Talent so abundant, Roux is getting grey hairs

The Junior Boks, much like their big brothers, the Springboks, will consider their best players for the World Rugby Under-20 Championship, irrespective of where in the world they are playing.

The tournament takes place from June 28 until July 18 in Italy, with the Junior Boks set to go up against the host nation, England and Fiji in the group phase.

Junior Boks coach Chean Roux said: “I am in contact with the [overseas] players. Letters have already been sent to the French Rugby Federation. We don’t care where a player is; if he is the best in his position, he will be considered [for inclusion in the squad].”

There was uncertainty relating to whether talented young players such as Kade Wolhuter (Montpellier), Jan-Hendrik Wessels, George Cronjé (both Clermont) and FC du Plessis (Toulon), who matriculated last year and went overseas, would be considered for the squad.

The four are among those on a list that includes about 22 young players who are based overseas.

They went abroad after a decision by SA Rugby to not hold the national Under-19 league this year. Only the Under-21 league will be hosted.

It is highly likely that Boks coach Rassie Erasmus will review the structures of junior competitions in the near future.

In the interest of the Junior Boks, SA Rugby may decide to replace the Under-21 series with an Under-20 series over two rounds early in the year. This could stem the outflow of talented young players, as was the case this year.

An Under-20 series would also serve as a sorting process for Roux to attract players to the SA Rugby Academy, which begins in Stellenbosch early next month.

“The Boks remain our priority, but I have to say that a lot of attention is being paid to getting the junior structures in place,” he said.

Roux is of the opinion that there are a few things that may place the Junior Boks in a position to win the championship this year, like they did in 2012, such as holding four alignment camps for the Junior Boks before the academy begins.

“The alignment camps [such as the ones held for the Boks] are there to get everyone on the same wavelength,” he said.

Roux is excited about what he’s seen at the alignment camps so far.

“We’ve been close to success over the past three years, but close is not good enough.

“I’m placing myself under immense pressure to ensure that, at the very least, we play in the final this year.

“It’s not for nothing that I have so little hair and that the hair I have left is grey. We are putting in a lot of hard work and I believe that we are on the right track.

“You also always need a bit of luck for success,” he said.

Part of Roux’s optimism for a successful championship lies in the fact that there are nine players in his group who played for the Junior Boks last year.

At centre, he will be able to choose between players such as Diego Appollis, Brendan Venter, Christie Grobbelaar, David Kellerman and Boitumelo Tsatsane.

He will be able to pick a fly half from a pool of talent including Rynhardt Jonker, Kian Meadon, Du Plessis and Wolhuter, if he is invited to the academy as expected, and is chosen.

One of them will pair up with Sharks scrum half Jaden Hendrikse, who already got his chance last year.

At fullback, Cohen Jasper, Richard Kriel, Zeilinga Strydom and Siba Xamlashe will not make it easy for Roux to make a choice.

If the budget allows, the Junior Boks hope to play against England, Ireland and Wales ahead of the championship, like they did last year.

In the 2017 edition, the Junior Boks played in 15 matches, won 11 and lost four, for a win record of 73%.

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