Junior Springboks expecting 'fierce battle' from Italy

The Junior Springboks are expecting a stern test from Italy in their World Rugby Under-20 Championship Pool C clash in Paarl on Thursday.

READ | Five uncapped players start for Junior Springboks against Italy

The team's assistant coach, Lumumba Currie, was confident that the sell-out crowd at Paarl Gymnasium would boost the hosts.

"We are expecting a cracker of a game. We are coming with energy and effort and Italy are a team who play with lots of passion and skill. So, we are expecting a fierce battle," Currie said.

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

"We did struggle in certain areas against Georgia, but then, that first game was always going to be a tough one for us, as we have not played at that level for a while and intensity was something we needed to get used to. Now that it is out of the way, we are looking at stepping up in our effort and output," Currie said.

The SA young guns struggled at scrum time against Georgia, winning only 57% possession on their own put-ins. They also carried for the fewest metres (209) and made the fewest passes (76) in the match.

"We did address that," Currie noted. "It was all a matter of experience I believe, and some of the changes to the team will reflect that. We did tell the players that all will get a run in the opening two games and that plan has not changed.

"The changes are not in disrespect to Italy or anything, we just need to give everyone in the squad the opportunity to get into the tournament. Yes, we need to lay a better platform this time and that is exactly what we intend to do."

15 Regan Izaks, 14 Michael Annies, 13 Katlego Letebele, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Quewin Nortje, 10 Sam Francis, 9 Neil Le