Captains Maro Itoje (England) & Handré Pollard (South Africa) holding the IRB Junior World Championship trophy
Dan Kriel will play on the right wing for the Junior Springboks in the IRB Junior World Championship final against England on Friday night at Eden Park in Auckland.
His inclusion in place of Lloyd Greeff is the only tweak to the team that beat New Zealand in a dramatic semi-final last Sunday in North Harbour.
The versatile Kriel, twin brother of outside centre Jesse Kriel, is preferred in the starting line-up because of his huge work rate on defence.
Amongst the replacements, big flanker Jean Luc du Preez was declared fit after completing his rehabilitation programme following a blow to the head against New Zealand in Albany during a pools match. He replaces Abongile Nonkontwana.
Junior Springbok skipper and pivot Handré Pollard is now playing in his third tournament so is under no illusion as to what will be key to more success at Eden Park.
“I think at the end of the day it is going to be the side that wants it the most that is going to win it,” admitted Pollard, who is the leading point scorer at both JWC 2014 and also in the competition’s history.
“Set piece is the biggest thing going into the final. I know how 2012 was won, we had 17 lineouts and we won all 17 of them. It is something you can’t go without in a final, the set piece. It is also the conversion rate you have, you have got to get down there and get points, whether it is three, five or seven – just get points whenever you go down to the opposition’s half.”
Junior Bok coach Dawie Theron said England will be a formidable opponent. “They are a good side and have progressed to the final without losing a match. It’s going to be a titanic battle on Friday,” according to Theron.
On Thursday evening SARU President Regan Hoskins visited the team at their Auckland hotel to wish them well for the final.
Hosts New Zealand will play Ireland in the third place play-off before the final.
The fifth place final between France and Australia will be the first contest of the day at Eden Park, and the other positional games will be played at QBE Stadium North Harbour.
Junior Springbok team:
15. Warrick Gelant
14. Dan Kriel
13. Jessie Kriel
12. Andre Esterhuizen
11. Sergeal Petersen
10. Handré Pollard (Captain)
9. JP Smith
8. Aidon Davis
7. Cyle Brink
6. Jacques Vermeulen
5. Nico Janse van Rensburg
4. JD Schickerling
3. Dayan van der Westhuizen
2. Corniel Els
1. Thomas du Toit
Replacements:
16. Joseph Dweba
17. Pierre Schoeman
18. Wilco Louw
19. Victor Sekekete
20. Jean Luc du Preez
21. Zee Mkhabela
22. Jean Luc du Preez
23. Duhan van der Merwe
Kick-Off: 09:35 SA Time (19:35 NZ Time, 08:35 BST, 07:35 GMT)
There WILL BE a Live Game Article at 08:15, for the game which starts at 09:35 SA Time!
Tough game waiting for SA
We beat the All Blacks now lets do it against the All Whites
We will need our best game and toughest determination, England looked good against Ireland.
South Africa or England will join IRB Junior World Championship 2014 hosts New Zealand as a multiple winner of the Under 20 title on Friday and the captains and coaches of both teams know that a titanic battle awaits them at Eden Park.
The last two nations to lift the distinctive trophy – South Africa at home in 2012 and England last year in France – have both reached the final with unbeaten records after topping their respective pools and then overcoming New Zealand and Ireland in the semi-finals in contrasting fashion.
For the Junior Springboks it took until the 78th minute to break New Zealand hearts in the semi-final and for captain Handré Pollard – one of four players this week nominated for the IRB Junior Player of the Year 2014 Award – that has only strengthened the belief of his side.
“The whole tournament we have been down a bit first half and we have come to grow into the belief that even though there is two minutes on the clock we can win this game,” said Pollard. “That is something I love about our side.
“It is something you don’t coach, it is just something that comes with the team and with the character of a side. For us it is a big bonus, a big positive that we can keep believing, it doesn’t matter what the score is until the last minute.
“Hopefully we aren’t behind going into the last minute though!”
Pollard is no stranger to a JWC final, having been part of South Africa’s success on home soil in 2012. The fly half was just 18 then and is now playing in his third tournament so is under no illusion as to what will be key to more success.
“I think at the end of the day it is going to be the side that wants it the most that is going to win it,” admitted Pollard, who is the leading point scorer at both JWC 2014 and also in the competition’s history.
“Set piece is the biggest thing going into the final. I know how 2012 was won, we had 17 lineouts and we won all 17 of them. It is something you can’t go without in a final, the set piece. It is also the conversion rate you have, you have got to get down there and get points, whether it is three, five or seven – just get points whenever you go down to the opposition’s half.”
That is a sentiment echoed by his England counterpart Callum Braley, a member of England’s victorious side 12 months ago.
“They have played New Zealand twice and beaten them twice so they have proved their worth without a shadow of a doubt. They will be a physical side and it will be a good match for us to test ourselves against the most physical team in the world.
“I think set piece will be key, they have a good set-piece, especially the driving lineout, but then so have we, we have a good set-piece, a good scrum. Whichever teams gets the best platform because both teams have got dangerous backs, so it will be an interesting battle for sure.
“It is going to take the full 80 minutes and more on Friday evening.”
Nick Walshe knows only too well and the size of the task his players will face as they attempt to do what only New Zealand have done before and successfully defend the Junior World Championship title.
“I think it will be a good game, it is going to be very tough and this game is going to be not far off senior Test match level because these guys are as big as senior Test players and it is quite frightening how big both these sets of boys are,” admitted Walshe.
“We have got to perform well, there is no point even thinking about winning the game, we have got to get our performance right against an extremely strong and powerful South Africa. We know what is coming, we are going to match it and try and do well.
“Without a doubt they will be the most physical team we have played. But they are not just a physical side, with Handre Pollard at 10 they can play a wide game and they have got some good outside backs. We know they have got good forwards, they are just going to provide us with a stiffer test probably than what we have faced.
Test fever
Kan hierdie twee spanne dalk volgende jaar weer in n finaal speel, die ware WB?
Ek het so feeling.
Heelwat van hierdie jong spelers mag dalk net daar wees.
64 mins played at QBE Stadium, Italy are leading 17-10 over Fiji in a bruising encounter.
Down to 14 men Fiji were unable to hold out a detirmend Italy attack. Wing Gabriele Di Giulio crosses over in the corner. Fiji 10-22 Italy
Maro Itoje (Eng. captain)
now there is an old English name for you…almost as familiar as Van der Merwe and Van Heerden in the Patagonian highlands of Argentina….
Despite the unfamiliar name, maro seems as British as they come, his family seemingly involved with Lloyds Co. and al that…..and this boy is an athlete of note as well, check his time over 800 meters, not bad for a rugby forward, I say!
Background
Employment History
Harrow School & Saracens
6 Total References Web References
Maro Itoje …
http://www.middlesexrugby.com, 8 Aug 2012 [cached]
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
…
Maro Itoje (Harrow School) (Saracens)
Bath Rugby – News feed – RSS – Academy news
http://www.bathrugby.com, 31 Jan 2012 [cached]
Maro Itoje (Harrow) (Saracens)
Maro Itoje (Harrow School & …
http://www.salesharks.com, 21 Oct 2011 [cached]
Maro Itoje (Harrow School & Saracens)
England’s second came five minutes later, …
England’s second came five minutes later, a short line-out inside the Welsh 22 was well caught by Maro Itoje and the resulting rolling maul was touched down over the line by Moriarty to make the score 17-3.
4 Maro Itoje (Harrow School) …
4 Maro Itoje (Harrow School) (Saracens)
Other People with this Name (10)
Other People with the name “Itoje”:
Samson Itoje
Emmanuel Itoje
Chico Itoje
Lloyds Banking Group
Ufuoma Itoje
Anthony Itoje
Oz/France in a humdinger at the mo, Aussies all over the Froggies but still 26-27 behind!
8 minutes to go, and France hanging on, barely….
This Sella flyhalf looks familiar, perhaps Phillipe’s son?
Okaayyy, Ozzie score at last! Too much pressure for Frenchies to handle at the end.
Oz conversation missed, a sitter…game still alive!
This Sella fella is a real danger to Oz…involved in all the moves.
Burton hooker is a Saffa, born in Perth, plays for Force, and really prominent as Ozzie wins this very enthralling encounter for the 5th place.
Ek sien hoskins is ook daar en het die bokkies gaan sterkte toewens….hoop nie hy het die manne slegte geluk gebring nie, want alles wat daai man aanraak is gewoonlik n ”bolsap”….
Scotland 21-41 Argentina
11th Place play-off – Fiji 17-22 Italy – Fiji relegated to JWRT 2015
5th Place play-off – France 27-34 Australia
Looking forward to seeing Patricio Fernandez playing for the Pumas at 10 in the near future. Huge potential, immense off the tee- Argentina 41-21 Scotland
@ superBul:
More!
So, jy darem ook n slag hier…jou krag is seker aan, hehehe!
@ superBul:
Yes, Fernandez is their new Hugo Porta, same build as our Pollard.
Ja krag is aan en ja ek gaan nerens vandag todat die finaal gespeel is nie @ Pietman:
@ Pietman:
Just watched the JWC Haka by NZ against SA, did you see it?
@ superBul:
Nee, nie gesien.
Terloops, ek sien Pollard se pa se foto is nog hier saam joune en myne, op Bloggers Gallery onder About op RT home page hierbo. Weet jy daarvan?
Irish are on fire, great game this!
Ire 23 NZ 21
@ Pietman:
G00d morning all.Have a good day.(Inc kak aanjaers)
Rye
@ Pietman:
27
Nee nie gesien, wie is hy , nick?
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