Junior Springbok coach Chean Roux named an unchanged starting lineup for their U20 Championship semi-final against France on Monday.
The last time the Junior Springboks advanced to the final of the tournament was in 2014, while France made the most of their home final last year by defeating England 33-25 to win the trophy. The match kicks off at 8:30pm SA Time.
Roux has gone for the same team that was able to see off New Zealand U20 in the final pool match last week.
With the player combinations settled and delivering on their roles, Roux said it was important to maintain consistency as they enter the final stages of the tournament.
‘We tried to keep the momentum we have built up going, so we opted to name the same team that started in the last game,’ Roux said.
The coach expects a big onslaught from France, who proved to be tough opponents in the last two U20 Championships. France defeated the SAU20’s 46-29 in the south of France in 2018, while the teams played to a 23-23 draw in the pool stages of the 2017 edition of the competition in Georgia.
‘France have a physical pack of forwards and a solid halfback combination that tends to kick a lot,’ Roux said. ‘They are a talented team and they enjoy speeding up the game. I am not sure what the weather will hold, but if it is wet they will have a good kicking plan, so we need to be ready for that.
‘I think we need to build on what we did in our last match. We need good first-phases from the scrums and lineouts to ensure that our backs get quality possession, and we have to play in the right areas of the field. Hopefully our defence will also stand up to them, while it will also be important to use our opportunities when they arise.’
Photo: Rodrigo Valle/Getty Images
