank Wiaan Liebenberg remained from the side that lost their opening match against Ireland.
Four players, Marais Schmidt (fullback), Travis Ismaiel (wing), William Small-Smith (centre), and Khaya Majola will make their first appearance at the tournament, while schoolboy Handré Pollard (flyhalf) and Braam Steyn (eighthman) were unused substitutes against Ireland.
Theron explained the big turnover of players for this match. “This was always part of our planning, as we have only a three day turnaround between the two matches We are keen to redeem ourselves against Italy as we disappointed ourselves and our supporters against the Irish and I am convinced that the new players in the team will provide us with a lot of positive energy.”
Liebenberg said the changes would not affect their play. “We have been training together as a group for a while now and the new guys slotted in with ease We are lucky to have such a short turnaround in that we can now rectify the mistakes we made in our opening game We are still in the hunt to win the tournament.”
SA Under-20 team vs Italy: 15 Marais Schmidt (Golden Lions), 14 Tshotsho Mbovane (DHL Western Province), 13 William Small-Smith (Blue Bulls), 12 Jan Serfontein (Blue Bulls), 11 Travis Ismaiel (Blue Bulls), 10 Handré Pollard (DHL Western Province), 9 Vian van der Watt (Golden Lions), 8 Braam Steyn (KwaZulu Natal), 7 Wiaan Liebenberg (Blue Bulls) (captain), 6 Khaya Majola (KwaZulu Natal), 5 Ruan Botha (Golden Lions), Paul Willemse (Golden Lions), 3 Oliver Kebble (DHL Western Province), 2 Jason Thomas (Blue Bulls), 1 Steven Kitshoff (DHL Western Province)
Replacements: 16 Mark Pretorius (Golden Lions), 17 Allan Dell (KwaZulu Natal), 18 Pieter Steph du Toit (KwaZulu Natal), 19 Fabian Booysen (Golden Lions), 20 Abrie Griesel (Blue Bulls), 21 Tony Jantjies (Blue Bulls), 22 Pat Howard (DHL Western Province), 23 Maks van Dyk (KwaZulu Natal)
Date: Friday 8 June 2012
Kick-off: 18.45
Venue: UWC Stadium, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Cape Town
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Rasta Rashivenga (South Africa), Sindile Mayende (South Africa)
Television match official: Lyndon Bray
Assessor: Tappe Henning
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