Junior Springbok head coach Bafana Nhleko said the players in the U20 Academy squad were tested at various levels when they faced a senior Lions XV in a training match in Johannesburg on Thursday.
The Academy squad players are currently hard at work, laying the groundwork for the Junior Boks’ forthcoming international season, with the clash against the senior side from Johannesburg at Emirates Airline Park another important building block in their season campaign.This midday clash on the Highveld marked their second training match against a senior provincial side within a week, following last Saturday’s outing against DHL Western Province in the Strand, near Cape Town.
“We’ve been very deliberate in what we wanted from these games – we wanted to play against strong provincial sides that preferably are as close as possible to Vodacom URC level, because the reality is that once you play U20 internationals, it’s faster in terms of tactical awareness, the speed of play and decision-making.
“Playing up at altitude in the heat presented us with a different challenge and mental test, especially if you compare the conditions down in Stellenbosch,” explained Nhleko. Looking ahead, the Academy squad are gearing up for another hit out next week, when they are set to take on the Boland Kavaliers in Wellington. This late afternoon fixture will provide yet another essential opportunity for the coaching staff to assess the players’ progress as they continue with their build-up for the busy international season.
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