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Cape Town – Only 26 players will get the opportunity to represent the South Africa under-20 rugby team in the World Championship in Italy and for 30 that dream moved a step closer to reality on Monday.
South Africa under-20 coach Dawie Theron reduced his squad from 40 to 30 after an impressive trial match on Saturday.
It came as no surprise that Theron picked all three of his scrumhalves – Ricky Schroeder, Lohan Jacobs and Kevin Luiters – again.
It could not have been easy because just about every one of the players impressed in the unpleasant weather conditions.
The under-20 squad will play against Western Province’s Vodacom Cup team on Thursday. That will serve as further trials for the squad that will go on a tour of Argentina in March.While that squad is set to provide a good indication of what the final squad will look like, there are still a few players that may be called up at a later stage. They are the likes of Sevens Springbok Paul Jordaan, Siya Kolisi (WP), Johan Goosen (Free State) and Jaco Taute (Lions).
The reduced squad is: Fullbacks: Ulrich Beyers, Riaan Britz. Wings: Emile Schwartz, Mandla Dube, Sizo Maseko, Clarence Khumalo. Centres: Kobus Lourens, Heimar Williams, Piet Lindeque. Flyhalves: Tony Jantjies, Sam Lane. Scrumhalves: Ricky Schroeder, Lohan Jacobs, Kevin Luiters. Loose forwards: Arno Botha, Marcell Coetzee, Brendan Groenewald, Jean Cook, Ernie Strydom, Nizaam Carr. Locks: Jose Julies, Eben Etzebeth, Carl Wegner, Ruan Venter. Hookers: Bongi Mbonambi, Baksteen van Heerden. Props: Stefan Kotze, John Roy Jenkins, Nick Schonnet, Juan Schoeman.
