| 19:00 – 20:55 | SS1 | IRB Junior World Championship France v Ireland |  |
| 20:55 – 22:55 | SS1 | IRB Junior World Championship Argentina v England | |
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Pool B
Expectations have been building in Rosario with fans keen to see the future stars of world rugby in action at the Estadio El Coloso del Parque, which will host all of the matches in Pool B.
The main focus for the local fans is undoubtedly Los Pumitas, who open their campaign against England, the side who have lost the two previous Junior World Championship finals to New Zealand, in the second match on Saturday.
A number of players on both sides will find themselves facing a somewhat familiar opposition, the two countries having played each other at Under 18 level two years ago, England runnin gout 48-20 winners in a friendly in Buenos Aires.
Argentina finished 11th in the 2009 Championship and captain Alan Kessen admits that “it’s a very difficult opening” for the hosts, but one they have been preparing for over a long period to ensure they are ready to rise to the challenge.
“I think it is a very difficult opening, knowing the results of the last World Cup,” explained Kessen. “We played against them as Under 18s and we know they are a very strong team. We have been working hard to prepare for this match. I am very pleased with my team, I think we will play a great game.”
Utmost respect
Both sides have had an intensive preparation for the Championship, England finishing as runners-up in the Under 20 Six Nations earlier in the year with Los Pumitas travelling to South Africa, playing against provincial teams and then the Baby Boks, earning a draw in the second match against the latter.
Kessen hopes his side can use the home support as an advantage against England, a side they have never met in the two previous editions of the Junior World Championship in Wales and Japan.
“It is very important for us to be playing at home because you have your family and friends, the local people there and that gives you a motivation. I think that is a plus for us and we are very happy to this tournament here in Argentina.”
England are the second seeds in the tournament behind the Baby Blacks, but head coach Mark Mapletoft will not be underestimating the threat posed to his charges by Argentina.
“We will give Argentina the utmost respect. We expect the junior Pumas to play a similar style to the seniors and we know that’s a tough system to beat,” said Mapletoft, who gives Christian Wade and Arthur Ellis their first appearances for the Under 20s.
High expectations for Ireland
“We’re humble enough to take each game as it comes and not look too far forward. We are taking things one step at a time, one game at a time and everyone is right now 100 per cent focused on playing against Argentina on Saturday.”
The opening match at the Estadio El Coloso del Parque, though, is an all European affair between France and Ireland, the last two winners of the Under 20 Six Nations, which kicks off at 14:10 local time.
Ireland were denied an Under 20 Grand Slam earlier this year after losing 20-15 away in France and will be hoping to improve on their eighth place finish in the 2009 Junior World Championship, three places lower than their opponents on Saturday.
“There will be expectations on us to do well in the tournament because we performed well in the Six Nations, but we’re also in a very tough group and there are three really difficult games to start off with,” admitted Ireland captain Rhys Ruddock.
“Any of the teams are capable of beating each other. Although there are expectations on us there is also a realistic understanding that it could go either way in any of the games.”
When are we playing?
@ Winston:1
Winston, Somehow I thought our baby boks were playing tonight at 7pm. Probably they play tomorrow. Need to check the fixture on dstv.
We play in Pool C
Date Team A Score Team B Venue
05 Jun – 14:00 South Africa – Tonga Club Atletico Estudiantes, Paraná
05 Jun – 16:00 Australia – Scotland Estadio CA Colon, Santa Fe
09 Jun – 14:00 Australia – Tonga Club Atletico Estudiantes, Paraná
09 Jun – 14:00 South Africa – Scotland Estadio CA Colon, Santa Fe
13 Jun – 14:00 Scotland – Tonga Club Atletico Estudiantes, Paraná
13 Jun – 16:00 South Africa – Australia Estadio CA Colon, Santa Fe
Three Vodacom Super 14 and two Springbok Sevens players were included in the SA Under-20 squad that will play Tonga in their opening Pool B clash of the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship in Parana on Saturday at 14h00 (Argentinean time).
Patrick Lambie (The Sharks) will earn his first start for the Baby Boks at fullback, while winger Wandile Mjekevu and centre Jaco Taute (Auto & General Lions) have both been selected in the starting lineup. They will be joined by the talented Bok Sevens flyer Sampie Mastriet (wing).
Branco du Preez who also represented the SA Sevens side during the 2009/ 2010 IRB Sevens World Series tournaments in Hong Kong, Las Vegas and Adelaide was selected on the bench.
“I am looking forward to see how the guys perform as this will be the first time that we will be fielding our strongest side,” said SA Under-20 coach Eric Sauls.
“But in saying that I also have to admit that any player in our 26-man squad is good enough to earn a start. There’s a healthy vibe within this squad and the players are hungry to play their first match here at the IRB World Champs.
“We’ve got three tough Pool games within the next two weeks, so it’s important to start the tournament off with a solid performance against Tonga.
“We know what we are p against in terms of our preparation for Tonga. They’re a very physical side and we’ll have to stand up to that challenge. They’ve got some big guys all over the park.
“However I am sure that Tonga will be saying the same thing about us, so in the end it’s going to be the side that makes the least mistakes that will get the positive result.”
Vodacom Blue Bulls Under-19 No 8 CJ Stander, who is one of three players selected in the starting lineup who competed in the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship, will captain the side. Mastriet and Kene Okafor (lock) are the other players who represented the Baby Boks at last year’s tournament in Japan.
Golden Lions Under-19 flyhalf Elton Jantjies, Louis Schreuder (Vodacom Western Province), Fanie van der Walt and Marcel van der Merwe (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs) who competed in this year’s Vodacom Cup were also named in the starting lineup.
SA Under-20s: Patrick Lambie, Sampie Mastriet, Jaco Taute, Francois Venter, Wandile Mjekevu, Elton Jantjies, Louis Schreuder, CJ Stander (c), Fanie van der Walt, Siya Kolisi, Sebastian de Chaves, Kene Okafor, Marcel van der Merwe, Monde Hadebe, Brummer Badenhorst.
Reserves: Francois du Toit, Ruan Dreyer, Peet Marais, Mlungisi Bali, Branco du Preez, Adri Jacobs, Nico Scheepers.
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