South Africa’s U19 Academy team will face Ireland this evening (13 November) in Cork. The match concludes their two-week European tour at Virgin Media Park.
Kick-off is scheduled for 19:30 local time (21:30 SA time). Virgin Media Park hosts 8,000 spectators and features an artificial 3G pitch.
Coach Foote has rotated his squad extensively for the tour finale. He made four changes in the engine room and five adjustments to the backline. Six replacements also received new opportunities.
Captain Riley Norton moves from lock to blindside flanker for the clash. JD Hattingh earns promotion from the bench to second row. Norton joins Junior Rasima and Vuyo Gwiji in a revamped loose trio.
Vusi Moyo retains the flyhalf position and partners Luan Giliomee at scrumhalf. The backline features several positional changes from last week’s France encounter.
Lindsey Jansen switches wings to take the left position. Janco Purchase and Pieter van der Merwe form the midfield partnership. Khuthadzo Rasivhago moves from outside centre to right wing. Dylan Miller starts at fullback after playing left wing against France.
The squad completed intensive training on Tuesday afternoon in Cork. Players quickly adapted to the cold and wet Irish conditions.
Foote emphasised the importance of giving all tour members game time. “We are building crucial positional depth,” he explained. “Everyone on this tour deserves the chance to wear the Green and Gold.”
The coach acknowledged the challenging Irish environment ahead. “We know how passionate their supporters are,” Foote said. “The difficult local conditions will provide exactly the learning curve we need.”
The team gained valuable experience from their France victory last weekend. Foote wants his players to apply those lessons directly against Ireland.
“It’s been a great tour for spending quality time together,” he added. “We must take our hard-earned lessons and apply them against passionate Irish support.”
The SA U19s expect tough conditions but remain confident about their preparation. This final encounter will test everything they learned during their European adventure.
15 Dylan Miller (DHL Western Province)
14 Khuthadzo Rasivhaga (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
13 Janco Purchase (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
12 Pieter van der Merwe (vice-captain, Vodacom Bulls)
11 Lindsey Jansen (Vodacom Bulls)
10 Vusi Moyo (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
9 Luan Giliomee (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
8 Vuyo Gwiji (Fidelity ADT Lions)
7 Riley Norton (captain, DHL Western Province)
6 Junior Rasima (Fidelity ADT Lions)
5 JD Hattingh (Fidelity ADT Lions)
4 Heinrich Theron (Vodacom Bulls)
3 Danie Kruger (DHL Western Province)
2 Siphosethu Mnebelele (Vodacom Bulls)
1 Oliver Reid (DHL Western Province)
Replacements:
16 Mahle Sithole (Vodacom Bulls)
17 Phiwayinkosi “Rambo” Kubheka (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
18 Ulrich van der Merwe (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
19 Tom Barnard (DHL Western Province)
20 KB Maake (Vodacom Bulls)
21 Liam van Wyk (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
22 Brooklyn Newman (Vodacom Bulls)
23 Akahluwa Boqwana (Vodacom Bulls)
