Junior Boks call up Felix ahead of decisive clash with Scotland

The Junior Springboks have bolstered their squad with the call-up of utility back Alzeadon Felix, as they prepare for a crucial pool stage encounter against Scotland in the World Rugby U20 Championship on Wednesday afternoon in Calvisano, Italy.

Felix joins the team as an injury replacement for Siya Ndlozi, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament due to a hamstring injury. Ndlozi made a strong start to the competition, scoring two tries in the opening match against Australia before sustaining the injury during Friday’s hard-fought win over England.

Felix, a standout performer for the SA Schools team in 2024, recently impressed during the FNB Varsity Cup campaign. He was part of the broader Junior Bok training group before the team departed for Italy, making him a natural fit to step into the squad at this critical juncture.

With just one pool match remaining before the semi-finals, the Junior Boks are bracing themselves for a fierce test from Scotland. The match kicks off at 3.30pm at the Stadio San Michele and will be broadcast live on SuperSport Rugby.

Both sides have had a short turnaround since their last games and have made a number of changes in preparation for the clash. South Africa have named a strong starting XV featuring players who have gained experience during their tour of Georgia, the U20 Rugby Championship, and warm-up matches against Kenya. Their bench also includes key players who helped secure victories over Australia and England.

Fresh legs from the first whistle

Scotland, in turn, have made nine changes to their starting line-up, indicating a clear strategy to bring fresh legs and high intensity to challenge the South Africans from the first whistle.

Junior Springbok captain Thando Biyela, who led the team against Georgia and will again wear the armband on Wednesday, acknowledged the quality of the opposition and the importance of experience in big-match situations.

“It is a massive honour to be leading the Junior Springboks, but I have such experienced players around me, such as Vusi Moyo and Jaco Grobbelaar, and also Haashim Pead on the bench,” said Biyela.

“We will be looking to maintain our momentum, but the Scots are a big and physical unit, so it’s going to be an exciting battle. For us, it will be about getting clarity on all the things we are doing and focusing on our set piece to set up a good attacking platform.”

Still room for improvement

Forward coach Lumumba Currie emphasised the importance of the team's preparation back home in Stellenbosch, echoing the sentiments of head coach Kevin Foote.

“We went to Georgia, and one of the big areas we focused on was getting the set piece right,” said Currie. “Then, to gain more experience, we trained against senior provincial players and against Kenya, so we took confidence from those camps leading up to the tournament.”

Currie noted that while the forwards have performed well so far in the tournament, there’s still room for improvement, especially when it comes to discipline at the breakdown.

“We have been working hard to eliminate our mistakes. As a South African team, we want to impose ourselves on the opposition, but we know Scotland are a good set-piece team with a big pack of forwards and good plans, so we must be prepared for them.”

Wednesday’s clash is a must-win encounter, and the Junior Boks will be hoping to secure a spot in the semi-finals with another composed and clinical performance. The addition of Felix brings further depth to a side already brimming with young talent, and all eyes will be on Calvisano as South Africa look to continue their march towards Under-20 Championship glory.