SA Under-20 coach Eric Sauls on Tuesday made three changes and one positional switch to his side that will play Scotland in Sante Fe on Wednesday at 19h00 (RSA time).

Centre Branco du Preez who made his debut for the Springbok Sevens during this year’s IRB Sevens World Series, winger Sibusiso Sithole (Sharks) and forward Mlungisi Bali (Blue Bulls) have all been elevated to the starting lineup for this crucial Pool C clash.

Du Preez replaces centre Jaco Taute, Sithole comes into the in place of Bok Sevens flyer Sampie Mastriet and Bali earns his first start in the tournament in the absence of flanker Fanie van der Walt.

All three players – Taute, Mastriet and Van der Walt suffered minor niggles following the Baby Boks’ 40-14 victory over Tonga on Saturday.

The changes to the side will mean that the South Africans will boast a new midfield, back-three and loose-forward combination for this match.

Francois Venter who scored one of the Baby Boks’ four tries in their win over Tonga will team up with Du Preez as the new centre combination while Sithole will form an exciting back-three combination along with Patrick Lambie and Wandile Mjekevu.

Bali will wear the No 7 jersey and will form a loose-forward component of the team with captain CJ Stander and flanker Siyamthanda Kolisi. Sauls has kept faith with the same tight-five and half back combinations that played crucial roles in the Baby Boks’ victory over Tonga on Saturday. The South Africans out-scrummed Tonga in Parana while Louis Schreuder and Elton Jantjies both had a solid performances in their first Junior World Championship game.

“It’s important that we maintain our momentum in this tournament,” said the SA Under-20 coach. “We have four more games during the next two weeks or so, so we felt it necessary not to risk any of the players who suffered minor niggles after the Tonga game.

“According to my medical team, I can confirm though that Jaco, Sampie and Fanie should all be available for selection for the Australia game on Sunday.”

SA Under-20: Patrick Lambie, Wandile Mjekevu, Branco du Preez, Francois Venter, Sibusiso Sithole, Elton Jantjies, Louis Schreuder, CJ Stander (c), Mlungisi Bali, Siyamthanda Kolisi, Sebastian de Chaves, Kene Okafor, Marcel van der Merwe, Monde Hadebe, Brummer Badenhorst. Reserves – Francois du Toit, Ruan Dreyer, Wessel du Rand, Peet Marais, Lubabalo Mtembu, Adri Jacobs, Nico Scheepers.