The Southern Kings will have to find a new starting scrumhalf for their Super Rugby match against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
Rising star James Hall, who started against the Cheetahs on Saturday, has linked up with the Junior Springbok squad, who are preparing for the World Rugby U20 Championship in England next month.
It seems likely that Ntando Kebe, who began from the bench on Saturday, will now start with Kevin Luiters being promoted to the bench for the Sharks clash.
Luiters played from the bench at the start of the season and made a start against the Crusaders, but subsequently fell down the pecking order after Hall started against the Bulls in round seven.
“That was James’s last game for us for a while because he has joined the Junior Boks.
“We were lucky to have him for the Cheetahs,” Kings head coach Deon Davids said.
“We are very excited for him to be part of the Junior Boks and all the other five Eastern Province boys who were selected.
“Junior Springbok coach Dawie Theron’s thinking about letting James play against the Cheetahs is that the experience he gets at Super Rugby level will contribute to his game.”
Apart from Hall, other EP players in the Junior Bok squad are centre Jeremy Ward, who was named captain, number eight Junior Pokomela (vice-captain), Tango Balekile (hooker), Nicolaas Oosthuizen (prop) and Keanu Vers (fullback).
“Having six players in the SA team is excellent for this region and it is such a positive thing if you think in terms where we started and where we are,” said Davids.
The Junior Springboks kicked off their warm-up with an encouraging 60-19 victory against a Golden Lions U20 Invitational side at Wits University in Johannesburg.
The Junior Springboks scored 10 tries – four in the first half and six in the second half.
Free State wing Mosolwa Mafuma scored four tries for the SA U20s, while the hosts scored three.
Theron was satisfied with the result, but he said there was hard work ahead to improve the areas of their game that were lacking before the international spectacle.
“I am pleased with certain aspects of our game.
“I think we can take several positives into our matches against Maties and also against SWD,” the confident Junior Springbok coach said.
The Junior Springboks will face the Maties today in Stellenbosch in their second warm-up match and then will conclude their preparation on Saturday against SWD in Oudtshoorn.
The Junior Springboks, who secured the bronze medal at the 2015 tournament in Italy, will kick off against Japan on June 7 at 4.15pm at the Academy Stadium in Manchester, England.
Their next clash will see them up against Argentina on June 11 at 7pm at the AJ Bell Stadium.
They will end the pool stage when they come up against France on June 15 at 8.45pm at the Academy Stadium.
Hall’s move opens door at Kings for budding star
Rising star James Hall, who started against the Cheetahs on Saturday, has linked up with the Junior Springbok squad, who are preparing for the World Rugby U20 Championship in England next month.
It seems likely that Ntando Kebe, who began from the bench on Saturday, will now start with Kevin Luiters being promoted to the bench for the Sharks clash.
Luiters played from the bench at the start of the season and made a start against the Crusaders, but subsequently fell down the pecking order after Hall started against the Bulls in round seven.
“That was James’s last game for us for a while because he has joined the Junior Boks.
“We were lucky to have him for the Cheetahs,” Kings head coach Deon Davids said.
“We are very excited for him to be part of the Junior Boks and all the other five Eastern Province boys who were selected.
“Junior Springbok coach Dawie Theron’s thinking about letting James play against the Cheetahs is that the experience he gets at Super Rugby level will contribute to his game.”
Apart from Hall, other EP players in the Junior Bok squad are centre Jeremy Ward, who was named captain, number eight Junior Pokomela (vice-captain), Tango Balekile (hooker), Nicolaas Oosthuizen (prop) and Keanu Vers (fullback).
“Having six players in the SA team is excellent for this region and it is such a positive thing if you think in terms where we started and where we are,” said Davids.
The Junior Springboks kicked off their warm-up with an encouraging 60-19 victory against a Golden Lions U20 Invitational side at Wits University in Johannesburg.
The Junior Springboks scored 10 tries – four in the first half and six in the second half.
Free State wing Mosolwa Mafuma scored four tries for the SA U20s, while the hosts scored three.
Theron was satisfied with the result, but he said there was hard work ahead to improve the areas of their game that were lacking before the international spectacle.
“I am pleased with certain aspects of our game.
“I think we can take several positives into our matches against Maties and also against SWD,” the confident Junior Springbok coach said.
The Junior Springboks will face the Maties today in Stellenbosch in their second warm-up match and then will conclude their preparation on Saturday against SWD in Oudtshoorn.
The Junior Springboks, who secured the bronze medal at the 2015 tournament in Italy, will kick off against Japan on June 7 at 4.15pm at the Academy Stadium in Manchester, England.
Their next clash will see them up against Argentina on June 11 at 7pm at the AJ Bell Stadium.
They will end the pool stage when they come up against France on June 15 at 8.45pm at the Academy Stadium.
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