Stormers lock Moerat chosen to lead Junior Boks to World Champs

The 20-year-old Stormers lock is one of seven players in coach Chean Roux's squad who also participated in last year's tournament held in Georgia -- where the Junior Springboks finished third.

"Salmaan is a born leader," said Roux in an SA Rugby press release. "He led the Western Province U18 Coca-Cola Craven Week team and the SA Schools team, and he did so with distinction.

"He has been equally influential at our training camps since the squad gathered in February, and all of the players have immense respect for him, so he was the natural choice as the captain."

Further to Moerat's experience of captaining a South African national side, he will also have the support of fellow Stormers player Damian Willemse (who attended one of the Springbok alignment camps in April), as well as Wandisile Simelane, Muller Uys, Gianni Lombard, Rewan Kruger and Daniel Jooste with their second-tournament experience.

"This is a talented squad with solid international experience, and we are confident in their abilities," said Roux of his squad which posts 22 players with past junior international experience (SA Schools and SA Schools A).

That number includes Muller du Plessis, the utility back who only finished school last year but has already featured for the Springbok Sevens team on the World Rugby Sevens Series.

Roux settled on his final squad after two warm-up matches in April against Georgia in Stellenbosch (won 55-14 and 48-23), and will now do his prepare for the tournament proper during a UK tour featuring games against Scotland (this Friday, 4 May), Wales (Tuesday, 8 May), and England on Friday next week.

"We had to make a few tough calls, especially after the matches against Georgia [who they will face in their opening pool match in France], but we believe we have a squad worthy of competing against the best U20 teams in the world.

"One can never underestimate the value of playing international rugby at any level, so we are pleased that most of the players have worn the green and gold before for both the Junior Springboks and the SA Schools sides."