South Africa’s top junior girls players will be in action at the SA Rugby U16 & U18 Girls Weeks staged at Jeppe High School in Johannesburg from Monday.
The Springboks will depart for New Zealand on Sunday with mission accomplished after completing their third biggest victory over Australia in a 43-12 Castle Lager Rugby Championship victory at Loftus Versfeld.
The SA Schools selectors named two squads of 23 players each to represent the SA Schools and SA Schools ‘A’ teams at the conclusion of the U18 Craven Week in George, with Kathleho Lynch (SA Schools) and Lwazi Zangqa (SA Schools ‘A’) named as coaches for the match on Thursday.
SA U20 captain Paul de Villiers says there are no external pressures on them to reach the final when they meet Ireland in the World Rugby U20 Championship semi-finals at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Sunday.
Kurt-Lee Arendse continued his fine run of form after scoring a hat-trick of tries as the Springboks hammered Australia 43-12 in their Rugby Championship opener at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday.
Western Province and Eastern Province claimed victories on Saturday to finish their respective campaigns unbeaten at the SA Rugby U18 Craven Week at Outeniqua Park in George.
Springbok assistant coach Mzwandile Stick and captain Duane Vermeulen emphasised the importance of being at the top of their game as well as being adaptable when they line up against Australia in their opening Castle Lager Rugby Championship match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok was calm and collected this week despite facing one of the biggest tests in his career on Saturday when he earns his first start for the Springboks in their opening Castle Lager Rugby Championship match against the Wallabies at Loftus Versfeld.
The Junior Springboks will face Ireland with an unchanged match day squad in the first semi-final of the World Rugby U20 Championships at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Sunday afternoon.
The Mastercard Golden Lions Women, Cell C Sharks Women, EP Queens and Boland Dames will be in a mad scramble for the fourth spot on the Women’s Premier Division log and a potential semi-final position as the action continues this weekend, with the playoffs moving into view.