Dual code teenage star Riley Norton will lead an overhauled Junior Boks lineup against Georgia U20s in Tbilisi on Friday.
The 19-yeal-old product of Paul Roos Gymnasium, who represented South Africa in both rugby and cricket at school, has been named to captain the SA U20s in their final tour fixture, scheduled to kick off at 3pm SA time.
The two sides met on Sunday, with the Junior Boks showing character and determination to stage a successful comeback for a 38-29 victory in frigid conditions.
Norton’s inclusion is one of six changes to the pack, and he forms a new lock combination of with Morne Venter, while Heinrich Theron is on the bench.
Kevin Foote has rotated the whole front row to field Simphiwe Ngobese, Siphosethu Mnebelele and Jean Erasmus. Flanker Divan Fuller gets a second start amongst the loose forwards, where he is joined by Thando Biyela and No 8 Stephanus Linde.
Dominic Malgas moves from outside centre to flyhalf in one of three changes to the backline, forming a halfback combination with Haashim Pead. Scott Nel lines up at outside centre to partner the strong-running Pieter van der Merwe in midfield.
“Last week was a great team effort in difficult conditions against a determined home team, who used the conditions and made us to work hard to adopt and which we did successfully ion the end,” said the SA U20 coach.
“We are expecting another physical battle against Georgia, however, we are looking forward to build on our performance and try out some more combinations, which is the reason for our rotational changes.
“This match is another great opportunity to for us to continue to grow together as a squad, to implement our game plan and to gauge our progress.
“Our preparations have been going very well and its pleasing to see the growth of the group. Everyone knows the importance of a good performance and what it means for our country, so we are grateful for the opportunity to again represent South Africa and are looking forward to Friday’s challenge.”
Junior Springboks –15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Scott Nel, 12 Pieter van der Merwe, 11 Chijindu Okonta, 10 Dominic Malgas, 9 Haashim Pead, 8 Stephanus Linde, 7 Thando Biyela, 6 Divan Fuller, 5 Morné Venter, 4 Riley Norton (c), 3 Jean Erasmus, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Simphiwe NgobeseBench: 16 Ranon Fouché, 17 HB Odendaal, 18 Tebogo Nkosi. 19 Heinrich Theron, 20 Xola Nyali, 21 Yabo Ndzamela, 22 Ceano Everson, 23 JT Kapank
Photo: Misha Jordaan/Gallo Images
