It's game time for the Baby Boks and Tango Balekile as their U20 Junior Rugby Championship campaign kicks off in Manchester, England, today when they take on Japan in their opening match of the tournament.
It will be former Selborne College first team captain Balekile’s first taste of international rugby with the U20 side and he will be eager to impress.
Balekile, who is now plying his trade for the Eastern Province Kings, is also one of just two hookers in the squad and thus knew his chances of playing were high.
“Tango started here last year and in the games he has played he has done exceptionally well, so I think he was a clear front runner for the hooking berth in this game and possibly for the rest of the tournament,” said EP Kings Currie Cup coach Robbie Kempson.
“He has definitely proved himself with his commitment and all the hard work and effort he has put into his rugby.”
Balekile admitted to the Dispatch a few weeks ago when it was first announced that he had made the squad that he was happy his hard work has paid off in him being selected and he was looking forward to the tournament.
Balekile will have four of his fellow Kings teammates in the match day squad as well.
Captain and centre Jeremy Ward, scrumhalf James Hall, and eighth-man Junior Pokomela will all start for the Baby Boks, while utility back Keanu Vers is on the bench as the Kings secure a strong presence in the squad.
“I am very proud of the boys, we have both the captain and vice-captain from our academy and a number of others in the set-up,” said Kempson.
“They all came through together last year in the U19 Championship and it is nice that they have taken the next step up to the SA U20.”
Former Eastern Cape school rugby star Curwin Bosch is also in the team and will be playing at fullback.
Of paramount importance for the Baby Boks will be to not take their opponents likely, as the senior team did at last years world cup and end up with egg on their face.
The match will kick off at 4.15pm.
Baby Bok squad: 15. Curwin Bosch, 14. S’busiso Nkosi, 13. Jeremy Ward (captain), 12. JT Jackson, 11. Mosolwa Mafuma, 10. Manie Libbok, 9. James Hall, 8. Junior Pokomela, 7. Ernst van Rhyn, 6. Zain Davids, 5. Eli Snyman, 4. Cobus Wiese, 3. Jaco Holtzhausen, 2. Tango Balekile, 1. Kwenzo Blose
Reserves: 16. Franco van den Berg, 17. Jan-Henning Campher, 18. Carlü Sadie, 19. Ruben de Villiers, 20. Denzel Hill, 21. Embrose Papier, 22. Franco Naude, 23. Keanu Vers
Balekile carries Baby Boks’ hopes in England
It will be former Selborne College first team captain Balekile’s first taste of international rugby with the U20 side and he will be eager to impress.
Balekile, who is now plying his trade for the Eastern Province Kings, is also one of just two hookers in the squad and thus knew his chances of playing were high.
“Tango started here last year and in the games he has played he has done exceptionally well, so I think he was a clear front runner for the hooking berth in this game and possibly for the rest of the tournament,” said EP Kings Currie Cup coach Robbie Kempson.
“He has definitely proved himself with his commitment and all the hard work and effort he has put into his rugby.”
Balekile admitted to the Dispatch a few weeks ago when it was first announced that he had made the squad that he was happy his hard work has paid off in him being selected and he was looking forward to the tournament.
Balekile will have four of his fellow Kings teammates in the match day squad as well.
Captain and centre Jeremy Ward, scrumhalf James Hall, and eighth-man Junior Pokomela will all start for the Baby Boks, while utility back Keanu Vers is on the bench as the Kings secure a strong presence in the squad.
“I am very proud of the boys, we have both the captain and vice-captain from our academy and a number of others in the set-up,” said Kempson.
“They all came through together last year in the U19 Championship and it is nice that they have taken the next step up to the SA U20.”
Former Eastern Cape school rugby star Curwin Bosch is also in the team and will be playing at fullback.
Of paramount importance for the Baby Boks will be to not take their opponents likely, as the senior team did at last years world cup and end up with egg on their face.
The match will kick off at 4.15pm.
Baby Bok squad: 15. Curwin Bosch, 14. S’busiso Nkosi, 13. Jeremy Ward (captain), 12. JT Jackson, 11. Mosolwa Mafuma, 10. Manie Libbok, 9. James Hall, 8. Junior Pokomela, 7. Ernst van Rhyn, 6. Zain Davids, 5. Eli Snyman, 4. Cobus Wiese, 3. Jaco Holtzhausen, 2. Tango Balekile, 1. Kwenzo Blose
Reserves: 16. Franco van den Berg, 17. Jan-Henning Campher, 18. Carlü Sadie, 19. Ruben de Villiers, 20. Denzel Hill, 21. Embrose Papier, 22. Franco Naude, 23. Keanu Vers
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