Five uncapped players start for Junior Springboks against Italy

The Junior Springboks have picked five uncapped players in their starting XV for Thursday's World Rugby U20 Championship Pool C encounter against Italy in Paarl. 

The Junior Boks started their campaign with a 33-23 win over a plucky Georgia outfit in Stellenbosch on Saturday.

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The uncapped players in the starting team are fullback Regan Izaks, winger Quewin Nortje, flyhalf Sam Francis, No 8 Corne Beets and lock Tiaan Wessels.

Utility back Litelihle Bester will make his debut off the bench, while flanker Paul de Villiers will again captain the team.

Vice-captain and centre Katlego Letebele earns a second start, as well as lock JF van Heerden, prop Mawande Mdanda and hooker Juann Else.

Winger Michael Annies, centre Damian Markus, scrumhalf Neil le Roux, flank Jannes Potgieter and prop Corne Lavagna all played off the bench last week but will start against Italy. 

15 Regan Izaks, 14 Michael Annies, 13 Katlego Letebele, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Quewin Nortje, 10 Sam Francis, 9 Neil Le Roux, 8 Corne Beets, 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Paul de Villiers (captain), 5 JF Van Heerden, 4 Tiaan Wessels, 3 Mawande Mdanda, 2 Juann Else, 1 Corne Lavagna

Substitutes: 16 SJ Kotze, 17 Phatu Ganyane, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Ghudian van Reenen, 20 Gcinokuhle Mdletshe, 21 Imad Khan, 22 Litelihle Bester, 23 Jurenzo Julius

"It was always part of the planning to give as many players as possible a run in the first two games," head coach Bafana Nhleko said.

"We told the group that we need to rotate as the tournament goes along. It is also important to show trust in every player in our squad and give them a run early on. This will help us have fresh bodies throughout the