Junior Boks to honour Bok centurion Kolisi as Under-19s face France in Châteauroux

Chances are pretty high that if you were to say the words “rugby”, “South Africa” and “France” to any South African right now, minds would instantly turn to the Test in Paris on Saturday, Siya Kolisi’s 100th Test, and coach Rassie Erasmus’s 50th.

However, it’s not only the World Cup and Rugby Championship-winning Boks who will be in action on Saturday, because Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton will lead the SA Under-19 Academy side in their first international of the European tour when they face France in Châteauroux on Saturday afternoon.

The lock is one of five players from South Africa’s World Rugby U20 Championship-winning squad included for the match, which kicks off at 3.30pm SA time. The other returning Junior Boks in the starting XV are prop Oliver Reid, hooker Siphosethu Mnebelele and flyhalf Vusi Moyo, while prop Phiwayinkosi “Rambo” Kubheka will feature off the bench.

Saturday’s game is the first of two fixtures on tour, with the second set for next week against Ireland in Cork.

Preparation and selection

The South Africans got an early feel for their opposition during combined field sessions with the French Under-19 squad earlier this week at the French High-Performance Centre in Marcoussis.

Junior Bok head coach Kevin Foote described the clash as a special occasion, taking place just hours before the senior Springboks face France in Paris.

“We want to play well for our country and play well for Siya in particular, for appearing in his 100th Test for the Springboks; and we want to honour him with our performance,” said Foote.

The coach said the 26-player squad, agreed upon by both sides, was chosen based on three main criteria.

“It’s always challenging with such a talented group, but there were three things we considered when selecting the group,” said Foote. “The first thing was that we tracked the guys the whole year, in the FNB Varsity Cup and the SA Rugby Under-21 and Under-19 provincial competitions.

“We’ve also seen how they have committed to our programme and how they have settled down and fitted into how we want to play, and what our culture is. And then, of course, we took into consideration their performances in our ‘friendly match’ against France on Monday.”

Building combinations

Foote said the team, which had just a week to prepare in Stellenbosch before travelling, is already showing strong cohesion.

“We have a lot of data on the players, and we think combinations are important, plus we are building on those combinations all the time,” he said. “We are looking forward to Saturday’s occasion, which will see a clash between two teams who are very proud to represent their country.”

Local organisers confirmed that more than 7,000 tickets have already been sold for the match in Châteauroux that will kick off at 3.30pm SA time.

SA U19 Academy team (15-1):  Akahluwa Boqwana, Lindsey Jansen, Khuthadzo Rasivhaga, Pieter van der Merwe (vice-captain), Dylan Miller, Vusi Moyo, Elgernon Meyer, Reuben Kruger, Aiden de Costa, Kebotile Maake, Riley Norton (captain), Heinrich Theron, Danie Kruger, Siphosethu Mnebelele, Oliver Reid.

Replacements (16-26): Liam van Wyk, Phiwayinkosi “Rambo” Kubheka, Ulrich van der Merwe, JD Hattingh, Tom Barnard, Vuyo Gwiji, Luan Giliomee, Janco Purchase, Risima Khosa, Brooklyn Newman, Unathi Mlotshwa.