Paarl Gymnasium scrumhalf Dylan Alexander will start in one of five changes to the SA Schools starting lineup for their clash with Argentina in Paarl on Tuesday.
Alexander replaces Jurich Claasens, who started in the 23-13 victory over Wales in Stellenbosh last Friday.
In the only other change in the backline Selborne College’s Mntungwa Mapantsela comes in on the wing for Keane Gelant.
There are a further three changes to the SA Schools forward pack, with Northwood School captain Sasko Ndlovu replacing Keke Morabe, while Bishops lock Connor Evans also gets an opportunity to start in place of Simon Miller.
Jeppe High’s Sibusiso Shongwe comes in at tighthead prop for Glenwood’s Blaine Golden.
SA Schools – 15 Zeilinga Strydom, 14 Mntungwa Mapantsela, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Tyler Bocks, 11 Tharquinn Manuel, 10 Kian Meadon, 9 Dylan Alexander, 8 George Cronje, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 6 Sasko Ndlovu, 5 Dylan de Leeuw, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Sibusiso Shongwe, 2 Jacques Goosen (c), 1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels.
Subs: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Okhule Siyeni, 18 Blaine Golden, 19 Wandile Hlope, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Keane Gelant, 22 Boldwin Hansen, 23 Jurich Claasens, 24 Quan Horn, 25 Gideon van Wyk, 26 Simon Miller.
Meanwhile, the SA Schools A side has called up three players after a few injuries in the first round of the U18 International Series.
The squad has welcomed Tiaan Pretorius (Paul Roos Gymnasium), Austin ‘AJ’ Johnson (Garsfontein) and Lukanya ‘Boepa’ Vokozela (Rondebosch) in their ranks this weekend. They replace Quan Horn (promoted to SA Schools) and the injured duo of Jacques-Louis du Toit and Jordan Hendrikse.
Vokozela hails from Khayalitsha and started playing rugby with the Connect Academy. His talents were soon spotted and an invitation to join Rondebosch Boys’ High School followed. He represented Western Province at U16 and U18 levels.
Pretorius already played for South Africa at youth level, having represented Team South Africa at the World Youth Olympics in Argentina last year where he was one of the standouts in the Rugby Sevens squad.
The energetic outside back, who missed the Craven Week due to concussion but will join the SA Rugby Sevens Academy next year, boasts a notable rugby pedigree. His dad, Torros Pretorius, was a regular for the Pumas in his playing days and Springbok flank Kwagga Smith is his uncle.
Johnson, a very strong ball-carrier and specialist inside centre, hails from Rustenburg, but played for Western Province at U16 level after his parents moved to Cape Town. He then relocated to Garsfontein High School in Pretoria, where the hard-running midfielder is a popular and influential team member of the ‘Garsie Bere’, as the first team is known.
SA Schools A – 15 Jacques Rossouw, 14 Sonwabo Sokoyi 13 Tiaan Pretorius, 12 AJ Johnson, 11 Sibusiso Javu, 10 Sihlalo Benge, 9 Kabelo Mokheti, 8 Jarod Cairns (c), 7 Izan Esterhuizen, 6 Pierich Siebert, 5 Cornelius Rahl, 4 Raynard Roets, 3 Philip Masango, 2 Teague Lollyt, 1 Dima Lebelo.
Subs: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Rynhardt Rijnsburger, 18 Gerhard van der Merwe, 19 Marco van Rhyn, 20 Sisonke Vumazonke, 21 Damion O’Connell, 22 Joseph Iye, 23 Indiphile Tyeda, 24 Renzo du Plessis, 25 Josh van Vreden, 26 Nsuku Baloyi.
Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images
