Loose forward Xola Nyali will captain the South Africa U18 team in the International Series opener against France at Stellenberg High tomorrow afternoon.

Nyali captained Western Province at the U18 Craven Week at the end of June and played for SA Schools against their ‘A’ team counterparts last month. Flyhalf Ian van der Merwe has been named vice-captain by SA U18 coach Katleho Lynch for the match against France in Durbanville, which kicks off at 15:00.

Lynch says the players are raring to go and that he is excited to see what this group can offer after the players delivered a spectacle in Wellington a month ago when the two SA Schools sides squared off.

“We are really looking forward to the series against France and England as there is no better way to give the boys the best possible experience of what it’s like playing at international level,” explains Lynch.

“I have no doubt that we have some great talent in South Africa, it’s now just a matter of putting it to the test and executing under pressure in an international match situation.”

Lynch was dealt a late blow when Divan Fuller (loose forward) was forced to withdraw from the squad, with his WP team-mate Riley Norton earning a call-up.

Before the men in green and gold’s match, the England U18s will face a Western Province XV (13:00). The U18 International Series concludes at Paarl Boys’ High’s Brug Street fields on Saturday when South Africa take on England (15:00), preceded by the match between France and the WP XV (13:00)

SA U18 – 15 Luyanda Kunene, 14 Scott Nel, 13 Jameel de Jongh, 12 Dominic Malgas, 11 Cheswill Jooste, 10 Ian van der Merwe (vice-captain), 9 Christiaan van der Westhuizen, 8 Batho Hlekani, 7 Thando Biyela, 6 Xola Nyali (c), 5 Ulrich van der Westhuizen, 4 Jacobus Grobbelaar, 3 Simphiwe Ngobese, 2 Imaani Pemba, 1 Ranon Fouche.
Subs: 16 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 17 Lithemba Mfupi, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Riley Norton, 20 JJ Theron, 21 Haashim Pead, 22 Janco Purchase, 23 JC Mars, 24 Marno Stopforth, 25 Phiwayinkosi Kubeka, 26 Gino Cupido.