Bulls star takes charge of Junior Boks

05/05/2024 16:35

JF van Heerden will captain a Junior Springbok side showing several changes against hosts Australia in the U20 Rugby Championship on Tuesday.

Van Heerden, who has made seven appearances for the Vodacom Bulls in his maiden season, takes over the Junior Bok captaincy from Zachary Porthen for the clash at the Sunshine Coast Stadium in Bokarina, Queensland.

Porthen has been ruled out after injuring his hand in the 13-13 draw against New Zealand last week.

Head coach Bafana Nhleko announced a starting lineup showing nine changes and a positional switch, while there are a further six tweaks amongst the replacements from the matchday 23 that did duty against the Kiwis.

Van Heerden, who came off the bench last week, starts with Bathobele Hlekani in a new-look second row. Divan Fuller and Keanu Coetsee will pack down on either side of the side of the scrum with Tiaan Jacobs at No 8.

The absence of Porthen means the South Africans will field a new-look front row of props Mbasa Maqubela and Reno Hirst, with Ethan Bester at hooker.

Asad Moos retains the scrumhalf jersey, but he will have a new half-back partner in Thurlon Williams, who replaces flyhalf Tylor Sefoor, with the latter not in the match 23 as precaution for a slight knock on the knee.

Other changes amongst the backs see first starts for Philip-Albert van Niekerk at inside centre and Joshua Boulle on the right wing, with Litelihle Bester (left wing), Jurenzo Julius (outside centre) and Michail Damon (fullback) all in line for a second start.

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Nhleko said the changes were due to the demanding match schedule, and the with the development of the squad in mind.

"Three competitive games in 12 days mean that load management will play an important part in our team processes and player management," he explained.

"Also, this tour is very much about us continuing to grow as a team and part of the planning was to give the whole group playing minutes and experience in a very competitive series."

According to Nhleko, his team will have to show improvement from their opening match against an Australian side who will be determined to bounce back from their first-round disappointment.

"They would feel that they perhaps didn't get the reward for their efforts against an Argentine side that were clinical on the day, so they would want to rectify that against us, and we must be ready to meet that challenge," he said.

"It seems we are in for more rain on match day, but we would like to build pressure with the ball and to get our attack systems going, for that to happen, we must improve in looking after the ball.

"The review and lessons against New Zealand last week, must show in the Australia game, meaning we have to be better with our game management, tactical awareness and also our execution to gain more reward for the opportunities we create."

Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images

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