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Baby Boks look ahead to 2014

Cape Town - While they are focused on beating next year's hosts, New Zealand, on Sunday, in an effort to finish third in the Junior World Championship, Junior Springbok coach Dawie Theron says they are already looking ahead to the 2014 tournament.

The Baby Boks went unbeaten in the group stages in France, finishing top of Pool A, but were edged 18-17 by Wales in the semi-finals. England, who beat New Zealand in the penultimate round, will face the Welsh outfit in Sunday's final.

“We expect a very physical contest and I believe the guys are still highly motivated and there is a hunger amongst them to take this match to New Zealand," Theron said ahead of the third-place playoff.

"We really want to end this campaign on a high note.

“If we look back at last year’s final against New Zealand in Cape Town then I would say we had a recipe that worked for us and we will follow much of that this time around.

“With next year’s tournament in mind, this will be an important match because four players in our starting line-up for tomorrow will still be available for next year’s tournament.

"They are Aidon Davis, Rohan van Janse van Rensburg, Handre Pollard and Jesse Kriel."

The Baby Boks, meanwhile, will face New Zealand with a reshuffled team after Theron named his side for the third-place playoff.

There is a new prop and a rearranged loose trio combination among the forwards, while Theron made one positional switch and two changes in the backline, including a new-look centre combination.

Up front, Sti Sithole comes in for Andrew Beerwinkel, while the troublesome knee of Roelof Smit forced Theron to change his preferred back row.

Ruan Steenkamp moves from No 8 to flank to accommodate Aidon Davis.

Handre Pollard shifts back to flyhalf where he replaces Robert du Preez, while Jesse Kriel gets his first start of the tournament at outside centre.

Justin Geduld was not considered for the No 13 jersey because of a slight knee ailment.

Jannie Stander, the replacement lock who arrived earlier in the week after Jannie Kirsten was ruled out of the tournament with a fractured cheek bone, is among the reserves.

Junior Springbok team:

15. Cheslin Kolbe (Western Province), 14. Luther Obi (Leopards), 13. Jesse Kriel (Blue Bulls), 12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Blue Bulls), 11. Seabelo Senatla (SARU contracted), 10. Handré Pollard (Blue Bulls), 9. Stefan Ungerer (Sharks), 8. Aidon Davis (EP Kings), 7. Jacques du Plessis (Blue Bulls), 6. Ruan Steenkamp (Blue Bulls, captain), 5. Dennis Visser (Blue Bulls), 4. Irné Herbst (Blue Bulls), 3. Luan de Bruin (Free State Cheetahs), 2. Michael Willemse (Western Province), 1. Sti Sithole (Western Province)

Substitutes: 16. Jacques du Toit  (Free State Cheetahs), 17. Andrew Beerwinkel (Blue Bulls), 18. Jannie Stander (Golden Lions), 19. Kwagga Smith (Golden Lions), 20. Percy Williams (Golden Lions), 21. Robert du Preez (Sharks), 22. Dries Swanepoel (Blue Bulls), 23. Marné Coetzee (Sharks)

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